iSUPs have proven to be extremely robust: You can pull them over rocks without danger (super whitewater suitability), children can even romp around on them on the beach (the perfect family board). However, due to poor bonding during production, air can sometimes escape from the seams (welds). You hardly notice this and are surprised when the pressure has eased after a few hours. The leaks can be found by pressing the board under water - as when looking for a hole in a bicycle inner tube - and observing where small air bubbles escape. It is best to mark the leak with a waterproof felt-tip pen.
Many iSUPs come with an orange-coloured Repair kit supplied. It includes patches (tarpaulins in matching colours to the board) and soft plastic adhesive. For the repair you also need a hot air dryer (available in any DIY store from 25 euros; every iSUP rider should have one - a normal hairdryer does not generate enough heat), a teaspoon, scissors and sandpaper. The operation - sorry, repair - should only ever be carried out on an unpumped board.
