The Great Getaway: Run Your Own Canoe Livery!

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TO LIVERY OR TO OUTFIT?

First of all, it's important to realize that there are differences between a canoe livery and a canoe outfitter. In general, a livery is a small operation that offers the bare essentials: a few canoes, paddles, and life jackets ... transportation to and from the river ... and a minimal amount of paddling instruction. On the other hand, an outfitter is usually a much bigger enterprise, boasting not only a large fleet of rental craft (rafts and kayaks included) but also camping gear and supplies, detailed maps of the waterways, guided tours, and intensive instruction. Outfitters tend to service folks who are into long excursions—in areas such as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area along the Minnesota-Canada border—or tough white water.

Dabbling in outfitting might be tempting, but in the beginning you'd better start a small livery with maybe 6 to 12 canoes. Then later, once you've made a success of this business, you can expand into outfitting, if you like. Besides, by starting small you probably won't have too much trouble unloading most of your equipment if you don't do well.

ROUGH WATERS

The actual day-to-day running of a canoe livery is pretty straightforward (and something I'll get into shortly); it's setting up shop that's the tough part. Your first and most difficult problem is to find a good location for your business, on or near a waterway that is [1] navigable (no rougher than a moderate Class 11 according to the International Rating System for grading river difficulty) ... [2] aesthetically pleasing . . . [3] blessed with a sufficient number of public access points ... and [4] fairly close to a major urban area. Keep in mind that this last point could be the one that ultimately determines your rate of growth.

Another thing to think about before acquiring a place for your livery is whether the property is zoned for commercial use. If not, getting it rezoned generally isn't too difficult: Most counties welcome the type of family-recreation business you want to operate. Simply check with the local planning and zoning board for details. If you're purchasing property in need of rezoning, be sure that you make the sale contingent upon this.

[EDITOR'S NOTE. The acreage your business is on isn't the only land you'll have to think about. If the river you plan to use runs through private property, it's a very good idea to try to make friends with the landowners. Many locals don't take kindly to folks' beaching and picnicking on their property without permission!]

MONEY TALK

Once your location is squared away, you can worry about buying equipment. Be forewarned: Equipment for a canoe livery requires a substantial investment on your part. As a rule, purchase the finest equipment you can afford. Good, solid gear will last longer and provide you with the best liability protection.

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