9
The manufacturer recommends using the boat in suffi cient
water condition (see Control table - draught).
CAUTION
It is necessary to suffi
ciently practise undoing the sa-
fety clip and abandoning an overturned canoe on calm
waters in advance!
Prior to every use of the boat, check whether it is nece-
ssary to observe any special regulations, restrictions or
rules connected with the river, surface of water or area
in which you aim to operate.
ATTENTION
The boat is not intended for towing a motor boat, it must
not be slipped or otherwise excessively stressed. In case
of emergency, use the handle to at bow of the boat to
tow.
Sharp edged or pointed items carried in the canoe should
be safely wrapped.
Place all valuables in a waterproof container and fasten
it to the canoe.
Over time, sunlight adversely aff ects the rubber coating
of the canoe; therefore, it is recommended to place the
canoe in the shade after every use.
CAUTION:
On large surfaces of water (seas or lakes), pay atten-
tion to water currents and off -shore breezes. Currents
and breezes may make it impossible to return to shore.
The PALAVA canoe should not be used in challenging
conditions, such as in decreased visibility (night, fog or
rain).
Characteristics of Diffi
culty Grade WW 3 – Hard:
• Big rapids, high and irregular waves, pillows, whirlpools,
medium blockage and low cascades in strongly meande-
ring rivers or blind rivers.
ATTENTION
Pay great attention to your choice of fl otation life-jacket.
The fl otation life-jacket should have a tag bearing details
of its fl otation capabilities and safety certifi cation.
5. Folding of the boat – see Fig. 3
Before folding dismantle the seats and the fi xation belts. Put
the fi xation belts and the small accessories to the open mesh
bag. Do not leave any sharp objects in the boat. Clean and
dry the boat. Force the air out of all chambers. Forcing the
air out can be accelerated by rolling-up of the boat towards
the valves. Spread the defl ated boat on a fl at surface and
fold it – see Fig. 3. Spread the boat fl at. Fold both side cylin-
ders in the longitudinal direction to a half so that they do not
stick out of the ground plan of the bottom. Then roll the both
from both sides towards the centre. Lay the folded halves
one over another and compress them with the compression
belt. Put the boat in the transport bag, add the seats and
small accessories. Force the air out of the bag, roll up the
end of the bag and clamp with the clips.
6. Treatment and Storage
The rubber surface coating of the boat is sensitive to oils,
gasoline, toluene, acetone, kerosene and similar thinning
agents. Prior to storing a dirty boat, wash it down with warm
soapy water. Rinse the boat with fresh water after using the
boat in seawater. It is recommended to check the state of the
infl ation valves and the safety relief valves. If a valve is not
air-tight, it is possible to unscrew the valve body from the boat
with the use of a special valve-key and clean its membrane
with a strong jet of water or compressed air. Prior to storage,
it is recommended to rub the surface of the boat with an
agent intended for the treatment of such surfaces, which has
cleaning properties, and which impregnates the material
to prevent further dirtying, or which is capable of forming
a protective UV-fi lter. Never use agents containing silicon
when treating your boat. Store the cleaned and dried boat in
a dark, dry place at a temperature of (15 – 35) °C, at least 1.5 m
from any radiant heat source and out of the reach of rodents.
During long-term storage, it is recommended to infl ate the
boat for 24 hours from time to time to avoid fatiguing the fold
lines. It is also recommended to have the boat serviced by the
manufacturer‘s authorized service station at least once every
two or three years.
Proper care and treatment of the boat will increase its
service life.
7. Guarantee Conditions
The guarantee period is 24 months and is calculated from
the date of sale. The producer provides cost-free repairs or
replacement of faulty components for material faults or pro-
duction faults. The warrant does not cover any damage of
the air chambers resulting from higher than the prescribed
working pressure !!!
8. Boat Repairs
You can easily repair a damaged boat yourselves by means
of the accompanying gluing set.
Gluing:
• mark out the damaged area on the boat and choose an
appropriately sized patch;
• the surfaces of both patch and place to be glued must be
clean, dry and without traces of old glue;
• we recommend degreasing both surfaces with acetone in
order to achieve a perfect bond;
• spread a thin layer of glue on both surfaces to be glued
and repeat this step once the fi rst layer has dried;
• after the second layer has dried, press the patch fi rmly
on the damaged place, weigh down or use a rolling pin
on a fl at surface.
For minor repairs (punctures), it is possible to re-infl ate the
boat and continue using it after waiting for approx. 30 minu-
tes; after more serious repairs, you should wait for 24 hours
before using the repaired boat. Complicated repairs should
be performed by the manufacturer or at authorized service
stations.
Guarantee repairs and post-guarantee repairs are provi-
ded by the manufacturer:
GUMOTEX Coating, s.r.o.
Mládežnická 3062/3a
690 02 Břeclav
Czech Republic
