Standup Zone Forum

Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: bing on March 18, 2015, 09:18:49 PM

Title: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: bing on March 18, 2015, 09:18:49 PM
What is the best way to apply RSPro rail tape ?  I have applied other brands of rail tape on my boards using a squirt bottle
with water and a little soap and apply the soap solution on the rail and the tape.  Do you use the same method for
RSPro tape ?  Or do you apply it dry ?
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: DavidJohn on March 18, 2015, 10:48:24 PM
I had no problem applying it dry..

It only took a few minutes to do..

If I do another board I might try the water thing and see how that goes..

http://vimeo.com/121322862
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Off-Shore on March 18, 2015, 11:56:50 PM
Another great Vid from DJ! I also applied mine dry. Helps to have someone help you though if possible so that one person focuses on positioning the tape and holding the end that is still to be stuck down in the right position while the other person focuses on applying the tape and sticking it down to ensure no wrinkles or bubbles.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: PonoBill on March 19, 2015, 12:25:53 AM
I haven't bothered with the water, soap and squeegee approach because RSPro is easy to get where you want it dry, and if you screw up, you just pull it up and do it again. I don't know what the heck they use for adhesive, but it's great stuff. If you get the end screwed up with your fingerprints so it won't stick, you just push it down a few times and it starts sticking. Pretty soon it's stuck down as well as the rest of the tape.

Great video, and that tape makes a good looking board even better. After seeing your board the first time I bought three rolls of that black and white. I think my SIC Bullet 17V1 is going to have black and white soon. the gelcoat isn't adhering to the primer, so its coming up in big flakes. SIC is fixing it, but I think the tape is going to be ruined unless I can pick off the gelcoat pieces. If it is, I'm going for the black and white even though I have a spare roll of the red.

I know it sounds silly to be worried about railsaver tape, but I really like the fact that I've never had to throw away any of it. Even when I've sold or given away a board, I take the tape off and put it on another board. If this tape gets trashed my "record" will be trashed too.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Badger on March 19, 2015, 03:10:21 AM
Air temperature and humidity makes a big difference. I think Pono and Dj applied their tape on a warm day when the tape and glue is more pliable.

I put mine on in my very dry 70 degree living room in winter using the water method and it wasn't easy. A lot also depends on how much rocker the tape has to conform to. My 9'2 Stun Gun has a lot of rocker for a six foot piece of tape. I think it would have been easier on a warm summer day.



Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: gladwell4 on March 19, 2015, 04:56:57 AM
Put RSP on my carbon starboard this week  and went with the dry method after watching DavidJohnʻs video. Went on nice and easy, pulled right into the rocker of the board no problem. good stuff. It was 70 and dry outside.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: mrbig on March 19, 2015, 05:06:39 AM
I had always used the soapy warm water method on my helicopter tape applications.

With the RSP I put it on dry on my SIC and had no issues at all because of the unique characteristic that you can mess with it as it is going on dry..
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: standuped on March 19, 2015, 05:18:17 AM
It may be the "Glue" on rail tape is similar to Paint Protective Film.  I have used this product before and found this video helpful.  You have a "slip" solution and a "tack" solution.  May be TMI for some but here FYE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY_Rd6xur_I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY_Rd6xur_I)
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: eastbound on March 19, 2015, 05:22:54 AM
i apply dry

with no issues

outstanding product
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: amheckSUP on March 19, 2015, 06:21:19 AM
I used a spray bottle with water, per the RSP web site, and didn't find it able to be moved around after I put it on.  I ended up just lifting off one end and putting it back on, like everyone else, and it went fine in the end.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: SUPJorge on March 19, 2015, 06:37:44 AM
dry, no issues with the curves, great product
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: PonoBill on March 19, 2015, 11:52:35 AM
I just tried a wet application and found it to be a lot more difficult to follow curves. So much so that I wiped off the water and started over. The ability to stick the tape down and fiddle to get the curve right is a big deal. The only time I'd probably use water would be if I was putting RSPro on a board with a flaky rail that might come up during repositioning. Otherwise I think dry gives more control.

