Are pressure dents on a used surfboard a problem?

No. Pressure dents are what a polyurethane deck looks like after it has been surfed and they do not affect how the board rides. Only worry when a dent has cracked through the glass, because that lets water into the foam.

How do I know if a surfboard is waterlogged?

Lift it from each end: a waterlogged board is unevenly heavy and feels dead. Tap along the deck. A dull thud instead of a sharp knock means water in the blank. Brown staining spreading out from an old repair is the visual sign.

Is a repaired ding a reason not to buy a board?

Not on its own. A tidy repair that is flat, sealed and dry is normal on a used board and often means it was looked after. Walk away from repairs that feel soft, sit proud of the surface, or still have an open crack at one end.

Can a snapped surfboard be repaired properly?

Yes, and a well-repaired snap is surfable. It is heavier, stiffer at the join and worth roughly half of the same board unsnapped. Ask to see the repair from underneath and expect the price to say so.

How to check a used surfboard before you buy it

A 10-minute inspection that finds the problems worth walking away from: water in the foam, delamination, buckles, and repairs that were done badly.

Updated August 2025 · 4 minute read

Do this before you agree a price

Most used boards are fine. The ones that are not tend to fail in four specific ways, and all four are findable in ten minutes with your hands and your eyes. Meet in daylight, ask to see the board dry, and do not inspect a board that has just come out of the water. A wet board hides a lot.

Water in the foam: Hold the board level at the tail and lift it. Then hold it at the nose and lift. A waterlogged board is noticeably heavier at one end and often sounds dull when you tap it. Look for brown or grey staining spreading out from an old repair. That is water tracking through the blank.
Delamination: Press with your thumb across the deck and along the rails. A delaminated patch feels soft and springs back with a faint crackle: the glass has separated from the foam under it. Small patches near the front foot are common on an older PU board and are repairable. A large soft area on the bottom is a different conversation.
Buckles and creases: Sight down the board from the tail, along one rail and then the other. A buckle shows as a bright line across the deck and a kink in the rocker. A creased board can be surfed and can be repaired, but it never surfs the same and it should be priced as a repair job.
Fin boxes and leash plug: Grip each fin box and twist gently. It should not move at all. Look for hairline cracks radiating out from the box into the glass, and press around the leash plug, the second most common leak point after the nose.

What is normal and not worth arguing about

Pressure dents on the deck are what a surfboard looks like after it has been surfed. They are cosmetic on a PU board and they do not affect how it goes. Yellowing is age and sunlight, not damage. Tidy repaired dings that are sealed, sanded flat and dry are a sign the board was looked after, not a reason to walk.

The one thing worth pushing on is a repair that was done badly: a lump of resin with no glass under it, a patch you can press and feel move, or a repair over a crack that is still open at one end. Those let water in slowly and the board gets heavier every session.

The questions to actually ask

How long have you had it, and did you buy it new?
Has it ever been snapped or buckled?
Which repairs are yours and which came with the board?
Has it been left in a car or on a roof rack in the sun?
What is the volume, and is that printed on the board or a guess?

The last one matters more than it sounds. A seller who knows the volume off the stringer is a seller who knows the board. A seller who says 'about 30 litres' about a shortboard is guessing, and you should treat every other number the same way.

Pay attention to the price, not the board

In Bali a clean, recent, mid-range shortboard from a known brand generally sits between 250 and 450 US dollars used. A board with a repaired snap, heavy delamination or a soft deck belongs well under that regardless of what it cost new. Work out what the same model in the same condition is listed at before you meet, so the number you name is one you can explain.

Common questions

Are pressure dents on a used surfboard a problem?: No. Pressure dents are what a polyurethane deck looks like after it has been surfed and they do not affect how the board rides. Only worry when a dent has cracked through the glass, because that lets water into the foam.
How do I know if a surfboard is waterlogged?: Lift it from each end: a waterlogged board is unevenly heavy and feels dead. Tap along the deck. A dull thud instead of a sharp knock means water in the blank. Brown staining spreading out from an old repair is the visual sign.
Is a repaired ding a reason not to buy a board?: Not on its own. A tidy repair that is flat, sealed and dry is normal on a used board and often means it was looked after. Walk away from repairs that feel soft, sit proud of the surface, or still have an open crack at one end.
Can a snapped surfboard be repaired properly?: Yes, and a well-repaired snap is surfable. It is heavier, stiffer at the join and worth roughly half of the same board unsnapped. Ask to see the repair from underneath and expect the price to say so.