We hand it over already inflated and assembled, so in theory you do not need this. In practice it is worth knowing for three reasons: if you make a long stop and want to top up the pressure, if you ever buy one, and above all to understand why a badly inflated kayak paddles so poorly.

This follows the model we use — a 3.82 m inflatable rated to 230 kg — but it applies to almost any of them.

1. Lay it out before you inflate

Flat ground, no stones or shells. Unroll the whole hull and stretch it out: inflate it folded and the chambers set crooked, and then the kayak tracks sideways. It sounds trivial and it is half the problems.

2. Inflate in the right order: floor first, then sides

Start with the floor, which is what gives the boat its rigidity, then do the two side chambers alternately, a bit of each. Fully inflate one side before the other and the hull twists.

3. Pressure: not by feel, and not too much

This is the big mistake. An inflatable of this type works at 0.1 bar (1.5 PSI), and you trust the pump gauge, not your thumb.

  • Too little (the usual): the kayak "bananas", sags in the middle, crawls along and tires you out twice as fast. If you are paddling hard and going nowhere, this is almost certainly why.
  • Too much: you stress the seams, and in August sun the air expands and the pressure climbs on its own. Never leave it rock hard lying in the sun on the sand.

With the hand pump the whole thing takes about 7 minutes. If you are going fast and sweating, you are overdoing it.

4. Fins, seats and paddles

  • Fins: they clip into the underside, towards the stern. Without them the kayak will not track and you zigzag.
  • Seats: removable, held by straps. This is the adjustment you feel most: set well, you paddle with a straight back and nothing hurts; set badly, your lower back complains within half an hour. For two people, one forward and one aft, leaving the middle free for luggage. For three, the middle seat goes centred to balance the boat.
  • Paddles: they assemble in sections and the blade angle can be rotated. To start, keep both blades aligned; play with the feather once you have hours in.

5. Afterwards: dry, shade, and deflate fully

Rinse with fresh water if you can, dry it in the shade and deflate it completely before folding. Storing an inflatable damp and half inflated is the fastest way to ruin it.

The three mistakes that ruin a morning

  1. Setting off underinflated. We have said it already, but it is 80% of cases.
  2. Leaving it inflated in the sun on the sand while you swim for two hours. The air expands and the sand is scorching.
  3. Dragging it to the water. Carry it between two people, off the ground. Pebble beaches do not forgive.

With our rental all of this is included and already done: we arrive, set it up and leave it ready at the shore, and we collect it at the end. You can see the gear and exact dimensions on the 2-3 seat kayak, or tell us which day suits you on the rental page.