Using an Electric Pump to Inflate a Paddleboard: A How-To Guide

Electric pumps are a great way to quickly inflate your paddle board. You can attach the pump, set your desired pressure, and let the pump do the rest. The best pumps have a maximum pressure setting to help prevent over-inflation. Rechargeable pumps can be used when you don’t have power nearby. 12V and 110V pumps are available that can inflate multiple boards before needing to cool down.

You love your inflatable paddle board because it’s lightweight and portable, but when it comes to inflating it, using the included hand pump wears you out before you even get started.

In this article, we will describe electric pumps in detail, so you never make an overinflating or underinflating mistake again. We’ll also go step by step, explaining how to inflate your paddle board with one of these pumps. Keep reading, as you won’t want to miss it.

What Is an Electric Pump?

Let’s start by getting you on the same page with what we mean when we refer to an electric pump. This is a type of pump that, as the name tells you, uses a source of electricity to inflate your paddle board. The setup includes a nozzle, a hose, and the pump itself.

Most electric pumps also come with a PSI gauge. This lets you monitor the pressure in pounds per square inch or PSI. Some pumps even allow you to select the PSI you want. Then, when they reach that pressure, they turn off. This prevents underinflating, and, more importantly, overinflating.

While they use different power sources, it’s common for your electric pump to run off a 12-volt plugin. You know, like the one you’d find in your car or truck. You can inflate your SUP board as you arrive at your destination and then get riding faster. Do know you might suck up some car battery if your vehicle isn’t on and you use the 12V plugin.

Does your car not have a 12V plugin? No problem. You can alternately power your electric pump with battery cables that run at 12 volts. It’s a little harder to setup, and you need the proper adapter cords. You may instead want a rechargeable pump like the one in the next paragraph.

Can You Use an Electric Pump to Inflate a Paddle Board?

As we mentioned in the intro, yes, it’s possible to use an electric pump for inflating your SUP board. In fact, some paddle board brands make electric pumps specifically for inflatable boards.

What features do these Electric Pumps Have?

Power Button
A Digital Gauge
Pressure up and down buttons to set the right PSI
Multiple plastic tips for different valves
Automatic inflation
The pump will automatically stop when it’s at the set PSI/BAR
Delation mode: Electrically assists in deflating your board
12v plug or rechargeable battery

How to Inflate a Paddle Board with an Electric Pump

Okay, so by now you’re thinking of buying an electric pump for your inflatable SUP board if you haven’t done so already, that is. You just have one other question: how do you inflate your paddle board?

Step #1: Find the inflation valve on the electric pump. Look for the stem and see whether it’s open or closed. If it’s closed, the stem will point up. You will want to make sure the stem is closed, so if it’s not, apply pressure to the stem with your thumb. Then twist the stem until you feel the spring move upwards. Now you can push air into the paddle board without losing it, as the valve works one way.

Step #2: If your pump has an inflation meter, make sure this is on the pump’s inflate side. The meter will help you see how full your SUP board is. Connect your pump hose to your inflation meter.

Step #3: The pump hose has two ends. With the one end on the inflation meter, take the spare end and connect it to the pump’s H3 valve. You may have to do some twisting to secure it. It’ll lock when you have the placement correct.

Step #4: Plug your electric pump into a source of electricity. (INPUT: DC 12Volt 110W)

Step #5: Let the electric pump begin inflating your SUP board, but don’t allow it to surpass your chosen PSI. Sometimes the inflation valve can seem almost empty even as the paddle board fills with air and stiffens.

The more you do this, the easier it will become. With time, inflating your paddle board will be second nature.

What Happens If You Underinflate or Overinflate Your Paddle Board?

With many electric pumps allowing you to set your PSI, there’s little risk of you underinflating or overinflating. However, it can happen, especially to beginners who don’t quite understand their electric pumps yet.

Let’s say you didn’t fill your paddle board with enough air. What will happen? Have you ever gone swimming with an inner tube that was underfilled? It feels wobbly and unstable. It’s the same with an underinflated SUP board. You wouldn’t want to stand on a paddle board like that because you could lose your footing and fall into the water.

If you go the opposite direction and fill your paddle board too much, then you’re going to have a different problem. Now your SUP board is stuffed with more air than it can handle. It’s at a much higher risk of popping. If you happen to be standing on the board when this happens, it could lead to injuries.

A paddle board that you inflated correctly should feel firm to the touch but not too hard. If you can push your fingers down on it and the material yields, then the board could use more air.

What do I do if I Don’t Have Electricity to Use the Pump?

Alternately, you can try a top of the range high-pressure, Dual Chamber, Triple action SUP hand pump. These will require more effort than using an electric pump. But way less energy than the traditional single chamber pumps.

High-pressure hand pumps do have their advantages. You may be able to cut down your inflation time by doing it yourself, but you do have to put a lot of physical effort into the venture. Make sure you don’t exhaust yourself before you even get out on the water on your SUP board!

What you should avoid using is a high-pressure air compressor. You might accidentally end up destroying your SUP board with one of these.

How to Deflate and Store Your Paddle Board

You just came back to the shore after an exciting day spent paddle boarding. Once you towel yourself dry, and your adrenaline comes down, you’ll have to release all the air from your board. While you’re kind of doing the steps above in reverse, we figured we’d cover how to deflate your SUP board anyway.

Step #1: Find your board’s valve cover. There should be a pin or spring in the valve.

Step #2: Push the spring or pin aside, so air begins leaking out. Then, press harder on the valve, moving the pin or spring more as you do so. This will set the valve to open.

Step #3: Wait for the SUP board to deflate fully. You can help it along with your electric pump, but putting the hose onto the deflate nozzle and let the pump suck the air out.

But without the pump, you can helpfully deflate the paddleboard by starting to role it from the nose. But do it slowly and gently and don’t get too forceful, or you could damage the inflatable material.

With your board now completely deflated, you can roll it up completely, strap it up and stash it away for later.

If your paddle board came with its own carrying case or bag, we recommend you use it. This will prevent sun fading and other environmental damage that makes your board look prematurely old. Your inflatable board should fit in the bag, but if it doesn’t, unfurl it and roll it up tighter.

Make sure that you always let the inflatable dry and then roll it up. It should have no salt or grit on it either when you store it away. If it does, the salt could ruin the board. A wet rolled-up paddle board could develop bacteria like mold and mildew. That’s not a very pleasant surprise to come back to the next time you want to go SUP riding.

Can You Leave Your Paddle Board Inflated?

There’s no need to deflate and re-inflate your paddle board each time you want to ride it. That said, you must have the storage space for the board at its full size. You also want to take precautions to keep your SUP board from popping.

Here are some recommended tips:

Use a paddle board cover to safeguard it.
Keep the paddle board away from direct sun. The warmth can lead to air expansion and could pop the board.
Never put your board directly on the ground, as a hard surface could tear the inflatable material.
Before you ride your paddle board again, add some more air. The board will gradually deflate the longer it’s sitting. This is normal, but it could lead to underinflation.

Final thoughts

Now that you understand all the options for getting your inflatable paddle board up and ready to go, it’s time to get out there and ride.

Stay safe, and as always, have fun!