Self-service paddle board and kayak lockers

A paddle board locker is a self-service rental station installed by the water: a secure locker that stores stand-up paddle boards, kayaks or canoes, and releases the equipment as soon as a customer scans a QR code. Playa Rent is a French company, founded in 2022 and based in Angers, that designs, manufactures and installs these paddle board and kayak lockers all over France.

What is a paddle board locker?

A paddle board locker goes by several names: autonomous rental station, smart locker, paddle board vending station or “SUP locker”. The principle is always the same: the water sports equipment is stored and locked in a structure installed on a beach, a quay, a riverbank or a campsite. Customers rent directly on site from their phone, with no staff and no booking, then return the equipment to the locker at the end of their outing.

At Playa Rent, the same locker can hold paddle boards, kayaks and canoes. So it is just as much a kayak locker as a paddle board locker: the operator chooses which equipment to offer for rent.

Renting a paddle board or kayak from a Playa Rent locker

1. Scan the QR code on the locker: a web page opens, no app needed.
2. Enter your details: read the general terms of access and use, then provide your email address and phone number.
3. Lower the lever: you have 5 minutes to check your equipment. If anything is missing, lock it back in the locker.
4. Head out on the water with your paddle board or kayak, life jacket and paddle, then return the equipment to the locker.

Learn more about self-service paddle board rental and self-service kayak rental, or find the nearest locker on the All stations page.

Playa Rent, a French manufacturer of paddle board and kayak lockers

Every Playa Rent locker is designed, machined and assembled less than 200 km from our headquarters in Angers, with industrial partners from western France: precision machining by SERMOP in Laval, sheet metal work by TPA Industrie near Angers, and paddle boards and kayaks by Tahe Outdoors in Vannes. Discover how our stations are made.

• Ultra-tough: the locker is made of marine-grade aluminium, built to withstand the weather, temperature swings and salty air.
• Ultra-secure: a metal bar runs through the board or kayak. It is a patented system.
• Ultra-waterproof: even fully under water, during a flood or a storm, the station keeps working.
• Energy self-sufficient: no power supply and no concrete slab needed.
• Ultra-compact: two people can install it and it can be transported on a simple trailer.
• Customisable: optional wood cladding, suitable for all ground types.

Installing a kayak or paddle board locker on your site

Campsites, leisure parks, water sports clubs, local authorities, marinas or entrepreneurs: a paddle board locker lets you offer water sports equipment rental 7 days a week, without dedicated staff. With Playa Rent, you own your station:

• A first station from €4,650, without the constraints of a franchise.
• You keep 100% of the revenue: Playa Rent takes no commission on your rentals.
• A target return on investment of one and a half seasons.
• Fully digital management from your smartphone or computer: opening hours, dynamic pricing, season dates, payments and remote release of equipment.
• The equipment of your choice: 10’0’’ rigid SUP, Ouassou rigid kayak or Trinidad rigid canoe.
• Support to obtain your occupancy permit from the local council and install your station.

Three maintenance contracts are available (basic, standard and premium), from the minimum needed to run the locker up to complete replacement of the equipment every 3 years. All the details are on the Become an operator page, and if you are starting from scratch, the Start your business page guides you step by step.

Our other self-service lockers

Playa Rent locker technology is also available for other uses:

• BeachWheel: the self-service beach wheelchair station, making beaches accessible to everyone.
• Boaty’nGo: the self-service boat tender locker for marinas.
• Bib’nGo: the self-service life raft locker for marinas.

FAQ about paddle board lockers

Which companies offer self-service paddle board lockers?

In France, several companies offer self-service paddle board and kayak rental stations. Playa Rent is one of them: a French company that manufactures its lockers in France, sells them to operators without taking any commission on their revenue, and runs a network of stations open to the public, from Brittany to the Mediterranean.

How much does a paddle board locker cost?

At Playa Rent, a first station starts from €4,650. The final price depends on the chosen configuration (number of slots, equipment, cladding) and on the maintenance contract. You can request the technical documentation on the Become an operator page.

Does a paddle board locker need electricity?

No. Playa Rent lockers are energy self-sufficient: they need neither a power supply nor a concrete slab.

What is the difference between a locker, a smart locker and a rental station?

None, essentially: these terms all refer to the same equipment, a secure structure that allows water sports equipment to be rented on a self-service basis.

Can you rent a kayak from a locker?

Yes. Depending on the equipment chosen by the operator, a Playa Rent locker can hold paddle boards, single or double kayaks, or canoes. The available equipment is listed on each station’s page.