Welcome to the Skipperly Community

Spring has a way of sneaking up on lake communities. One week you're watching ice melt from the kitchen window, and the next you're standing on the dock wondering where you stored the bumpers.

April is that in-between month — too early for most outings, but exactly the right time to get organized for the season ahead. Whether you're a seasoned captain who's been doing this for decades or someone who just bought their first pontoon over the winter, the next few weeks are your window to set the tone for a safe, relaxed summer on the water.

That's what these posts are about. Each month, we'll share practical advice, safety reminders, and updates from the Skipperly community — all aimed at helping you spend less time worrying and more time enjoying what brought you to the lake in the first place.

Your Preseason Boat Checklist

There are a hundred spring commissioning guides online, and most of them read like they were written for yacht mechanics. Here's the version for the rest of us — the things that genuinely make a difference when you're getting a recreational boat ready for the season.

Life jackets first. Pull every jacket out of storage and actually inspect them. Squeeze the foam — if it's stiff, compressed, or crumbling, it's done. Check the buckles, zippers, and straps. And here's the one most people miss: do the sizes still match your crew? Kids grow. That child medium from last August might not fit anymore.

Battery and electrical. If your battery sat on the boat all winter without a tender, test it before you trust it. A voltmeter reading below 12.4V means it's not fully charged. Check terminal connections for corrosion. Test your bilge pump, navigation lights, and horn.

Safety equipment audit. Fire extinguisher gauge in the green? Flares within their expiration date? Throwable flotation device still in good shape? These are the things you'll need if something goes wrong.

Engine and fuel system. Check oil and coolant levels. Inspect hoses and belts for cracking. Start the engine on muffs before you launch — better to find a problem in the driveway than at the ramp.

Skipperly tip: Log your life jacket inventory in the app this spring. When your first outing rolls around, the system will match jackets to your guest list automatically.

What's New in Skipperly

Life jacket inventory matching is live. When you create an outing and your guests RSVP, Skipperly now checks whether your on-board life jacket inventory covers everyone — by size, not just by count.

Pre-departure checklists are rolling out. A two-minute checklist that walks you through the essentials before you leave: weather, guest count, safety gear, waivers.

We're launching at West Shores Lake. If you're reading this, you're part of it. We're looking for captains who want to try Skipperly this season and give us honest feedback.

Ready to get set up for the season? Join the beta and log your boat before the first outing.