Re: [Paddlewise] Licensing

>Auto licensing hasn't put auto rental places out of business.

When I had about three driving lessons, I thought I was able enough to
drive a car. But it took me about 40 lessons and three examens to get
my license! If it was up to me I would probably have stopped taking driving
lessons after those first three ones! But since driving a car is
'necessary' thing, I was forced to go on to get a driving license.
I wonder if someone had to do that same effort, for something
that is more difficult than driving a car
(as I consider canoeing is, to my standards of course)
and not as 'necessary', would still enough people really do that
to make rental operations worthwhile?
I doubt this very much!
I think it would leave only the more motivated on the water,
who will mostly buy boats, not rent them?
That can perhaps be good for the water situations, but not for the paddling
industry, and that in turn could be bad for us 'motivated' paddlers?

Like a lot of other people on this list, as I have noticed, I too resent
the idea of certification/licensing paddling (although I certainly do like
to learn (a lot) about canoeing). I do not trust organizations
much when it comes to give them that kind of power. I remember for instance
that I had to learn to kayak to become a certified Canoe Instructor!
But kayakers had not (at all) to be able to paddle a canoe to become a
canoe instructor! So much for 'official' canoeing organizations...

So I am very cautious when people 'state' a need for
certification/licensing etc. because some accidents happens.
Organizations/governments could take this too seriously,
and use it in a futile and even wrong way?

Dirk Barends


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