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<\/div>\n Courtesy Boat Planet<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/section>\n
We\u2019ve all been there. Load the boat with gear, prep the tackle, store the food and drinks, everyone is excited about enjoying a day on the water, turn the key to start the motor\u2014and nothing happens. Ugh!<\/p>\n
Michael Kiel, founder and CEO of Boat Planet<\/a>, has been there too. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing worse than looking forward to boating and then something goes wrong,\u201d he sighs. That\u2019s why Kiel developed Boat Planet, an online boating resource that helps boaters connect with service providers.\u00a0<\/p>\n After several bad experiences with mechanics and detailers, Kiel was frustrated with the status quo. \u201cI would arrive to the \u00admarina on a Friday afternoon to find a dirty boat with the cover still on,\u201d he remembers. One time, a mechanic left a greasy motor part on Kiel\u2019s upholstery to signal the job was done. \u201cWhy was I spending a lot of money for this level of \u00adservice?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n So Kiel started a Facebook group for boaters. \u201cI realized a lot of people are facing the same problems,\u201d he says. He also realized service providers were looking for a new way to reach customers. Tapping his experience in marketing and inspired by user-friendly rideshare apps, Kiel cooked up Boat Planet, a painless way for boaters to book service, repair, detailing and more.<\/p>\n To use BoatPlanet.com<\/a>, a \u00adboater submits a request by filling out an online form and providing photos and a detailed description of the required work. Boat Planet sends the request for a quote to several local service providers in the boater\u2019s area. The site hosts over 35,000 certified service providers backed by user reviews.<\/p>\n After the request is submitted, the boater receives up to three quotes for the required service. Kiel recommends including photos and detailed descriptions for the most accurate quote.\u00a0<\/p>\n Once the boater accepts a quote, they pay for the job on Boat Planet\u2019s site. Boat Planet holds the funds until the \u00adboater verifies the work was completed satisfactorily. Then Boat Planet immediately releases the payment to the provider\u2019s bank account. \u201cWe provide financial protection to the boater while ensuring the service provider gets paid for the work,\u201d Kiel adds.\u00a0<\/p>\n Any issues between the \u00adboater and service provider are \u00adhandled by Boat Planet\u2019s online help center. \u201cNinety-nine percent of the time, we find a solution to the problem,\u201d Kiel says. Both boaters and providers appreciate the easy communication through the Boat Planet platform.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boat Planet boasts over 100,000 users and a nationwide network of service pros. Available services range from maintenance and repair to detailing, electronics and more. Creating a job request on BoatPlanet.com<\/a> takes only minutes. Quotes come in as \u00adquickly as a couple of hours, but can vary depending on the boat\u2019s location.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boat Planet is developing an industry-\u00adfirst feature that will send boaters service reminders based on their boat\u2019s location, usage and the time of year. The company will also launch a mobile app to improve the user experience. \u201cI want to provide boaters with everything they need to enjoy the boating lifestyle with less stress and headaches,\u201d Kiel says.<\/p>\n The post Your Prescription for the Biggest Headache in Boating<\/a> appeared first on Boating Mag<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n