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. Paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing can be positive, healthy, confidence-building activities when people have the right information, equipment, and judgement.
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, we ask retailers and marketplaces to make the safety decision as visible as the product decision:
- Put plain safety wording beside the buying decision on product pages, in-store displays, seasonal promotions, packaging where possible, and checkout journeys.
- Show visible buoyancy aid, PFD, or lifejacket guidance before purchase, including clear wording when flotation equipment is not included.
- Prompt buyers to check wind, weather, cold water, current, tides or flow, local restrictions, ability, and leash choice before launching.
- Make it clear that a way to call for help should be carried on the person, not only stored on the craft.
- Use responsible imagery: packaging, website images, catalogue spreads, and displays showing someone using or about to use the craft should show suitable visible flotation equipment where appropriate.
- Sell or directly offer suitable buoyancy aids, personal flotation devices, or lifejackets wherever beginner inflatable craft are sold, while making fit and suitability clear.
This shared letter supports two linked campaign asks:
- Safe Sale, Safe Paddle: Clear safety wording, warnings, responsible imagery, and recognised guidance before purchase.
- Offer the Buoyancy Aid: Suitable buoyancy aids, PFDs, or lifejackets visible and directly offered where appropriate.
Where recognised guidance and voluntary retailer guidance apply, retailers should make those routes 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.