Without HireHelm
You're losing weekend bookings because customers can't book outside office hours
Paper waivers get wet, lost, or forgotten — and you're exposed if something goes wrong
You've double-booked kayaks because the spreadsheet wasn't updated in time
Customers turn up without paying, or you're chasing bank transfers days later
You spend more time on admin than actually running sessions on the water
With HireHelm
Online Kayak Booking
Let paddlers browse availability and book sessions 24/7 from any device.
Digital Safety Waivers
Collect signed waivers before arrival. Essential for kayak hire liability protection.
Fleet & Session Tracking
Know which kayaks are out, who has them, and when they're due back.
Seamless Payments
Take deposits and full payments online. No more chasing cash on the riverbank.
See HireHelm in Action
Group Waiver Status
Booking #KY-1093 · Reynolds Family · 4 Kayaks
Alex Reynolds
Waiver signed ✓
Sarah Reynolds
Waiver signed ✓
Jake Reynolds (16)
Pending signature
Emma Reynolds (14)
Pending signature
Everything included
Everything You Need to Run Your Kayak Fleet
Every feature is included with your HireHelm plan. No add-ons, no hidden costs.
Branded Booking Widget
Embed a booking calendar on your website that matches your brand. Customers pick a session, choose their kayak type, and book in under 2 minutes.
Automatic Waiver Collection
Send digital waivers via email or SMS before arrival. Signed, stored, and searchable — no paper needed.
Group Booking Support
Handle corporate team days, school groups, and stag parties with group booking tools and bulk waiver collection.
Weather-Ready Cancellations
Cancel or reschedule sessions with one click. Customers are notified instantly and can rebook.
Multi-Location Support
Run kayak hire from multiple launch points? Manage them all from one dashboard with separate availability calendars.
Reporting & Insights
See which sessions sell out, which kayaks need maintenance, and where your bookings are coming from.
Keep exploring
More from HireHelm
Dive into the UK software guides, the full feature set, or another craft type.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can customers book kayaks online and sign a waiver before arriving?+
Yes. Customers pick a time, sign a digital waiver and pay in advance from their phone, so they arrive ready to paddle and your team isn't filling in forms at the water's edge.
Does HireHelm handle hourly and half-day sessions plus walk-ups?+
It does. Offer hourly, half-day and full-day slots with live availability, and add walk-ups into the same calendar so you always know how many kayaks are out and how many are free.
Can I take group and family bookings?+
Yes. Book multiple kayaks in one transaction with a single waiver flow for the group, ideal for families, stag and hen parties, and corporate days.
How is equipment and buoyancy-aid allocation tracked?+
Each booking records how many kayaks and buoyancy aids are allocated, so you can see capacity at a glance and avoid double-allocating boats during a busy window.
What happens with deposits and no-shows?+
Taking payment at booking sharply reduces no-shows. You can also hold a small refundable deposit and message customers automatically with arrival details to keep sessions running on time.
How is HireHelm different from a spreadsheet or generic booking tool?+
It's built for on-water hire — waivers, hourly slots and walk-ups are native — and it links to verified GotAPal reviews from real paid hires plus integrated payments, so you build trust and get paid without commission to a marketplace.