How to Patch a Hole in an Inflatable Paddleboard

The short answer

For a puncture under 10mm, everything you need is in your Wave repair kit — a PVC swatch, and a valve tool. Find the hole with soapy water, clean and deflate the area, glue a rounded patch over it, and leave it a full 24 hours before inflating. The single most important rule: don't rush the curing time.

What you'll need

• Your Wave repair kit
• Glue
• Washing-up liquid and water
• A cloth, plus a little alcohol or acetone to degrease the surface
• Scissors
• A flat weight (a book works) and a well-ventilated space to work in

Step 1 — Find and mark the puncture

You can't patch what you can't see, and pinholes are easily missed.

• Inflate the board and mix a little washing-up liquid with water.
• Wipe or brush it across the surface. Where air is escaping, the soap will bubble up over the hole.
• Mark the spot clearly with a waterproof pen so you don't lose it once the bubbles are wiped away.

If the leak turns out to be at the valve rather than the board surface, stop here — that's a different fix, covered in our valve leak guide.

Step 2 — Prepare the area

• Deflate the board before you go any further. Never try to patch a board under pressure.
• Clean the area around the puncture so it's free of dirt and grease. A wipe with a little alcohol or acetone gives the glue the clean surface it needs to bond.
• Let it dry completely.

Step 3 — Cut your patch

• Cut a piece of the PVC swatch large enough to leave roughly 5cm of patch all the way around the hole.
• Round off the corners. This matters more than it looks — square corners catch and lift at the edges over time, while rounded ones stay put.

Step 4 — Apply the glue

• Spread glue evenly across the back of the patch and over the damaged area on the board, covering the full area the patch will sit on.
• Any glue that squeezes out beyond the patch can be cleaned up afterwards with a little alcohol or acetone.
• Now wait: let the glue dry until it turns transparent before you bring the two surfaces together. This tacky-clear stage is what makes the bond strong.

Step 5 — Press and smooth

• Place the patch over the puncture and press it down firmly.
• Smooth it from the centre out to the edges to push out any trapped air bubbles — a bubble under the patch is a weak spot.
• Press the edges down especially well.

Step 6 — Let it cure (don't skip this)

• The glue takes around 20 minutes to cure to the touch, but leave the board for at least 24 hours before inflating. Longer is better.
• Setting a flat weight over the patch during this time helps it bond evenly.
• Rushing this step is the most common reason a repair fails, so be patient — the board will be as good as new for it.

Once cured, inflate to 18 PSI and run the soapy-water test over the patch one more time to confirm the leak is gone.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Too much glue. A thin, even layer bonds far better than a thick one. Excess glue is the number-one cause of DIY repairs that don't hold.
• Not degreasing first. Glue won't grip a dirty or oily surface — the alcohol/acetone wipe isn't optional.
• Skipping the cure time. Twenty minutes is touch-dry, not ready to paddle. Give it the full 24 hours.
• Square patch corners. Round them, every time.

When not to DIY

The repair-kit method is designed for punctures under 10mm on the board's surface. Hold off and contact us instead if:

• the hole is larger than 10mm,
• the leak is on a seam rather than a flat surface,
• the damage is on or right beside the valve, or
• you've patched it and it's still losing air.

Seam and large-area damage need proper assessment, and forcing a DIY fix can make a warranty claim harder. When in doubt, send us a photo first.

A note on warranty

Punctures and dings from everyday use are wear and tear rather than warranty items — which is exactly what the repair kit is there for. Manufacturing faults such as a failed seam are a different matter and are covered by your 2-year Wave warranty; email the team with your order number and photos and we'll take it from there.

Quick reference

Still stuck?

If your patch won't hold, or the damage is bigger than a small puncture, get in touch before paddling. A photo of the damage and your order number help us point you the right way quickly.