I just bought a new 9'2 Waterborn Evoke SUP a couple of weeks ago. I have paddled a fair bit before using friends' boards but would say I am still a beginner.

I took it away with me this weekend planning to to use it, though when I arrived and unpacked my board I noticed there is a huge crack all the way around the right fin box. I am completely stumped as I have no idea how this could have happened. And really disappointed that I wasn't able to use it over the weekend!

I have only used it once, and haven't hit anything with it or dropped it. There was no crack after I used it the first time and it has been in storage in a secure spot.

Does anyone know what could have caused this? It looks like the kind of thing that would result from an impact but I really don't know how or when that would have happened. Is there any other explanation? Unless something weird happened while it was on the roofracks?

Thanks for your help!

100% it has had a hard knock as you can see the back of the box is pushed in, just get it repaired and get back on the water.

Are you sure that you did not hit something or run into anything as a similar thing happened to one of my boards but I was surfing at the time fast down the line and I ran over the back of a clubby board that got in my way, check your fin very carefully because it must have been a hard push with some forward momentum present by the look of the fin box in the photo, and also maybe you board is not that strong?:-)

Thanks for the insight. Yup I am sure I didn't hit anything while using it - I have only used it once, in very flat water (in a sandy river mouth, no rocks). It was fine after that, and has been in storage since. Only thing I can think of is that it was somehow damaged in transit while on the car.

Yes Johndesu you're right, makes me think it must be pretty flimsy! I kind of want to call Surfboard Warehouse but I am sure they'll say it's my problem not theirs!

You haven't hit it on the roof of a garage or similar? Looks very consistent with a hit like that

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benjl said..
You haven't hit it on the roof of a garage or similar? Looks very consistent with a hit like that

Nope! I am pretty small (5'2) and it's hard for me to lift it alone - my partner helps me so the 2 times we've loaded it onto the car it's been with 2 of us and we've handled it carefully. Which is why I am confused! Unless it was his fault and he's lying to me

Your partner is fibbing....that is a bloody hard knock to do that. Easy fixed. Doesn't look the strongest of constructions though.

It's a subliminal message .....hate to break it to you

Something happened while it was on the roof rack, probably. Maybe you backed into a branch or went into a garage area with the fin still in, and misjudged the height. It's possible to do this and not notice. Or someone or something jumped on the board while it had a fin fitted and was lying fin down. Lots of ways it could happen.

I got a damaged finbox when a random child jumped on my board just as I was putting my leash on at the beach. The child's parent (a total stranger) said it was my fault for leaving it there! It had only been on the ground, attended by me, for about 5 seconds! Kid just saw it, ran up and jumped on it, and hey presto I got a 80 GBP repair bill.

Sorry Sunflower11 agree with the others. I snapped a fin off a 7'11 Evoke when it hit my ass on a wipeout, took a pretty big whack bruised half my cheek... SBW will be happy to recommend someone to repair but its not their fault. Good luck

If there is any water in that did happen during a paddle out because water would leak in so fast. If it's dry inside the board it dit happens in ...I don't know how
As Area said lots of ways it could happen.

Thanks guys, seems like it's taken a mystery knock somewhere. Now to just get it fixed and back in the water :)

Looks like an impact knock. Fin boxes just don't implode unless they meet some external resistance.

As Jacko said get it fixed properly and get back out on the water