I want to be a flat water river guide on the river where I live in FL. I am an expert naturalist and manatee expert. What kind of certification and insurance do I need?
Are there any organizations that can help me?
Thanks in advance
2006-08-22 16:01:36 · 3 answers · asked by jpearl28 2 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Other - Outdoor Recreation
If you are strictly in human-powered craft, things stay pretty simple. But if you have any motorboats in your operation, a lot of the following applies. Double check if any of it does for paid trips in kayaks.
I know river guides in CA, AK and OR, so check for FL, but:
There's no state certification. The individual companies typically require CPR and First Aid, maybe Advanced First Aid training (and they may offer that training in-house). And the better companies have a tiered system in which assistant guides move up to guide solo on easy rivers, then be assistants on bigger water, etc.
But doing it yourself? FL would want you to have a business license. They may want you to collect taxes from your clients (sales, rental, tourist services, etc).
The Coast Guard is going to be the big hurdle on navigable waters. Boat inspections, minimum equipment, captain's license (a "six-pack" license is the entry-level one), etc. Give them a call and ask 1) what waters they have jurisdiction over and 2) their requirements.
You'd need insurance if you are borrowing money to buy the boat - the bank will insist on it (and a business plan, previous experience, etc). Otherwise the point of insurance would be to protect your assets, if any.
Their may well be a Assocciation of Florida Fishing Guides or something like that and there might be have some similarities to what you are doing that they could assist with.
Ideally, if any company is doing anything at all like this, go work for them. See what works, what could be better. How they attract clients, deal with regulations, hire staff etc. You'd be getting paid to learn instead of making mistakes with your own money. Then, a year or two from now, strike out on your own.
Hope that helps.
2006-08-24 09:55:42 · answer #1 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Inquire at commercial operator/company web content. Raft guiding and kayak guiding are 2 distinctive jobs. the two are seasonal occupations. close by businesses pays decrease than national or worldwide ones. communicate with employed classes approximately earnings. All businesses hire classes on a piecework foundation. No journeys no pay.
2016-12-17 15:36:15 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
extremely tough task. look into into yahoo or google. that will may help!
2014-12-09 21:31:36 · answer #3 · answered by cynthia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