Surfing Product Reviews

One of our readers stoked us out with some Christmas gear from XM (Surf More), and we’ll try to review some of their products. The first is this surf board cleaner called Chief Firewater. From their website:

Chief Firewater surfboard cleaner and wax remover is (the) best known surfboard cleaner since 1987. Chief Firewater surfboard cleaner is a wax, tar and adhesive remover optimized for cleaning surfboards and is the best and safest way to keep your surfboard clean.

We’ve tried the Chief a few times now, most recently to clean it up our Fish after a visit to the ding repair guy. Ding repair guys are pretty messy, and the Fish was a mess, wax on top and bottom of the board as well as fiberglass dust and all kinds of bad gunk. We completely stripped the board of wax in the sun using a wax comb and then started to clean away with the Chief.

The chief, used in conjunction with some elbow grease, does a great job of removing wax and tar on your board. It seems to work better and be safer than the gasoline we were using prior to trying the Chief. So as far as performance, we’re giving the Chief a Thumbs Up. It was quick, didn’t require too much, and we got everything off the board we wanted to.

The only downfall of the chief is that it smelled just like Goo Gone. We don’t think this is Goo Gone because it’s clear and the Chief’s website claims it was exclusively invented by the Chief in 1987. However, one might have just as much luck cleaning their surfboard with something more readily available like Goo Gone. However, if you’re at your surf shop buying your wax and traction pads, it might be easier to get the Chief while your there. It works as advertised.

Here is how to get the Chief online:

Brave New World
Hansen Surf