RE: [Paddlewise] Nearly Fatal

Hi Alice and All,

Wow!  Those are some pretty ambitious goals.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of wildwater


>     I don't think it's too much to require customers to take a
> basic safety
> course prior to renting equipment.

Well, that depends on the environment and the boats I suppose.  Local lake
warm water vs. Bering sea etc.

I think you might be surprised how many boats are rented on an annual basis
(nope don't have any hard numbers just a ton of anecdotal evidence) to those
with no classes and how few accidents there are.  I can only think of one
fatality in a rental boat off the top of my head and there are certainly
tons of rental operations.

>
>     Stress the importance of *wearing* the PFD.  It doesn't help
> if it's stuffed
> into the cockpit or otherwise in accessible.

I would go beyond that and have it as a stated requirement in your waiver.
If they won't sign the waiver they don't get the boat.
>
>     The customer should have a weather briefing.  Knowing what
> conditions might
> be encountered during the time out could help them from getting
> in over their
> head.

Hmmm...  and what happens if your weather briefing is wrong?  Personally I
would leave this one up to NOAA.  I would never want to be in a position
where I had told a client that I thought the weather forecast was
appropriate to make a particular crossing or trip.  In fact, I used to use
this as a screening device.  If someone said the weather forecast is such
and such do you think I would be ok going to xxx area?  I would usually say
I don't know what do you think?  If they had no means of deciding how a
particular forecast would affect a particular trip then they probably had no
business being there.




>
>     Provide a water briefing.  Knowing the tides, currents and
> water temperatures
> expected along the planned route helps, everything from being
> dressed properly to
> decreasing the work factor and using conditions to advantage
> rather than fighting
> them.

See above.



>     File a float plan.  If you're not back at the agreed upon
> time, wouldn't you
> want someone to look for you and to know where to search?

Do you really want that responsibility?  How about suggesting that your
clients file a float plan with a friend or relative.  You are going to have
your hands full trying to run a small business and I'm not sure that you
want to be the one that calls the CG just someone stopped for dinner after
paddling.  Really I think you would be doing them a disservice by doing for
them work they can do themselves.  Start 'em off right and let them know
that they need to take responsibility for their own actions.




>     What have I missed?
>
> Alice

Sounds like you are very concerned and are trying to run a good shop.  Best
of luck with your venture.

Cheers,


>
--
Rob Cookson

 "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"
Benjamin Franklin

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