I always use the water method for applying big vinyl stickers and graphics, but I think it's counterproductive with RSPro.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: surfk9 on March 19, 2015, 03:48:05 PM
I've done about 5 boards with RSP using the dry method, no problems.  Repositioned the RSP on my 14' board after one year, no problem.  Bought a new board and the shop applied the RSP using the soapy water, squeegee method.  Turned out so bad, after several weeks I couldn't stand it, ordered new RSP and put it on the dry method, no problem.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: bing on March 19, 2015, 08:03:36 PM
This rail tape sounds great.  I will put it on dry.  Just purchased a new Bark D2 and will be putting RSPro on it right away.  It will be arriving in a couple of days. The temps in Seattle haven't gotten to 70 degrees F yet but  try it anyway.  Thanks everyone for the input.  Great video DJ.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: SUPcheat on March 19, 2015, 08:45:11 PM
This rail tape sounds great.  I will put it on dry.  Just purchased a new Bark D2 and will be putting RSPro on it right away.  It will be arriving in a couple of days. The temps in Seattle haven't gotten to 70 degrees F yet but  try it anyway.  Thanks everyone for the input.  Great video DJ.

You can put it where you want it and run a hair dryer over it to heat it up a bit, press it on and get all the bubbles out. That's works just as well if not better than warm weather.  I used the hair dryer to stick on a different type of thin rail tape that just wouldn't stay down on the edges.  The hair dryer heated it enough to make the glue interface viscous and it hasn't budged or come unstuck since.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: ford on June 06, 2016, 06:32:48 PM
This thread helped me apply my RSPro today. Just finished about thirty minutes ago.

It is warm here in Texas so I laid it out on my car about an hour before applying... it was pretty pliable by the time I was ready to put it on.

Put my lime green SupATX Scout board on some saw horses....

Went to find my masking or painters tape... none to be found...

Went to find my hard rubber/plasticy squeegee I bought over the weekend... oops left it in my wife's car which is now five hours away at her parents.

At this point you would think I might decide to wait for another day... NOPE. Found a hard plastic putty knife and got to work.

Examined the rails closely... figured out my starting point with the help of some graphics to guide me that are on the top of the board.

The first side took me about twenty five minutes. The first attempt had way too many bubbles... so I peeled off the very front slowly... putting the RSPro end on the putty knife and peeling it off... no problem with the finish. Reapplied... much better. Did the same thing with the back end.

It wasn't perfect but I stepped back a few feet and it looked just fine. The second side when on in about ten minutes... and that was with me really being careful, so I improved a lot. There were very few bubbles on that size, though there is one dead nat that was applied. I tried pulling him off, but no good. Just looks like a tiny dark spot near the front.

I used the plastic putty knife to apply a few inches to the widest point of the rail then smoothed out the bottom and top from the middle. I used the rounded handle of a plastic paint brush to smooth it out and that worked great.

I didn't use water except to clean the rails before applying, but I dried them afterward.

I've already ordered some more for my board arriving this week. I'll be much more confident this time.

Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: LeeBee on June 06, 2016, 07:04:23 PM
Having done it several times, you want to apply it wet so you can squeegee out the bubbles. Water and a little soap or about 10% isopropanol both work, but I prefer the alcohol. You can buy it at the drugstore. The key is to be sure the solution wets the surface of the rail. Be sure to stretch the tape out starting at the middle as you pull it out. Be sure it is warm out (over 70 F.)
They have a good You Tube video showing you how. You will like the product. I also also use the paddle guard edging, you need to stretch it quite a bit so the inside edge of a curve does not wrinkle.
The rail tape works great on the catch area of a surf ski or kayak, and for under your heels on the bottom to minimize scratching.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: sxrracer on June 07, 2016, 05:10:34 PM
I had no problem applying it dry..

It only took a few minutes to do..

If I do another board I might try the water thing and see how that goes..

http://vimeo.com/121322862
Aside from ease of installation.  That video was awesome.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: WhatsSUP on June 07, 2016, 06:01:17 PM
Continue to pick up tips and tricks.....I applied wet first go but will definitely try dry next time....

And Freaking-A DJ, those ride lengths are just ridiculous......Song selection of Led Zep's "Going to California", which is an amazing tune in its own right, has me thinking more "Going Down Under"

 8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: blueplanetsurf on June 07, 2016, 07:28:56 PM
This is how we apply the RS pro tape at Blue Planet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYZF8uFwmos
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: ford on June 14, 2016, 02:31:25 PM
I did my second board yesterday with the jumbo clear tape.

