I guess the point I was trying to make is that people who are just interested in buying something that floats in the buy and sell for a potter around of a summers evening WON'T go to the bother of finding an instructor and paying money. Infact most of these would be kayakers are probably not even aware of this vast network of instructors you speak of, where to find them or (most importantly IMHO) why they would need basic instruction.roshaw_87 wrote:I disagree that Canoeing Ireland should try to advertise courses everywhere boats are sold. It has trained hundreds of instructors to give basic kayak training, it does not take long to find someone advertising kayaking instruction if your willing to look and pay the cost of it.
If Canoeing Ireland weren't responsible for this (which I don't agree with as they are the governing body and should do WHATEVER is necessary to make sure that the sport is practised in the safest possible way) then perhaps Irish Water Safety or some such should be.
If "fair weather kayakers" saw an ad right beside or before the one selling the kayak/canoe they want to buy then they might think about getting some instruction and/or have the information needed to get easy access to instruction. At the very least it would shift the responsibility toward the "kayaker". At the most it might save lives...