Kayakomat locations vary widely, from Piteå in northern Sweden to Martinique in the Caribbean. This means that conditions differ greatly, and as an operator, it’s important to adapt our advice to your local circumstances. Feel free to share your own experiences and tips, as they can be helpful to other operators in similar environments!
When to open/close? Safety first!
As an operator, you decide the season for your station. Some prefer to keep it open year-round, while many choose to close during the colder months when paddling activity is low. In the Nordics, for example, all stations close by October 31 due to safety reasons.
Remember, you can also temporarily close your station if conditions require it – such as when an autumn storm is on the way. Paddling is always at the customer’s own risk, but by being proactive you help reduce the chance of accidents.
Even when your station is closed, you can stay connected with your customers – for example by offering next season’s passes as a Christmas gift!
Prepare your station for season start
Here are your pre-season checklists. Please review them carefully to ensure a smooth and successful start to the season.
- Check your land agreement to check if there are limitations on when you can run your business/have the rack on site. Consult us if you need help finding this information.
- Update availability on Admin page
- Check that your local info text on the website is still up to date. Make any changes on Admin page and follow our template text found here.
- Update availability on Google Maps. You are in charge of keeping your Google Profile up to date, so that customers looking at Google Maps can see if the station is open or closed. Read more about Google in this chapter. Reach out to us if you do not have access to your Google profile.
- Start market your station by looking at the marketing checklist.
- Contact your local partners and let them know your opening date
- Thorough cleaning of the kayaks and SUPs
- Thorough cleaning of the spare parts
- Repairing scratches
- Taking care of ropes
- Lubricate the rubber hatch lids
- Seat and cockpit
- Order any spare parts that might be needed from the Mykayakomat shop
- Ensure rack is stable
- Ensure banner and roof is securely fastened
- Make sure all slots have a visible number sticker on the station
- Make sure QR-code is visable and working
- For German market; make sure boat stickers are on and visible. Contact us if you need new ones.
- Change/charge battery
- Sync all locks and update firmwire if needed
- Make sure you have the lateste Igloo App version
- Open all locks with bluetooth to make sure it works
- Create a 100% discount code that you can use when making the test booking.
- Make a test booking of ALL slots before your fist customer arrives. Check that you recieved all pin codes by SMS and email and that the codes are working, and lead to the correct equipment. Do this task when you are by the station.
By completing the form below you confirm that your station is ready for the season, with cleaned equipment, functioning locks, and an updated digital presence. Please fill in the form before you open, but latest 14 days after your opening date.
Prepare your station for winter
Here are your post-season checklists. Please review them carefully to ensure a smooth and successful end of the season.
- Check your land agreement for when you are permitted to stay open. Get in touch if you are unsure.
- Update availability on Admin page. You can do this well in advance. Remember to check that there are no upcoming bookings when closing down.
- Update availability on Google business. Read more about Google in this chapter. Reach out to us if you do not have access to your Google profile.
- Thorough cleaning of the kayaks and SUPs
- Thorough cleaning of the spare parts
- Lubricate the rubber hatch lids
Always store life jackets, paddles, and sprayskirts indoors during winter. It significantly extends their lifespan and saves you money.
Life Jackets:
Damp or wet life jackets easily develop mould and odours that cannot be removed.
Paddles:
The cold can make plastic blades and shafts brittle and prone to cracking.
Moisture in the adjuster mechanisms can freeze, causing damage.
Sprayskirts:
Cold weather causes rubber and seals to dry out, crack, and lose elasticity.
Trapped moisture leads to mould and compromises waterproofing.
Dry, frost-free storage ensures all your gear is ready to go when spring arrives, with no nasty surprises! 🚤
- Make sure station is secured and can resist the winter weather at your location
- Ensure banner and roof is securely fastened
- Turn the kayaks and SUPs upside down if possible
If your station is located in a place where it must be removed during the off-season, you can either dismantle it or move it in one piece. As the operator, you are responsible for transporting the rack and arranging storage.
- Make sure the station is stable
- Empty the rack before moving it with a truck
- Make sure to lift the station the correct way
- Sync and update firmwire if applicable
- Make sure the lock is charged, the lock have a longer lifetime if it doesnt discharge entirely
- If possible, take off the locks from the rack and store inside and replace with manual locks or a wire through all kayaks
- A “low-tech” alternative could be wrapping the lock in a plastic bag or something similar for extra protection.
Your Kayakomat with kayaks is designed to remain outdoors throughout the winter. However, please keep in mind that you should take precautions in the event of exceptional weather conditions such as storms or flooding. Below are a few tips on what you can do.
If a major storm is expected:
- remove the banners
- secure the roof with additional tie-down straps.
If there is a risk of high water levels or flooding:
• If possible, secure the Kayakomat to a fixed object, such as a tree.
• Remove the kayaks to prevent the Kayakomat from floating away, especially the kayaks stored in the lower positions.
• Remove the locks so they do not end up underwater, and secure the kayaks in another way, for example with tie-down straps.
(The risk of theft under these circumstances is minimal, and it may also be preferable to be able to quickly release the kayaks in case of an emergency.)
Contact us if you need any help or have any questions regarding opening and closing of the station.
Update opening hours on Admin page
Opening: Remember to update your availability on the website, so that customers can start booking well in advance.
Closing: Remember to update your availbility on the website, so that customers can no longer book. Check that you have no upcoming bookings before closing. Do you already know when you will open next year? Add that on the admin page straight away, so people can book for next summer.
Read more here under “Station management” on how to update availability.