It is super easy on a bigger touring style board where the rails have less curve. I finished in about twenty minutes for both sides and that was really taking my time. Very few bubbles at all.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: toolate on February 03, 2019, 01:16:59 PM
This is how we apply the RS pro tape at Blue Planet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYZF8uFwmos

Hey Robert:
That video says wet wont work on RS pro. But RS pro says it is ok. Did they cahnge the formulation?
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: toolate on February 17, 2019, 09:55:18 PM
did a dry application of Extreme RSPRO
easy! only two bubbles. just go slow, a warm day helps
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: mrbig on February 19, 2019, 05:17:00 AM
More than one way to skin a cat as they say.

Did another RSP install on my SMIK.

Bring it inside. Crank up the heat. Warm soapy water spray one side, spray the RSP, tape the end near the
schnozz. And play with it. It looks like you have made a horrible mistake as it won't stick at all.

Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch, Niagara Falls.

Starts to stick, but floating. All of a sudden it's in place. No bubbles, no lumps, and still moveable. Boom !

Repeat for the other side. No one in the world would admit to doing it this way!

But it absolutely works! Never a bubble and you can adjust and mess with the rocker line to your
heart's content!

Even trimmed the end so the hipster plaid wouldn't get covered!
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: eastbound on February 19, 2019, 05:24:31 AM
OK BIGGIE! ill try it wet next time already....

just did my new starby dry--i still think that there is benefit to tensioning the tape to conform to the rocker shape--and my starby came out perfectly--just saying

what swings me to try wet, tho, is biggies description of the tape as floating around for a bit, then slowly adhering, such that it can be adjusted, bubble free, to good final position--ok already ill try it

need another new board..............

Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: RideTheGlide on February 19, 2019, 05:40:50 AM
I am going to have to redo mine when it is warm. I got my son and a friend to do it indoors back around Christmas and they got it pretty well centered but slightly high. I have some paddle marks below it from the maiden voyage. I got a new paddle also and didn't control it well first time out.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: spirit4earth on April 10, 2019, 03:28:03 PM
Where on the jumbo tape is the RSPro logo?  I don‘t want to cover my board’s logos.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: toolate on April 10, 2019, 04:54:47 PM
most of the way on the back.

by  the way, i did mine dry this time and it was easy. just take your time. squeegee as you go from center wide point. i had like 2 bubbles small on each side and used a pin to pop em
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: burchas on April 10, 2019, 05:15:17 PM
Where on the jumbo tape is the RSPro logo?  I don‘t want to cover my board’s logos.

That's a lot of money to become a billboard. Another option is to go with Helicopter tape:
double the material, various widths to choose from, really clear with no logos and cheaper.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BZWRIY/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I use it on all my boards. Soap water wet application you don't even notice it's there.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Area 10 on April 10, 2019, 05:17:22 PM
Where on the jumbo tape is the RSPro logo?  I don‘t want to cover my board’s logos.
The clear jumbo rail tape has only one logo, which isn’t that big. You can put the logo towards the front of the board or towards the back. So you’d be unlucky for it to clash irretrievably with the board’s logo.

https://www.rspro.org/collections/sup-rail-protection/products/clear-jumbo-rspro
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: toolate on April 10, 2019, 05:45:21 PM
Where on the jumbo tape is the RSPro logo?  I don‘t want to cover my board’s logos.

That's a lot of money to become a billboard. Another option is to go with Helicopter tape:
double the material, various widths to choose from, really clear with no logos and cheaper.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BZWRIY/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I use it on all my boards. Soap water wet application you don't even notice it's there.

is helicopter tape as strong as RSPRO?
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: burchas on April 10, 2019, 06:02:22 PM
Where on the jumbo tape is the RSPro logo?  I don‘t want to cover my board’s logos.

That's a lot of money to become a billboard. Another option is to go with Helicopter tape:
double the material, various widths to choose from, really clear with no logos and cheaper.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BZWRIY/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I use it on all my boards. Soap water wet application you don't even notice it's there.

is helicopter tape as strong as RSPRO?

