Paddlesport Policies

General Requirements

All renters will take seriously all advice and instructions given by Bay Venture Outfitters staff. A Waiver and Release of Liability Agreement along with credit card information is required to be held on file. We do not accept cash. All rentals are subject to 6% Maryland Sales Tax and 5% Maryland Admission and Amusements Tax.

We follow the following Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) as set by the American Canoe Association for rentals. Participants are expected to be able to:

• Breathe independently (i.e., not require medical devices to sustain breathing)
• Independently maintain sealed airway passages while under water
• Independently hold head upright without neck / head support
• Manage personal care independently or with assistance of a companion
• Manage personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance
• Follow instructions and effectively communicate independently or with assistance of a companion
• Independently turn from face-down to face-up and remain floating face up while wearing a properly fitted life jacket
• Get in/out or on/off of a paddlecraft independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance
• Independently get out and from under a capsized paddlecraft
• Reenter or remount the paddlecraft following deep water capsize independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance

Lifejackets & Proper Clothing 
All renters will wear a PFD (person floatation device/lifejacket), clipped and properly adjusted at all times and will dress appropriately for the air and water conditions on the day of my paddle. We recommend light clothing appropriate for getting wet. We reserve the right to deny rental to persons with overly bulky or unsafe clothing. Closed toed footwear is required for rentals.

A Clear Mind
All renters understand water sports require good judgment and focus, and that if suspected of intoxication you will be asked to leave without a rental and/or refund.

Boat Traffic
All renters will respect and avoid all other boat traffic and are aware that motorized vessels may not see me and it is your responsibility to stay out of their way.

Pets
Pet life jackets MUST be worn. Pet life jackets are not available for rent. You are liable for damages to equipment caused by pets, including but not limited to scratches and rips in decking and foam topper of SUPs.

Equipment Damage 
Renters are responsible for damages, other than reasonable wear and tear, up to the full replacement cost of any equipment rented from Bay Venture Outfitters. For all rentals if you observe any damage, please inform our staff before your rental begins. When rentals are offsite, before and after photographs will be taken and renters will be charged for any damages to equipment during rented time period. Credit card information will be securely stored on file until satisfactory check in of rented equipment.

Age Requirements
Over 18 – Rent all equipment with signed waiver.
Under 18 – May paddle all equipment on water alone with signed waiver by parent or guardian.
Under 16 – May paddle all equipment accompanied on water by parent or guardian with signed waiver by parent or guardian.
Under 13 – May paddle only single and tandem kayaks accompanied on water by parent or guardian with signed waiver by parent or guardian.
Under 10 – Must be accompanied by parent or guardian on a tandem watercraft with signed waiver by parent or guardian.

In the interest of not only your safety, but in ensuring your best experience, we reserve the right to substitute equipment for children based upon size, ability, and experience and require certain placement of individuals on our watercraft. We may instruct and provide you with a complimentary tow rope to ensure your child’s safety.

Weather 
All renters will pay close attention to the weather and return to shore if observing gathering thunderstorms, high winds, or other potentially dangerous conditions. Onsite hourly watercraft rentals may be limited to the North East Creek and Stoney Run when the average wind speed reaches 20 mph (Small Craft Advisory) and any onsite hourly watercraft in the North East River will be called in. In the event inclement weather Bay Venture Outfitters will close and remain closed until 30 minutes have passed since the last lightning flash and/or last thunder clap.

We wish that we had control over the weather – but until then if you are on the water and your hourly onsite reservation is cut short/cancelled due to weather our policy follows:

• If equipment is available with no conflicting reservations, guests may finish the remaining time after the storm has past. 
• Guests who cannot stay and/or equipment is unavailable, our staff will outline options depending on the amount of time you were able to spend on the water. 
• Rental reservations that been on the water more than 75% of their reservation time on the water will be considered a full rental.

Cancelations & Time Policies

Hourly Onsite Rentals
Guests will receive the option of a full refund or future credit with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Reservations with balances of over $120 will be considered a group for the purposes of this policy. No-shows will be charged the full price.

Daily Rentals & Groups
Notice of Full or Partial Cancellation
7 or more days – Option of a full refund or future credit. 
3 or more days – Option of a 25% cancelation fee or a full future credit 
24 or more hours – Option of a 50% cancelation fee or a full future credit 
No-shows will be charged the full price.

Operator Cancellation
In case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances guests will have the option to reschedule at a later date or time, elect to receive a future reservation credit, or receive a full refund. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. 

Note: Refunds in the form of future reservation credit do not include the booking fee in the final total. The future reservation credit amount will reflect the amount paid before the FareHarbor booking fee is applied, so even though the amount is smaller than the original payment, the gift card will bring your future subtotal to zero, which takes away the FareHarbor booking fee. 

Time Policy
In order to guarantee that your desired equipment is available for your reservation we place a hold on the equipment potentially turning away other customers that may try to reserve. Due to this, all reservations are charged for the full time regardless of when the equipment is returned.

A fifteen (15) minute grace period is allowed for time overages, beyond that renters will be automatically be rebooked for the next larger time slot if the time slot is available or we will send a staff member to remind you to return your rental and charge a late fee of $25 per person. Example: at 2 hours and 15 minutes on water an “up to two hour” rental will be upgraded to an “up to four hour” rental.

Deposits

Large groups, multi-day rentals, and/or advanced rentals, at our discretion, may be offered the ability to make a refundable 50% deposit on the rental instead of paying up front in full. Full payment will required 10 days before your reservation. Once the full payment has been made cancelation and modification of a reservation will follow the cancelation terms listed in the “Daily Rentals & Groups” cancelation section.

Off-Site Specific Polices

Loading/Unloading
All participants must have signed waivers on file with Bay Venture Outfitters. Additional participants may electronically sign a waiver at bayventureoutfitters.com by clicking “Sign My Waiver.” Don’t worry it is also mobile friendly. Those under 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver.

Additional Participants 
Due to liability we will not provide any materials (straps, etc.), guidance, recommendation, or physical help to secure rented equipment to your vehicle. Before and after photographs will be taken and renters will be charged for any damages to equipment during rented time period.