This time of year is rough on us boaters, we can no longer spend every weekend enjoying our time on the water. During this time off, how can we keep our gear looking like new all year round? How you store your gear has a big impact on its lifespan and performance. It really doesn't take much to keep your gear performing like new, just a little extra effort. If you are anything like me, your rope gets pulled into the boat and laid on the floor in a heap after use. Make sure to take the time to coil the rope after each use being careful to loop it in 1-3 foot long sections. To make coiling easier, give your wrist a little half twist as you are coiling. It will make the rope want to wrap around itself.
Your Wakeboard's edge is critical not only to how it performs, but how it ages. You don't want to stand it up in a corner on a hard surface. That is an easy way to crack the joint where the top and bottom of the board come together. If that happens, you board will come apart. Always place your board binding side down. You could even go one step further and entirely remove your bindings to dry separately from the board.
Your Wakeboard's edge is critical not only to how it performs, but how it ages. You don't want to stand it up in a corner on a hard surface. That is an easy way to crack the joint where the top and bottom of the board come together. If that happens, you board will come apart. Always place your board binding side down. You could even go one step further and entirely remove your bindings to dry separately from the board.
After your adventure on the water, your wetsuit needs drying before it is stored. The proper way to do this is to lay it inside out on a flat surface out of direct sunlight. doing this will maintain the seams and material. Once it is dry, you can hand it up on a hanger like a normal suit. Better yet, find an actual suit hanger with broader shoulders to help hold the shape of the suite better.
The last piece of gear is your life vest. Did you know that drying your life vest in direct sunlight can actually break down the fibers in the vest drastically reducing its life span? You also do not want to just stick in a storage compartment to dry. Doing this will create some not so pleasant smells and mildew problems. The best way to dry your vest is letting it drip dry in a cool dry area making sure it is vertical to allow the water to drain from the bottom.
With these tips your gear will continue looking and acting like it did the day you bought it. What are some other tip & tricks you use to keep your gear looking and acting like new?
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