In my experience it's just as strong. Protected my boards from paddle dings and the occasional concrete impact.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Area 10 on April 11, 2019, 02:45:49 AM
It depends on the helicopter tape. There are different thicknesses and the adhesives can be different too. If you buy the stuff that is (almost) as good as the RSPro tape then it is almost as expensive as the RSPro tape. Annoyingly, there isn’t really an easy way round the issue of the cost of RSPro: you can save a little bit for sure by buying helicopter tape but it won’t be quite as good. Some tape sold as helicopter tape is absolutely useless. I had some thick expensive stuff that yellowed in the sun and then fell off after a couple of years. And the stuff the shop kindly applied FOC when I bought my SIC is too thin so is chipping. I’ve had RSPro tape on several boards, by contrast, for years, and it’s exactly the same as when I applied it. That stuff will survive the apocalypse.

The RSPro tape and the stuff that is very much like it (eg. ION do some very similar stuff) has a texture to it that makes it particularly durable. Helicopter tape is completely smooth.

So, as with pretty much everything in life: you get what you pay for. It’s better to fit nothing than fit the really cheap stuff because you’ll only need to remove it after a while and it will probably pull all the paint off when you do.

Annoyingly, there is no need for boards to chip at all. My customs came with resin tint instead of a layer of paint, and so they do not chip. At all. Ever. There is no reason at all why the brands couldn’t do it that way too, except that it is cheaper and easier for them to just cover everything up with a layer of paint, which hides a multitude of sins...

I’ll bet that RSPro are very glad that the brands don’t make their boards like that. They’d be completely redundant overnight.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: burchas on April 11, 2019, 05:46:43 AM
That’s all true. The bottom line is, there are other options that will give
You better bang for your buck and are more aesthetically pleasing due to
their completely  transparent nature.

I have one on my board for as long as 4 years still going strong. I also
Use it as a blade edge protector as well and is actually a lot better than
RSpro’s offering as far as ease of application and fit.

So your mileage may vary for sure, but buying from Amazon gave me the
Confidence to experiment knowing I can return it if it’s a crappy product.
Gladly iI didn’t have to.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: spirit4earth on April 11, 2019, 05:55:48 AM
JL gets his tape in bulk from findtape.com.  I don‘t know which specific tape he gets, but he’s sending me 14’ of it.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: WhatsSUP on April 11, 2019, 06:02:27 AM
Don't see why this wouldn't work as an option....thoughts?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gorilla-1-88-in-x-9-yds-Crystal-Clear-Tape-60270/204593167
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: JimK on April 11, 2019, 06:09:14 AM
Gorrilla Tape isn't anywhere as go as RSPro for a myriad of reasons

Yes boards could be made better so we don't need this stuff...But at what cost? Who thinks Race SUPs are inexpensive?

JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Area 10 on April 11, 2019, 06:30:05 AM
Gorrilla Tape isn't anywhere as go as RSPro for a myriad of reasons

Yes boards could be made better so we don't need this stuff...But at what cost? Who thinks Race SUPs are inexpensive?

JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
It wouldn’t add to the cost of a board nearly as much as fitting rail tape does.

The paintwork I’ve had on some Fanatic and Naish boards recently is completely unacceptable: it almost flakes off on its own, and almost any tap with a paddle, even a taped paddle, results in a paint chip. Ridiculous.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: WhatsSUP on April 11, 2019, 06:46:41 AM
I should've expanded on my gorilla tape post......I've got a couple of small epoxy chips on one side of my B&B right on the rail just forward of where my RSPro ends.  Rather than buying another package of rather pricey RSPro or even reapplying the existing large size RSPro tape I thought I'd Ding Stick the chips and smooth then cut a 6-8" piece of gorilla tape (or other) and apply to the forward rails where I sometimes tap/hit the board with my paddle on extra extended reach/pulls. Two inch wide tape up forward where the board /nose tapers is plenty........

I think I might try the gorilla tape
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: burchas on April 11, 2019, 06:49:50 AM
JL gets his tape in bulk from findtape.com.  I don‘t know which specific tape he gets, but he’s sending me 14’ of it.

