I'm a referee, and I completed a CPR/AED course this spring. I don't
think there's any reason to think AEDs won't work in a small boat or
that their durability is a big issue.

My primary concern (or maybe unresolved issue) is this: we were
taught that the AED is used in conjunction with CPR. Trying to do CPR
and use the AED with one person is pretty difficult; we practiced with
two people. Why? Because CPR is hard work and it needs to be done
with little or no interruption. Although AEDs are easy to use, it
takes time to get one out, hook up the electrodes, and pay attention
to the instructions.

As a referee, I'm always in a launch driven by someone else and one of
us can take drive the boat to shore while the other provides first
aid. Having one person do CPR and employ the AED is awkward, but
probably better than nothing.

If you're a coach, alone in a launch when the emergency occurs, do you
get the victim in your boat and employ CPR and the AED, or do you
transport the victim to shore where EMTs might intervene? That's a
choice I would prefer not to face, but I think I'd opt to transport,
trying to have EMTs waiting on the beach when we get there.

Regards,
Warren Polensky