Can Skateboards Get Wet? What to Do if Your Skateboard Gets Wet

Skateboarding is a lot of fun, but sometimes Mother Nature puts a damper on your session (had to do it!). Water can cause damage to your skateboard deck and hardware, making it difficult to ride. In this blog, we’ll take a look at what to do when your skateboard gets wet, so you can get back to skating in no time, so—for lack of a better term—let’s dive in!

What to Do if Your Skateboard Gets Wet

In general, it’s best for skateboards to stay as dry as possible. Skateboards are made of thin plywood, so it will act like other plywoods when it gets wet. If your skateboard gets wet or waterlogged, you could experience the following:

• Your skateboard’s deck will swell and lose shape
• The plies of the deck can delaminate or separate
• Your skateboard’s shape could be warped when it finally dries

To prevent any of those things from happening to your skateboard, take the following steps when your skateboard gets wet:

Remove Debris and Dirt from Your Skateboard

If you’ve been riding through a wet area, not only could your board be wet, it could also have debris and all kinds of muck splattered on the bottom, on the trucks, and in the bearings. Use a rag to wipe it clean.

Dry Your Skateboard Thoroughly

If your skateboard was only exposed to water momentarily, you’re in luck. The skateboard’s grip tape and bottom graphic can prevent the wood itself from being too exposed to water, so promptly drying the deck and grip tape with a rag can mitigate the potential for damage.

If your skateboard was only exposed to water briefly, you’ll probably be good to go almost immediately. Your grip tape might not be as grippy after it’s exposed to water, but when it dries, it will most likely retain its quality.

However, if your skateboard was completely submerged, it’s a different situation. Let’s talk about what to do with a waterlogged skateboard.

How to Dry a Waterlogged Skateboard

If your skateboard is waterlogged, start by patting it dry with a rag. Next, you’ll want to let it sit flat and dry out completely. A flat surface is crucial because an uneven surface could increase the chance that your skateboard is warped when it finally dries.

Plywood, even the thin plywood that a skateboard is made of, can take up to a few days to dry completely, so patience is essential here. To speed the drying process, consider taking these steps:

• Use a fan to increase the circulation of air
• Put your skateboard deck in a room with a dehumidifier
• Put the skateboard in the sunlight, flipping it occasionally so that it dries out evenly

Steps to Take After Your Skateboard Gets Wet

If your skateboard got wet, take extra precaution when riding it next. Water can compromise the strength of your skateboard’s plies, which means your skateboard could snap more easily under pressure.

Additionally, check for any signs of warping. If your skateboard is warped, it could lead to an unstable ride. In this case, it might be worth replacing.

When Should You Replace a Wet Skateboard?

If your skateboard is only slightly wet, you can probably get away with riding it out until it wears out fully. However, if your skateboard gets waterlogged, you might want to replace it earlier. Here are some signs that your board needs to be replaced:

• Your skateboard’s plies are separating and swelling
• Your skateboard makes a dull thud when dropped, rather than a crisp snapping or cracking noise
• It bends and flexes excessively under your weight

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Your Hardware

Your skateboard deck isn’t the only thing susceptible to water damage. If your skateboard gets wet in any way, take a moment to inspect the following:

• Nuts and bolts: If your nuts and bolts get wet, they could rust, making them difficult or impossible to remove with standard tools. To prevent this, consider disassembling your skateboard and cleaning each part independently.
• Your bearings: Water can be corrosive to your metal bearings. Water can wash away the oil that keeps your bearings running smoothly. If your bearings get wet, treat them to a couple drops of lubricant or consider cleaning them completely [link].

Your trucks: Trucks typically hold up well even when exposed to water. However, you’ll still want to take a closer look at them, wipe off any water, and inspect them for signs of rust.

Questions Related to ‘Can Skateboards Get Wet’

If your skateboard got wet, you might be curious about these questions too:

Can Skateboard Wheels Get Wet?

Skateboard wheels are typically made of polyurethane, a hard synthetic rubber. Water won’t damage them, but they may feel somewhat sticky or soft after getting wet. For example, a wheel with a high durometer rating of 100A (a hard wheel that feels more plastic-y) might feel more like a 80A wheel after it gets wet, but this fades after a few hours or a day.

Can You Wash a Skateboard?

Being made of plywood, washing a skateboard isn’t a wise idea. However, there are still simple steps you can take to clean your skateboard. If there’s dirt, mud, or other debris on the bottom, wipe it off with a damp rag, and then wipe away any moisture with a dry rag or paper towel.

If your skateboard’s grip tape is dirty, clean off any dirt with a brush. You can also use a tool such as a grip tape cleaning block.

• Tip: Grip tape cleaning blocks can cost as much as $15 for a small size. However, the same tool is used to clean sandpaper in industrial wood shops. You can buy a large sandpaper cleaning block for about half the price!

Is it a Bad Idea to Skateboard When the Ground is Wet?

As we’ve established in this post, skating while the ground is wet could potentially damage your deck as well as your skateboard’s hardware. For that reason, it’s best to avoid skating when the ground is wet.

Additionally, it’s not the best idea to skate when the ground is wet because the ground, especially at skateparks with smooth pavement, can become slippery and dangerous.

Keep Your Skateboard Dry

A wet board can be annoying, but with the right steps, you can preserve your skateboard and hardware, and get back to skating in just a day or two. Remember to dry your board as thoroughly as possible, check for signs of water damage, and inspect your hardware in addition to your deck.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to keep your board in shape longer and get back to riding sooner!