That would probably be the helicopter tape or some other version of it:
https://www.findtape.com/ISC-Helicopter-OG-Outdoor-Grade-Surface-Guard-Tape/p173/?tid=21

I've used this one before as well. SIC in their Maui shop also sell these, $40 for two strips of 6'.

How much for Jimmy's tape?
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: spirit4earth on April 11, 2019, 08:58:43 AM
JL gets his tape in bulk from findtape.com.  I don‘t know which specific tape he gets, but he’s sending me 14’ of it.

That would probably be the helicopter tape or some other version of it:
https://www.findtape.com/ISC-Helicopter-OG-Outdoor-Grade-Surface-Guard-Tape/p173/?tid=21

I've used this one before as well. SIC in their Maui shop also sell these, $40 for two strips of 6'.

How much for Jimmy's tape?

He's charging $2/foot.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Quickbeam on April 11, 2019, 09:04:20 AM
Have any of you thought of taping your paddle shaft instead of the rails on your board? I use this (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017MGPLS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) around the edges of my paddle blade and then I also run a couple of strips about 13” up each side of the shaft from the top of the blade. Works great to protect the edge of my board. I never bother using rail tape anymore. I’m not much of a rail banger to start with, and it’s also true that I don’t paddle in the same kind of conditions as some of you, as I’m mostly a flat water paddler. But when my paddle does hit the rail on my board, this stuff works great. And to give credit where it is due, it was A10 who first put me onto this. It obviously won’t protect the rails from dropping the board, etc., but if it’s just paddle strikes you are concerned about, this might be another way to go. It really is good stuff.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: NEplay on April 11, 2019, 11:44:57 AM
I really appreciate this discussion of rail tape and how expensive the RSpro product is. I have a new board I am looking to tape, although I don't typically do that much damage to my rails in the normal course of use this board has black rails and am I guessing the scuffs will show more. Going to try Helicopter tape linked above and will report back.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: dingfix on April 11, 2019, 12:43:05 PM
I just applied RsPro to a new board, maybe the 4th one I've done. It went on perfectly, no air bubbles at all.   
Use water to apply and just take it easy, I get it onto the apex of the rail then squeegee out the water to the edges.  If an edge won't immediately stick, just hold it down for a minute.   Yes, it's more expensive than helicopter tape but in my mind well worth the extra.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: burchas on April 11, 2019, 01:49:40 PM
JL gets his tape in bulk from findtape.com.  I don‘t know which specific tape he gets, but he’s sending me 14’ of it.

That would probably be the helicopter tape or some other version of it:
https://www.findtape.com/ISC-Helicopter-OG-Outdoor-Grade-Surface-Guard-Tape/p173/?tid=21

I've used this one before as well. SIC in their Maui shop also sell these, $40 for two strips of 6'.

How much for Jimmy's tape?

He's charging $2/foot.

That's a real bargain! Pretty much half the price of the RSpro and coming from him you can be
certain it's the real deal. If by any chance you have some excess try using it as blade guard.

Here is a video where he shows how to install rail tape, in case you haven't seen it:
https://youtu.be/SR3Syu6NMlA
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: spirit4earth on April 11, 2019, 02:43:16 PM
Have any of you thought of taping your paddle shaft instead of the rails on your board? I use this (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017MGPLS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) around the edges of my paddle blade and then I also run a couple of strips about 13” up each side of the shaft from the top of the blade. Works great to protect the edge of my board. I never bother using rail tape anymore. I’m not much of a rail banger to start with, and it’s also true that I don’t paddle in the same kind of conditions as some of you, as I’m mostly a flat water paddler. But when my paddle does hit the rail on my board, this stuff works great. And to give credit where it is due, it was A10 who first put me onto this. It obviously won’t protect the rails from dropping the board, etc., but if it’s just paddle strikes you are concerned about, this might be another way to go. It really is good stuff.

This is a great idea!  I think I’ll tape my rails because it’s quite likely I’ll set my board down on gravel or concrete at some point.  Sure would be easier to do the paddle, though.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: spirit4earth on April 11, 2019, 02:48:46 PM
I just applied RsPro to a new board, maybe the 4th one I've done. It went on perfectly, no air bubbles at all.   
Use water to apply and just take it easy, I get it onto the apex of the rail then squeegee out the water to the edges.  If an edge won't immediately stick, just hold it down for a minute.   Yes, it's more expensive than helicopter tape but in my mind well worth the extra.

