One of my staff came across a disturbing Story on Buzzfeed about a young woman’s life that is now in tatters.
This is a disturbing story about renting a boat through the boat sharing website Boatbound. 
It is recommended reading for anyone contemplating a boat sharing start-up in Canada or for any owner looking to use their boat to generate a little revenue.
The following story outlines how a woman from NY State rented a boat for the day and indicated on the contract that she would be the sole operator. Through a series of tragic events this woman ended up being struck by the prop while the boat was being operated by her friend.
The insurance companies for Boatbound and the boat owner have denied the claim because the rented breached the rental contract and they state their policyholder did not cause the accident. A massive lawsuit is currently underway in New York State while friends of the injured woman are desperately trying to crowdsource funds to pay the hospital bills.
To my knowledge boat sharing services do not currently operate in Canada but that could change any day.
If you visit the Boatbound website it all looks pretty simple but it can all unravel in a heartbeat and leaves lives in ruin. Mariners need to beware the sharing economy and the promise of easy revenue by renting out your boats.
A Woman Who Lost A Leg In A Boating Accident Is Suing The Airbnb Of The Sea
Boatbound argues Edyta Regnowski was in breach of contract because someone else was operating the boat at the time of her accident | posted on Nov. 24, 2015, at 10:16 p.m.
FOR THE COMPLETE STORY CLICK ON THIS LINK FROM BUZZFEED
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