Jerry wrote, "...From what I hear this is typical most places, with the exception of a few of the best shops." Suspect you're right, Jerry. On the other end of the spectrum is a place like Monterey Bay Kayaks --- the best instruction available, great boats, great people, but you have to be able to convince them that you really know what you're doing before they'll let you take out demo or rental boats if you haven't first taken one of their very comprehensive courses in technique and self rescue. Once they've accepted you and believe that you know what you're doing, what a great time you can have there! Incredibly beautiful paddling! I checked in with our local (Annapolis, MD) Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) store. They are precluded by their own corporate mandate from giving any sort of instruction or direction. As I guessed, their lawyers won't let them, and, I guess, they're right --- too many idiots who'll come back to a corporation with deep pockets as soon as they do something dumb and get in trouble. But, in EMS' flyer on rental kayaks, they specifically state that they'll provide the boat, PFD, skirt, pump, and paddlefloat --- although they haven't provided whistles on their PFDs (but are now planning to, thanks to whoever mentioned it earlier in this thread). Business is business, I guess. Jack *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Oct 14 1999 - 10:46:48 PDT
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