Anyone got any idea's where in Sydney to get a paddle protector for the edges of a SUP blade...?
Just go down to your nearest petrol station and buy some electrical tape in the color of your choice...See my pi****he paddle on the right has the tape.
Just start from the shaft near the blade and stretch it around the blade and the sides of the tape will wrap around the edge of the blade.
That's what most of us do...You can even do two layers if you're a rail basher.
DJ
Yer was going to use tape but remembered the stuff they use on the edge of steel i.e if you cut a hole in your bonnet for the motor to fit (superchargers etc.) i hunted it down and finaly found it at a Clark Rubber store, its a u shaped rubber, i glued it to my blade with super glue, it comes in about 4mm from the edge once glued on, i payed $4.50/m only need about 70cm for my Naish Paddle blade. i used it for the first time last week, it worked great didn't even notice it was there when paddling... and there is more of a dull clunk when i hit the rail not that chipping away noise i hate so much..
Don't know about sydney but here they sell them for about $40 in a kit with glue and all the stuff u need.
I went in between the two suggestions above and used duct tape. You need to cut shorter strips and put cuts at the edges of the tape to shape them to the paddle. It's a cheap option put I would lean toward a thicker option if your a basher like me. DJ's got lots of experience and likely isn't a basher so only needs electrical tape.
I used duct tape until it came off after a bit - I think it was a bit thick and water got underneath it - I reckon two strips of good quality electrical tape is the way to go - it's stretchier than duct tape.
I've even pealed the tape off my paddles now and my paddles are naked..I like them that way.
I can't remember the last time I whacked the board with the paddle...6-12 months at least...I think these supa light paddles are easier to control and avoid knocks.
I might get the odd tap with the shaft of the paddle along the rail but that does no damage.....Unless you've got a Kalama.. 
DJ
Paddle Surf Warehouse
Very interesting. I have been looking for something like this for awhile. I have a bunch of rental boards and demo boards that are used daily and would love to know where to buy this clear plastic stuff for the paddles. Anyone know where to buy in bulk? Also is the glue just in the rubber waiting to stick to the blade or must we put it in before applying to blade edge?
Standup Paddle, Paddle Board Surfing, SUP, Stand Up Paddle Board Surfing
www.paddlesurfwarehouse.com/
SUP Rentals, Lessons For Standup Paddle
Apparently there is a rubber strip that you can buy at "Clark Rubber" that works really well , although I haven't seen or used it, it is supposed to be quite a fine profile and has no or very minimum impact on paddle performance.
A bit late for the tape. Any ideas welcome on how I might repair the damage. (the board not the car) Southpoint Kalama Timpone 11'6"
Thanks. Robdog.
I think it's time to stop hitting the board with the paddle.. 
Maybe if you forked out $500 on a top of the line carbon paddle you wont hit the board with it..
I think any surfboard repairer could repair that.
btw..The GSI guys told me yesterday that all the new Kalama's will have a double coating on the rails and they don't chip like that..
..and they will also a hand hole to make it easy to carry...Jeez about time.. 
DJ
I am curious about board dings from the paddle.
I don't think any amount of experience would prevent contact between the board and paddle, especially in the surf.
I've never bashed the rail of my board with the paddle when just paddling along, but after a surf session there is always the odd scuff mark on the nose or tail from blade contact. Even clambering back onto the board after a wave the paddle is knocking around on the board.
I think there is no reasonable way you could avoid that. It doesn't do any permanent damage and the scuffs clean off with Jif.
So what's happening? Do expert surf guys never touch their board with their paddles? Or do they just learn to love a well used board with a few scuff marks?
Maybe it's the swing weight of the paddle..Maybe it's an experience thing..I used to wack the rails every now and then when I made my own (heavy) paddles.
Now with my new light paddles it almost never happens.
I paddled, floundered and got pounded for three hours today in choppy conditions and I never tapped the rail once.
I think you learn that wacking the paddle against the side of the board is not going to stop you falling in and you do something else stupid instead..
DJ
If you ride a shortish board say ten feet and under and your at the top of the weight range for that board and your out in surf thats got a bit of chop, then it doesn't matter who you are your gunna tap that rail from time to time , more so when your learning or getting used to a smaller board obviously.
when you've been out for two hours had twenty waves paddled out and over white wash , the wind has freshened , jetskis are hovering "Bendover" is trying to snake you on the inside. TAP TAP live with it !!
windforce in perth w.a sell the self adhesive plasticy transparent strip that goes round the edge of the paddle.....from memory think it was around a fiver ($5)....sure they'll post one out to ya for a couple of bucks... works a treat ,,,offers very good protection .
Maybe just get a board that is less prone to chipping, My naish demo boards are still in really good nick and that's with newbies on them all the time with alloy paddles smacking the **** out of them, they still get some chips but you hardly even notice them. I think i had brought one of those southpoints i would be feeling ripped off!!! as now they are worth bugger all in that kind of state.
Jacko
I have been happy enough with the Southpoint, it's been a good board for me and friends to begin on. I was thinking wet and dry to sand the coating/paint back smooth and then spray or brush paint over rails. Not sure what type of paint or coating to use though. Any ideas welcome. Robdog.
Hey Robdog,
It doesn't matter what you paint on the rails, your going to chip off the paint again.
Just wet and dry smooth and spray with air dry acrylac touch up paint in a pressure pack can from your nearest auto shop,remember to mask out the area to spray, just call it maintenance. Acrylac is fast drying, its the paint used to colour surfboards.
You might ask the Auto shop if they can get you clear vinyl stone guard, not cheap, but it does reduce paddle chips. You get two strips about 60mm wide and 3m long and glue them to the rails where the chips are. The material is about 1mm thick and has an adhesive backing.
The trick is to spray the rail with water and dish detergent, this stops the vinyl from sticking straight away, it allows you to position it corectly on the rail. You then squeegee (squeeze) out the water and air bubblesfor the glue to contact the board rail. A wooden squeegee works OK, a siffer one is better than a flexy one for this job.
But the best answer is don't bash the rails, be aware of it, don't do it.
The ocassional tap can't be helped.
Rod
The general advice when you start paddling is to tape up your paddle to prevent board dings. The implication is that once you get better you won't bash your board with your paddle.
I think this is not true. I have never seen any newbies paddling along bashing the side of the board with their paddle.
More importantly, once you get experienced you go out in more demanding conditions where your paddle is more likely to contact your board. I can't imagine anybody in the surf carefully paddling so they don't touch their board with the paddle.
What I think is happening is that some of the cheaper boards have been rushed to market and they have not chosen appropriate resins for the kind of impacts that SUP are likely to experience. I have seen well used Naish and Starboard and C4 boards with only the odd chip, and Southpoint and NSP boards that look like somebody has taken a hatchet to them.
I guess the solution to the problem is to tape up your paddle and your board, then onsell the board in a year or so when SUP technology settles down and cheap boards get good.
Thanks to all for your advice. This forum is a great place to learn about boards, paddles, technique etc. Robdog
