| "My concern is that (a) the liability waiver, no matter how worded, might not protect your license and (b) would be useless to your puppies in the event of a catastrophic loss."
Which was precisely my point when I wrote that the attorney for the heirs (or insurance company) would love to have that piece of paper.
There is no way a licensed master can sign away his authority or responsibility, and no way anyone can sign away his heirs right to sue.
The license issuing agency (USCG in this case) would use that piece of paper as evidence of a voyage performed with full knowledge of the existence of conditions that would preclude a prudent mariner from beginning.
The very existence of the paper is a testimonial to all the reasons people give for hiring a licensed, and hopefully experienced, captain instead of some boat driver who has nothing to lose.
I don't really want to throw stones or start a flamefest, but the example given shows the difference between professionals and amateur mariners, licensed or not.
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