I'm a newbie also, but I reckon it's saved me dinging the rails. I used the 3M clear tape (50mm wide?) on my 11'6" Naish. I purchased this with my board but applied it myself because I wasn't happy with the skills of the guy in the shop after watching him apply it to a previous customer's board...joinery (laminate) experience helps as once it sticks, it's stuck!

I fixed a 2.1 metre length to both sides, and stretched a 300mm piece around the nose & tail.

So far, so good - not sure about removing, but I'm sure it won't be too difficult if using a 'little' bit of heat and some citrus cleaner afterwards?

This is all you need.. www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=4084.0

DJ

Have just received some rail tape from www.railsaverpro.com - not cheap but feel it will be long lasting to maximize value of board. All colours available.
Yet to apply in place of the 3M tape the board currently has, will try post pictures tomorrow.
Whilst learning I really chipped up my previous boards and found the "yellow" brand of boards especially hard to colour match when selling. Taping your blade with some 3M tape cut down to 2cm width works well or use electrical tape as DJ does.
It's a cheap thing to do to retain the look and value of an expensive item.

Thanks for the quick replies and link to taping the paddle .

Being a newbie who struggled to spend big bucks (at least for me ) on new board the rail tape issue was keeping me awake ( can you tell I need to chill and paddle) .
Went through the same issue when I started windsurfing then coverted to kitting ( I missed windsurfing )

I get my board next week , forecast shows lake ice should be gone and plan to hit the water within an 1/2 hour of receiving it . Gone are the days whining about low wind waiting to kite

etik05 said...
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I am planning to put mastic tape or paddle guard on the paddle for learning

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Tape on the paddle is a forever thing. You don't stop taping the paddle once you get good at paddling.

The reason is that it is too easy to damage the fine edge of your $600 carbon paddle on almost anything it comes in contact with. Paddling skill has nothing to do with it.

Banging a rail in a wipe out, knocking the paddle against a rock or the door of the car or the garage. Having it fall over when leaning up against the wall can all ding your expensive paddle.

With practice you can do a fine job of taping the paddle in just a few minutes. You don't need to put heaps of tape on there or make a big job out of it.

Dinging the rails should be less of an issue. Certainly tape the rails if you want to.

Some of the early boards had poor resin formulations and they would chip very easily. A modern board should be able to stand up to almost anything you throw at it.

Absolutely - tape the rails and tape the paddle blade - will not affect performance of either that you will ever notice.