Fly by nite guides

[Quillback]

Bad stuff can happen:

http://www.pressreader.com/usa/northwest-arkansas-democrat-gazette/20150705/281505044882373

[rps]

I just completed a start to finish read on this thread.

I see merit to those who support licensing and those who do not. I think what it boils down to is business risk. People like Babler and Phil, who have serious investments in resort property and over $100,000 in boats and gear, with limited sponsor or discount programs, cannot afford to be uninsured and that dictates a license so they can find affordable insurance.

Those who guide part time with less investment face entirely different financial decisions. To them, the cost of the license and the insurance would eat much of their seasonal profit. To them, the costs of a possible ticket seem a better decision. Two guides who fish the Arkansas portion of Tablerock out of Holiday Island know the waters well and put people on fish. Neither is licensed. For them, the decision process is radically different than that of Babler or Phil.

As for the how much to charge issue? I ain't touching that.

[Bill Babler]

Taking commercial clients, without a Federal Lic is punishable by fine, jail time and loss of future licenses

Fine is neither max or min.  It's a one price deal. $5000.00. You can also heap on Jail time up to 2 years in the event of an accident.  If you are caught you will also not be able to get a license for 5 years, following your arrest.  It's A Federal Arrest

All guide insurance finds its way thru Markel  they are the clearing house regardless of the sales company you purchase your insurance with.  You don't have a Federal Lic you are not insured and are subject to the above.  Not a single one of you would put your money in a bank that did not have FDIC Insurance. Guide business is the same deal only we're talking about your life and not your money. This is a job you had better do right as people depend on you each and every day.  That's why there is testing, health, knowledge,experience and insurance requirements. 

Good Luck

[mixermarkb]

Bill is absolutely right. Guide or not, when someone steps into your boat, you literally have their life in your hands. I think about that pretty often fishing with the 10 year old, or even with a couple of older guys I take from time to time. It's a sobering thought as a normal guy, let alone as someone taking money for it. Same deal as when I'm setting up a concert. People could die from my lack of judgement in any number of ways, so it makes me check, and double check every move I make, no matter how routine. 

[fishinwrench]

Things that should be so simple, are increasingly complicated nowadays. 

But I think the complications are self induced, to a large degree.

Who is likely to be more careful, the guy who knows that if he hurts someone that he is gonna be in BIG trouble, or the guy that knows that no matter what happens..... he's covered ?

I think all this "fully insured" business is making folks reckless.   I have 2 vehicles, one is fully insured and the other I only carry liability insurance on.  Guess which one gets moved into the garage when a hail storm is coming ?

Guess which one I drive the most during deer rut season ?

[Flysmallie]

12 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I think all this "fully insured" business is making folks reckless.

You get people to quit suing companies for any reason they can find then you will probably fix the problem. 

Accidents do happen. If a customer gets hurt at your place of business you better have some insurance to take care of them. 

[176champion]

Someone gets out of there vehicle in your parking lot and steps in a pothole or some kind of uneven ground and falls and breaks a leg or arm you can almost bet your getting sued. The guides boats is there place of business, wave hits a boat and customer falls in boat and gets hurt you better have insurance. People today are sue happy and will sue you in a blink of an eye.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Flysmallie said:

You get people to quit suing companies for any reason they can find then you will probably fix the problem. 

Accidents do happen. If a customer gets hurt at your place of business you better have some insurance to take care of them. 

A customer was unhooking his boat one time and crushed his foot pretty bad. His wife attempted to sue but he admitted it was his own mistake and that he was aware that his tongue jack was a POS so it got thrown out.   

Had one come in once with the complaint being that the fuel gauge quit working.  If I had turned the key on or flipped a switch it probably would have blown us both sky high.....Cuz the bilge was full of gas.  I always wondered who would have been considered liable if that had happened.   I'm around fuel so much that I don't trust my nose, so I try to treat every boat that comes in here like a ticking bomb.... But I admit to getting a bit careless and taking alot for granted sometimes.   I've been very lucky so far (knock on wood).