Hey everyone, I’m curious what you all think about our responsibility as guides to say something if we see private boaters being unsafe out on the river. How often do you step in or say something? Is there a certain thing you will always speak up about? Are there times you haven’t spoken up about a safety matter with private boaters and later regretted it?
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This is a great question that I think about a lot. I see a lot of issues like one boat trips, no PFDs, drinking, loose lines, inappropriate boats, and bad boat spacing. I rarely say anything unless it’s a group that looks like they have absolutely no idea what they are doing and they are launching on a river that is dangerous.
My strategy is to chat with groups and ask questions like “have you been here before?” or “where did you get that boat?” and hope that leads to a productive conversation.
I agree with Zach. In certain situations like when we saw some people prepping for a one-raft trip on Cherry Creek, or another group getting ready to run the Tuolumne at extremely high water without proper gear such as wetsuits or drysuits then it makes sense to step in. After asking a few questions and confirming that they were way over their heads, it’s reasonable to say, “Hey, I don’t think this is a good idea because ________.”
For example, on the high-water Tuolumne, swimmers could be in serious trouble without the proper gear, and there’s a high probability of flipping and floating miles downstream. In the case of Cherry Creek, suggesting they gain experience on some more intermediate runs first seemed appropriate. I believe they had only run the South Fork American a couple of times.
That said, I’ve been on multiple private trips where commercial guides thought they knew more than they did and were quick to correct me or tell me how things were. I’ve also seen plenty of commercial guides and trips make poor safety decisions. So I get a little concerned about encouraging commercial guides too much when it comes to stepping in.
In general, I think it’s a good idea to build a good rapport with private boaters, be friendly, chat a little, and make sure we’re not being overly judgmental. That said, when water levels are high and/or the weather is especially cold, creating a significant risk of long swims, there are times when speaking up is warranted.
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Yeah I think you both are right about needing to create some rapport first and not be overly judgmental. I was guiding a trip on the Owyhee in the spring, and the water was high but the weather was good. A single boat trip of private boaters was launching as we were rigging our boats the night before the launch. None of us said anything, even though we all saw that they didn’t have the proper gear. And I wish we had said something because they ended up having a long swim that night, and another commercial trip helped the two guys make it out. It sounded like a tough time, and I wonder a lot whether they would’ve reconsidered their trip or maybe just been more aware on their trip had any of us said something. Sometimes, I tend to assume that private boaters don’t really want to hear what I have to say.
I think commercial trips are intended to fun, comfortable, and well within safety limits while some private boaters are on a true type 2 style of adventure. They may have poor gear and lack the skills needed for the river they are on. I like to respect their choice of challenging themselves and pushing their own boundaries - especially if that is what they are hoping for.
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This has always been an interesting situation Claire. In the past I have struck up conversations with private boaters that I have encountered on rivers in situations where I felt concerned. They usually will either express doubts themselves, opening up the opportunity for me to speak up, or they exude confidence and/or lack of situational awareness and I just stay friendly and wish them luck.
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I am a new private boater (but not new to the whitewater community) and most of my learning is from more experienced boaters, Gear Garage, etc. I personally would appreciate someone pointing out something amiss rather than leaving it and potentially leading to mishaps. I may be in the minority here but feel that those with the “I know what I’m doing” mentality don’t understand river and whitewater culture. I am not a river guide; just wanted to share my private boater perspective.
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Thanks for sharing! It’s good insight to have. I think also the more trust and camaraderie we can build between guides and private boaters, the better for everyone.
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Your question is specific to commercial guides concerned with private boaters. My answer is to a broader question: Do guides have a responsibility to intervene when we believe someone else is making an unsafe decision?
It’s completely situational. It depends on the participants involved, the specific river or sections, the known risks at the time, how familiar you are with that stretch of river, the potential consequences to other groups if something goes wrong, and how well you know the people making the decision. There are other factors, but those are the first ones that come to mind.
We often refer to river people as a “community,” and communities generally look after one another. At the same time, our river community has a deserved reputation for a strong sense of independence, plenty of ego and confidence, and a culture that values personal responsibility and decision-making. Respecting another group’s choices—even if they differ from your own—is part of that culture.
If there’s a hazard someone may genuinely be unaware of, or a situation where their actions could put other groups at risk or create a rescue that others will inevitably be drawn into, there’s a stronger argument for saying something.
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