How to Paint a Surfboard with Waterproof Paint or Paint Pens

Last Updated on February 28, 2024 by Matt Hapgood

If you have an old surfboard at the back of the yard or garage gathering dust, learning how to paint a surfboard is a great way to breathe new life into an old board – and it’s a fun project for a surfer, that you can do in a few hours. 

In this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know about painting a surfboard – from design, preparation, and finishing. 

Let’s rip in! 

TL;DR (too long didn’t read)

How to Paint a Surfboard: Step-by-Step

Before you get started, you need to gather together all of the materials you’re going to need. If this is your first time painting a surfbaord, keep it simple. 

List of Materials

• Acetone (you don’t need a lot)
• 320 grit sandpaper
• Kitchen cloth
• Masking tape or painter’s tape
• Acrylic paints or spray paints
• Brushes
• Surfboard paint pens like Posca pens
• Paint tray if you want to mix colors
• 1 can of clear coat spray 
• Face mask (if using spray paint)
• Gloves
• Eye protection

Different Types of Surfboard Paint

• Acrylic paints – Always work well, simple to use
• Airbrush – Specialist spray paints for detailing
• Natural dyes – Plant-based earthy dyes as eco alternative
• Surfboard Paint Pens – Brands like Posca make cool paint pens for all sorts of use cases – including surfboards! 

Step 1. Clean your Surfboard

This is THE most important part of the process – make sure you don’t skip this step, or do a bad job. If you do, the paint will not stick to the board and you will have wasted your money and time. 

Firstly if there is any surf wax on your board, you need to clean the wax off. Thankfully, I’ve written a complete blog post on that. Use a wax comb to remove any wax from the board, ensuring you get every last bit off. 

Step 2: Use Acetone to Clean the Surfboard

A quick word of warning – don’t use too much acetone on your surfboard! Depending on the material, acetone can damage the fiberglass so just be aware.

All you need to do is give the board a quick wipe-over to dissolve any grease, dirt, or grime. You don’t need to use a lot of it.

Step 3: Lightly Sand the Board with Sandpaper

Once the board is clean, you can give it a light sand with your 320 grit sandpaper – don’t apply too much pressure, just let the paper do its thing, and try to make long drawn-out strokes across the surface of your board. 

Once sanded, give the board a quick wipe with a damp cloth and you are ready to go. 

Step 4: Plan Your Artwork

Before you start painting, it’s important to plan your design on the board. You can either make a stencil, or on a large surfboard-shaped piece of paper sketch out the whole design. 

You can try out ideas on the paper, and easily modify them ahead of time. Or it can be as simple as using a pencil on your board to get a rough idea of the artwork you want to create.

It’s better to make mistakes on your design so you can rub them out – when you start painting you don’t want any nasty surprises! 

Step 5: Get Painting!

Once you’ve completed the steps above, it’s time for the fun part. Try to take your time ensuring even coverage of your paint.

I like to use paint pens because you can add quite a bit of detail to the area you want to paint and they are easier to control than a paint brush.

Once you have finished your masterpiece, leave the paint to dry – ideally away from potential hazards like bugs or flies, small children, and animals!  

Step 6: Time for Clear Coat

Once the paint has completely dried, you’re ready to apply clear coat.

This is simply a clear laquer that will prevent any damage to your art, and extend the life for many years to come!

Follow the instructions on the can, but it’s basically a case of spraying on a thin layer, with just one or two light coats.

And thats it, you’re done!

Can You Paint a Foamie?

In a word, Yes!

BUT, you need to be careful when choosing the correct type of paint. For most soft top surfboards you can use an acrylic-based paint, but be sure to double-check before you start.

I think the best way to paint your soft top surfboard is to paint the underside – these are normally made from hard plastic, so a lot less squishy compared to the deck of your foamie.

The steps are the same as above, but I’ll say it again – check the paint is compatible with your board before you start. You don’t want to melt your board!

Surfboard Paint: FAQ

What surfboard painting techniques can I try?

• Solid fills – Simple one color looks
• Fades – Blended color gradients
• Marbling – Organic stone-like patterns
• Airbrushing – Fine spray details and effects
• Striping – Bold lines and graphic elements

What Types of Surfboard Paint Can I Use? 

• Polyurethane paints
• Acrylic paints
• Airbrush paint
• Natural dyes