How to Fix a Seam Leak on Your iSUP

The short answer

Don't treat a seam leak like a puncture. The seam is a structural join, and on a Wave 3.0 board it's welded, not glued — so a repair-kit patch isn't the answer and can make things worse. If you can confirm the leak is on the seam, the right move is a warranty claim: your board is covered for 2 years against manufacturing faults, and a leaking seam is exactly that. This guide shows you how to be sure, and what to do next.

What a seam leak is (and why it's different)

The seam is the line where the top and bottom surfaces of your board are joined all the way around the edge. It's what holds the board's shape under pressure, so it's built to be the strongest part of the board — Wave's 3.0 range uses Welded Seam Technology (WST™), which bonds the seam rather than relying on glue.

That's also why a seam leak is a different problem from a puncture. A pinhole in the flat surface is everyday wear you can patch yourself. A leak on the seam points to the join itself, which isn't something a surface patch is designed to fix — and attempting one rarely holds and can complicate a warranty claim.

Step 1 — Confirm it's actually the seam

Before anything else, pin down where the air is escaping.

• Inflate the board to 18 PSI.
• Mix a little washing-up liquid with water and brush it along the seam line around the edge of the board, as well as over the surface and the valve.
• Watch for a steady stream of small bubbles. If they're rising from the seam itself, you've found it.

If the bubbles appear on the flat surface instead, that's a puncture — see our patch a hole guide. If they're at the valve, see our valve leak guide. Only carry on here if the leak is genuinely on the seam.

Step 2 — The right fix: a warranty claim

Because a seam leak is a manufacturing fault, the best outcome for you is almost always a warranty assessment rather than a home repair. Your 2-year Wave warranty covers manufacturing faults from the date you received the board, and seams fall squarely under that.

To start a claim, contact us using the chat bot with:

• your name and order number,
• your address, contact number, and email,
• proof of purchase,
• a photo of the board inflated, and
• a clear photo (or short video) of the leak — the soapy-water bubbles along the seam are perfect evidence.

Every claim is assessed on the evidence provided, so the clearer your photos of the seam and the bubbling, the faster things move. If you bought through a third-party seller rather than direct from Wave, register the warranty first by emailing proof of purchase to the same address.

Important: don't attempt a DIY repair on a board you intend to claim for. Altering the seam yourself can count as unauthorised repair and may affect your cover — always check with the team first.

If your board is out of warranty

Past the 2-year window, you have a couple of options, but go in with realistic expectations — seam repairs are harder to make hold than surface patches.

• Professional inflatable repair. A specialist inflatable-boat or dinghy repairer can often re-bond or reinforce a seam properly. For a board you love, this is usually the better route.
• Seam sealant as a last resort. Some paddlers use a proprietary inflatable seam sealant to keep an older board going. Treat this as a stop-gap rather than a permanent fix, follow the product's own instructions to the letter, and accept it may not fully hold.

Either way, it's worth emailing us first — we can often advise on the best option for your specific board and model.

Prevention: keep your seams healthy

Seams last longest when the board is looked after, so a few habits go a long way:

• Never inflate past 20 PSI. Over-inflation puts the most stress on the seams — see inflating to the right PSI.
• Don't pack the board away too tightly. Cramming it into the bag creates stress points along the folds and edges.
• Rinse and dry after every paddle, especially after the sea, and store it rolled loosely in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
• Keep it away from sharp objects and hot surfaces — the edges take the brunt of both.

Quick reference

Still not sure?

If you can't tell whether it's a seam, a surface puncture, or the valve, send us a photo of the board inflated with the soapy-water bubbles showing and we'll help you identify it — and point you to the quickest route to a fix.