Hello guys. On Sunday I will be leaving for Costa Rica. This is my first trip where I would need a board bag and I do not really know how to package the boards so they would not get damaged. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Wrap the rails with some of the foam tubing you get in the plumbing section, already slit down the middle, leave the adhesive strip on so it doesn't gum up your board. Get a few pieces, two long pieces for both sides and you will prob need to cut a few small pieces for the nose and tail, can tape those pieces together so they stay together if you want. Wrap a sheet around it and wrap in packing tape to hold tight.
Depends how thin they are, the ones I'm talking about fit snug and don't take up too much space, which allows it to fit in the board bag. Too much foam and you won't be getting that board in the bag. Try it out and if it doesn't work just run to Lowes of Home Depot.
I've got a few surf shops around that I'll go and get some nose and tail pads where when they get boards shipped in they're packaged with those. They'll give them to you for free. Then I'll buy a large roll of bubble wrap and wrap the whole board good then use the "clingy plastic wrap" with a handle (like you can buy a Lowes) and go around the whole board to saran wrap it tight and clean. It works good! Having a good board bag is key but no matter what you do the airlines are evil. Just make sure you really take good care of your nose and tail. Sometimes after doing all that I'll wrap it in a blanket too before sliding it in.
Keep this in mind--no matter how well you pack boards, airline luggage crew will TRY to break your boards, maliciously. They suck. if you give them a board as is and tell them you don't care, you will get the board intact with no damage. They see packaging as a challenge. They are "union workers"...cannot be fired.
PACKING BOARDS...also, if your local shop carries Firewire their eco packing is pretty incredible--LINK. I received a board from a CA company that used that packing material...pretty great stuff
The only thing I would add to Nica and DP is prior to bubble wrap, I wrap a beach towel around the nose and tail (you will need towels anyway. If taking two boards I put a folded towel in between...even with both boards having a sock on. First trip...should be epic for you. Good luck!
O' Barry, JetBlue has always been very respectful of my board and luggage, can't speak for other airlines, but after several trips I haven't had one issue with them. JetBlue's customer service has always been excellent in my opinion, and the price is better than most too.
What DawnPatrolSUP says... plus, you can pick up some polyethylene sheets and squares at the same hardware store (i.e., Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) for lengthwise bottom and top of the board. A little extra protection helps, something like 3/8 inch. You can use layers of the thinner polyethylene for nose and tail protection. You will probably need to keep the nose and tail padding in place with tape (Michael's carries small duct tape rolls so you don't have to carry around those large 5 lb rolls) and you don't want the gooey adhesives on your board -- another reason the polyethylene sheets come in handy.
Just wrap the entire rails with foam pipe insulation and use masking tape to keep it on- wrapping it around the board. Never had a ding that way. Works like gold.