Did you use soapy water, or plain water?
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: spirit4earth on April 11, 2019, 02:51:45 PM
JL gets his tape in bulk from findtape.com.  I don‘t know which specific tape he gets, but he’s sending me 14’ of it.

That would probably be the helicopter tape or some other version of it:
https://www.findtape.com/ISC-Helicopter-OG-Outdoor-Grade-Surface-Guard-Tape/p173/?tid=21

I've used this one before as well. SIC in their Maui shop also sell these, $40 for two strips of 6'.

How much for Jimmy's tape?

He's charging $2/foot.

That's a real bargain! Pretty much half the price of the RSpro and coming from him you can be
certain it's the real deal. If by any chance you have some excess try using it as blade guard.

Here is a video where he shows how to install rail tape, in case you haven't seen it:
https://youtu.be/SR3Syu6NMlA

Thanks, Burchas!  I watched a few of his videos.  I probably only need 6 feet per side, so good idea about the blade guard.  I’m not looking forward to doing the board, but since everyone says the tape is removable, there’s not much that can go wrong.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: burchas on April 11, 2019, 03:05:06 PM
I don't know if anyone is looking forward to it, I never do. Take your time with it, when the surface is very wet it's easier to take out the bubbles.
Just make sure you do it in a place with least amount of particles, makes life easier and allows you to take your time with it. Good Luck!
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Dusk Patrol on April 11, 2019, 04:54:48 PM
I put that door guard on paddles not so much to protect the board rail from marks, but to protect the edge of the paddle.

And when applying the tape, helpful to wash your hands beforehand, to prevent fingerprints on tape; and spray your fingers with the soapy water to prevent sticking.  Also helpful if you have a second pair of hands, when peeling the paper backing and setting the tape on the rail. 

Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Area 10 on April 11, 2019, 09:48:17 PM
Yes. Tape board. Tape paddle.

I cannot understand people who do not tape their paddle. At the very least use electrical tape on the paddle. Despite what some people might claim, it does not impact upon the paddle’s performance. But it does prolong the life of the paddle, prolong the life of your board (possibly even more than rail tape does), and it also protects your body against the odd inadvertent bash that sometimes happens in the heat of the moment when SUPing. If you catch your foot or shins with an untaped  blade when changing hands, it can be very painful. There are often the odd occasions where you may be paddling in shallow water and you might catch the blade on something like a rock, or you for some reason need to use your paddle to push off from something, or to lean on it with the blade in contact with the ground, or mud or shingle or whatever, and then you’ll be glad for the tape, so you aren’t grinding your expensive blade upon the ground.

A couple of layers of the quality 3M vehicle door edge protector is ideal. But even just cheap electrical tape is better than nothing. Or, of course, RS Pro will sell you some super-expensive blade protection tape... which is basically pretty much exactly the same as the 3M door edge protector, only a little wider. But it also comes in lengths that are too short to cover the entire blade. Which is a bit dim, in my view, for something so expensive.

I also run a bit of tape for a few inches up the shaft of my paddle, away from the blade. This protects the board and paddle shaft from contact with each other. After all, when paddling it’s usually the shaft not the blade edge that is whacking the rail.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: surfsupla on April 12, 2019, 07:17:58 PM
I taped my very first paddle. Was a decent carbon fiber focus adjustable. Ever since I have not taped my paddles nor my rails. In fact I got a board with rail tape on it from a buddy and I took it off. Just dont care for it. I dont use my paddle as a cane on the rocks though. If I did I would use the handle. The only time my paddle chipped was when my then 6 year old son was fencing his buddy with it. But I sanded it down a tad and was good to go. QB and hippostick both have the ability to do that. And if I break a paddle it would be a good excuse to get a new one. lol. I got so many factors against me in the ocean, just figure dont need to add one more.
Title: Re: Applying RSPro Rail Tape
Post by: Area 10 on April 13, 2019, 04:57:26 AM
You’d never notice any difference in performance with either rail tape or taping the paddle blade. If you do feel a difference, it’s in your head. In fact, RSPro might even make some boards faster (although the difference would be so small that I doubt you could measure it accurately enough to detect it).

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