How to Get More Boaters to Your Dock with Dockwa Deals

Boaters have more options than ever. And this summer, with diesel prices up over 50% year over year, they're actively comparing before they commit to a destination.

Dockwa Deals is how your marina shows up in that comparison — and wins.

What Dockwa Deals Actually Does

When you run a Deal, a few things happen:

You appear in boater searches.

Boaters filtering by deals or comparing marinas in your area will see your listing promoted. This is especially high-value right now, when fuel searches on Dockwa are up 5x compared to last year.

You can get featured in boater newsletters.

Dock Talk is a weekly email newsletter sent to boaters in your area who have an active Dockwa account. Marinas running a Deal have the opportunity to get featured placement in Dock Talk and other marketing campaigns — it's one of the main ways marinas reach boaters who are actively planning trips.

You reach Dockwa+ members.

Dockwa+ is the boater membership program that gives members access to exclusive deals, discounts, and perks at participating marinas. These are high-intent, frequent boaters who specifically look for marinas offering member benefits.

Automatic vs. manual redemption.

Fuel deals can be set up so Dockwa+ members receive the discount automatically at checkout — no code required, no staff interaction. This reduces friction for the boater and for your team. If you prefer more control, you can set deals to require manual redemption. Either way works; automatic tends to drive higher redemption rates.

You set the terms.

Deals are fully configurable — you decide the discount amount and duration. Start small if you want to test it; you can always expand.

Timing matters.

Running a deal heading into a busy weekend or a holiday week means you're appearing in searches right when boaters are planning. Don't set it and forget it — check your deal dates and refresh them seasonally.

Getting started

If you're not running a Deal yet, the setup takes a few minutes inside your Dockwa dashboard. Head to the Deals section, choose your deal type, set your terms, and publish.

If you want a fuel deal specifically, make sure your fuel pricing is current in your listing first — that way boaters who find you through the Deal see accurate pricing when they click through.

Questions about setup? Drop us a line: mayday@dockwa.com

Frequently asked questions

What is Dockwa Deals?

Dockwa Deals is a feature that lets marinas offer discounts and promotions to boaters on the Dockwa platform. Deals are featured in boater searches, boater marketing communications, and are surfaced to Dockwa+ members.

What is Dock Talk?

Dock Talk is a weekly email newsletter sent to boaters in your area who have an active Dockwa account. Marinas running a Dockwa Deal have the opportunity to get a featured placement in each send.

What is the difference between automatic and manual redemption for fuel deals?

With automatic redemption, eligible Dockwa+ members receive the deal discount without needing to do anything — it applies at checkout. With manual redemption, the marina staff confirms and applies the deal in person. Automatic tends to drive higher usage.

How do I know if my Deal is working?

Your Dockwa dashboard shows Deal performance, including views and redemptions.