Want to buy a used surfboard (a short board), what is the price range for something in good condition?

Question

Want to buy a used surfboard (a short board), what is the price range for something in good condition?

Answer 1

Look around at how much new surfboards are. Then look for used boards. If you find a used one that you like, compare it to a similar one brand new. Are they in similar condition? The closer to brand new it is, the more you will pay, obviously, but here are a few things to consider:

-Color. The whiter the board, the more someone can sell it for. When a board is brand new, it's as white as it's ever gonna be. The sun and heat cause a board to turn yellow, so generally the yellower the board, the older it is, more it's been used, etc. (this excludes any colored boards... blue, red, pink, green- you get the idea)

-Dings. There are going to be pressure dings on the deck of the surfboard. This is pretty much unavoidable with your standard polyurethane surfboard. Just from standing up on it, you are going to pressure marks on it. Don't worry about these unless they are cracking or it actually goes through the glass. But other than that, how many dings are in the board? Have they been fixed properly? Is it water-tight? Is it water logged? Is there yellowing around any of the dings in the board? The more dings, the lower the price. The worse the dings, the lower the price. Makes sense.

-Other accessories. Does the board include the fins? Does it have a traction pad on it? Does it have a nose guard? Are they throwing in a leash? Calculate these into the cost also.

-Overall physical condition of the board. Has it ever buckled or snapped in half? (Is there a line across the board where it looks like it has been broken)? This weakens the board greatly, and even if fixed properly, the board isn't the same as it was new. The board will be more susceptible to it happening again and won't have the same flex and feel when you ride it. Beware of this.

-The name on the board. Meaning who shaped it, what company. This usually isn't a huge deal... But an Al Merrick Channel Islands Surfboard, when compared to the first surfboard someone shaped themselves, might sell for a bit more, since the name is one people know.

In anything where you are the buyer, just KNOW YOUR STUFF. Don't get taken advantage for ignorance. Look the board over. Ex. If it's got some yellowing, several dings, a broken nose that was fixed poorly, and an open ding, don't pay more than $100.

But in any condition, you shouldn't be paying more than $500 to $600 for a used shortboard since you can buy them new at that price.

Again, look around at surf shops and see the prices that are on their used boards. Look at the condition they are in and compare that to the price. There are plenty of used surfboards so don't settle for the first one you see.

Answer 2

it depends on wat kinda board it is