Ten Years of Dockwa: Reflections from the Crew Who Built It

At Dockwa, we’ve always believed that life is better when people spend more time on the water, connected to nature, to each other, and to the communities that make this lifestyle possible. But this belief didn’t just manifest overnight. It’s been a journey (a decade-long adventure) shaped by countless conversations, shared challenges, and a collective commitment to be better for boating.

In honor of Dockwa’s 10-year milestone, we asked the people who have been here since the very beginning - our founders, engineers, and product pioneers - to share what they’ve learned along the way. What emerged was a deep respect for the people and the places that make the boating experience meaningful and a pride in building tools that help us all get back to doing what we love: spending time on the water.

Tyler Kneisel – Co-Founder, Chief Experience Officer, Head of Customer Support and Implementation

"Be Better for Boating."

From the start, it’s been more than a slogan, it’s how we judge our work and its ripple effect across the marina community. Over the last decade, I’ve watched marinas ditch piles of paperwork for a few clicks on a screen, and delighted in reading thousands of boater testimonials about how we’ve helped them find new marinas and simplify their journey.

Technology has been a powerful ally, but we never forget: the heart of this industry is human connection. No marina owner dreams of being glued to a keyboard, and no boater wants to juggle invoices when they could be chasing a sunset.

I’m proud of the balance we’ve struck—streamlining the dull stuff so dockhands can actually talk boats, and boaters can get straight to what they love. Have we arrived? Maybe not entirely. But every morning at Dockwa, we recommit to making life on the docks a little smoother, a little friendlier. Always striving to be better for boating.

Stuart Yamartino – Principal Software Engineer

Growing up on the water, I had my own idea of what boating meant to me. Over the past decade at Dockwa, I’ve had the privilege to witness what it means to so many others.

Boating means memories. Boating means community. Boating means “I almost forgot this was the point.” Boating means scary experiences that make you stronger. Boating means meeting new people. Boating means making it to the dock just before the sunset. Boating means teaching someone a new skill. Boating means sharing stories. Boating means passing down traditions. Boating means adventure. Boating means nostalgia. Boating means passion.

Building software for boaters is a unique challenge, because boating itself is deeply personal. Every boater brings their own story, priorities, and dreams. Through years of gathering feedback, solving problems, and chasing a better user experience, I’ve learned just how meaningful it all is.

And that’s what makes this work so rewarding.

Christian Hatch – Principal Software Engineer

Over the past 10 years building Dockwa’s mobile apps, I’ve come to appreciate how much marinas mean to the communities they serve—and I’m proud that our work helps them thrive.

I’ve learned that the best tools, especially for boaters, are the ones that get out of the way. Whether you’re pulling into a slip, planning a summer cruise, or paying for fuel, things should just work—even in places where Wi-Fi barely does.

Simplicity takes real effort, but it’s worth it when technology lets people spend less time on logistics and more time on the water—or more time with customers and less time in the dock office. Building for both boaters and marina staff has been a decade-long reminder that great software supports real people in real places, often with sunrises over the water.

Tripp Messinger – Implementation Manager

When I first started working in the marine industry, I was 18 years old working at a full service marina.  I applied for what I thought was a dockhand role but when my first day came around, I was put in the seat of the fork truck and told to haul boats off of our 3 story, 60 space dry rack.  It wasn’t more than a few days after that when I began operating the travel lift and hauling even larger boats.  I found that it came quite naturally so there really wasn’t much stress beyond what a normal 18 year old would feel trying to avoid making mistakes and letting down their boss.  A few years later, I began working at a much different marina operation - a very busy marina in Newport RI that attracted about 100 guests and 500 fuel customers a week.  The two operations were very different and one thing that stood out to me about the job in Newport was just how much my bosses and coworkers cared about our customers.  It wasn’t that we didn’t at the full service marina, it was just a much different type of service.

While I would never say the level of care and customer service at the Newport marina was average, one thing that continues to impress and surprise me as I pass my 10 year mark here at Dockwa, is just how much our marina partners care for their customers.  There’s definitely some operations that go a bit further than others, but regardless of whether the marina is in Jonesport, ME or Key West, San Diego or the San Juan Islands - up and down each coast and scattered throughout the country are marinas who truly care about their customers and the experience they provide them.  The marine industry has always provided some level or community for me as I grew up on boats but I never truly understood that it’s the people who continuously build that community and carry that sentiment.

Matt Fradette – Co-Founder, Chief Business Officer, Head of Sales

Spending the last 10 years helping build Dockwa has been deeply rewarding. What’s made it especially meaningful is knowing we’ve played a role in helping an entire industry—made up of some of the most genuine, hard-working people you’ll ever meet—modernize and grow. Marina owners and operators are often small business owners doing everything they can to improve the experience for boaters while juggling operations, staffing, and everything in between. Getting to work alongside them and build tools that actually make a difference has been a privilege.

We have real conviction in what we’ve built, and it’s exciting to see how empowering operators with technology also transforms the boater experience. It hasn’t always been easy, but looking back, the challenges were worth it—and looking ahead, I’m even more fired up for what we’re building with the input of both marinas and boaters in the next 10 years.

A Decade of Dockwa and the Journey Ahead

These reflections from our crew remind us why Dockwa exists: to help marinas and boaters spend less time on paperwork and logistics and more time doing what they love. It’s a mission that’s as relevant today as it was a decade ago, and one that we’ll continue to pursue with passion.

Because when life is spent on the water, whether in a quiet cove or a lively marina, it’s better. More connected. More human. More memorable.

Here’s to the next ten years of Dockwa: for the boaters, for the marinas, and for the love of the water.

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