To supermarkets, general retailers, online marketplaces, seasonal discount retailers, and other sellers of beginner inflatable paddleboards, inflatable kayaks, and similar craft:
We support accessible paddlesport. People should be able to discover paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing with clear information and suitable equipment from the start.
We are concerned that beginner inflatable craft can be sold in ways that make the product prominent and the safety decision easy to miss. Safety guidance, suitable flotation choices, and basic condition checks should not be something a buyer has to search for after checkout.
For summer 2026, Safe Sale, Safe Paddle asks retailers and marketplaces to make safety part of the sale through two connected commitments:
- Give buyers prominent, beginner-friendly safety information before purchase.
- Make suitable buoyancy aids or personal flotation devices visible, available, and actively offered wherever beginner inflatable craft are sold.
In practice, those two commitments mean:
- Put plain safety wording beside product, display, packaging, and checkout decisions, with clear routes to recognised guidance.
- Use responsible imagery and prompt buyers to consider conditions, ability, local hazards, leash choice, and how to call for help.
- State clearly when suitable flotation is not included and show available choices in the same buying journey.
- Make fit, size, intended use, and suitability clear rather than implying one generic item is right for every person or environment.
Retailers should make recognised safety guidance and relevant voluntary retailer guidance easy for beginners to find before purchase. This letter does not replace formal safety advice, coaching, local knowledge, or product-specific instructions.
This is a pro-paddling campaign. The goal is not to discourage people from getting on the water; it is to make the buying moment more honest, more useful, and better aligned with recognised safety guidance.
Watersports Safety Coalition is independent and is not speaking for Paddle UK, RNLI, RoSPA, HM Coastguard, the British Retail Consortium, Knottingley Canoe Club, any retailer, or any other organisation unless explicit permission is confirmed.