The Great Getaway: Run Your Own Canoe Livery!

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Next on your shopping list are paddles and life jackets. Don't buy wooden paddles: They feel good in the hand of an expert, but in the grip of a beginner they are apt to splinter away very quickly. So invest in long-lasting aluminum, rubber, or plastic paddles. And don't buy kapok-filled life jackets. While kapok's inexpensive, it's also dangerous: If a jacket gets punctured, it'll sink! There are better (and, unfortunately, more costly) jackets available for around $40 each. A good one could save a life or a lawsuit!

VEHICLES

Part of your job as a livery operator is to get folks to the river. A used van or bus will suffice for this service. Don't use a truck: Not only is it dangerous to haul people in the back of a pickup, but in many states it's also illegal. You can usually purchase a used van, one that is in good condition and that has been driven only about 20,000 miles, from a carleasing company.

If you're going to be transporting people, you're going to be hauling canoes as well. I suggest that for this job you find a good new or used manufactured canoe trailer (a secondhand Iron Mountain ten-rack model is about the best around). Of course, you can always build your own boat toter, but don't underestimate the stresses it will be subjected to. One busy Saturday morning, the tongue of my homemade trailer came off and dumped a rack full of canoes smack-dab in the middle of a railroad crossing!

PAPERWORK

At one time, on-water liability insurance was a rare and costly commodity, but nowadays (thanks in part to the tremendous surge of interest in river riding) it's a lot easier and less expensive to obtain. The best place to get such protection is through the National Association of Canoe Liveries and Outfitters, in Chicago. This association offers low rates for on-water protection, plus group health insurance, a directory of more than 100,000 liveries and outfitters across the country, and other benefits as well. Send an SASE with your queries to NACLO (see list of sources for address).

To further protect yourself from unforeseen mishaps down the road, you're going to need a good, clear customer sign-up form, preferably one that's been prepared by a lawyer. (If you don't have a legal friend willing to help you out, why not barter a canoe trip for such advice?) This form should be a contract between you and your customer that states the responsibilities of both parties. For example, you agree to provide equipment in good working order, and your client is responsible for returning the equipment to you in pretty much the same shape, less normal wear and tear. The form should declare that customers are responsible for any injuries they sustain or personal property they lose. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Also, you might want to prohibit alcoholic beverages (warn folks of the dangers of PUI, or paddling under the influence), fishing without a license, littering, and picnicking at unspecified locations.]

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