Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

TiltonBB · 07-14-2010, 07:23 AM

Most of us who own and operate boats had the opportunity to learn from a friend or parent how to safely operate and dock a boat. They rode with us and coached us until we got it right.

The big difference with renters is that in most (not all) cases no one on the boat has any significant boating experience or Winnipesaukee specific experience. So when the renter makes mistakes there is no one aboard to offer direction or suggest corrections.

In many ways this works out to the detriment of safety on the lake but the boat rental companies are helped by that. Every time a renter brings a boat back it is inspected for damage and these rental boats are often damaged. The marina then bills the renter top dollar for the repairs, thereby increasing their profit. For the marinas, sending a cluless (Junior Captain Bonehead) operator out on the lake becomes a win-win situation.

07-14-2010, 07:23 AM	#33
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 2,956 Thanks: 675 Thanked 2,179 Times in 916 Posts	The big difference Most of us who own and operate boats had the opportunity to learn from a friend or parent how to safely operate and dock a boat. They rode with us and coached us until we got it right. The big difference with renters is that in most (not all) cases no one on the boat has any significant boating experience or Winnipesaukee specific experience. So when the renter makes mistakes there is no one aboard to offer direction or suggest corrections. In many ways this works out to the detriment of safety on the lake but the boat rental companies are helped by that. Every time a renter brings a boat back it is inspected for damage and these rental boats are often damaged. The marina then bills the renter top dollar for the repairs, thereby increasing their profit. For the marinas, sending a cluless (Junior Captain Bonehead) operator out on the lake becomes a win-win situation.