(0:59) This week I am deviating from my usual focus on a marketing idea to get you ready for a major announcement we will be making in tomorrow's ActiveCaptain Newsletter. The ActiveCaptain Companion (the Companion, for short) puts in place another component in our vision of tools to make boating safer and more enjoyable. It will combine the ActiveCaptain data with the social aspects of eBoatCards to bring boaters a totally different type of marine electronics. It's not a website. It's not a navigation program.(0:44) The Companion is an application that boaters use at their helms, beside their chartplotter. It will alert them to information they want while underway. It's their companion at the helm. The application is being released simultaneously across the major computer platforms - Windows, Macintosh, Android, and iOS - for laptops, tablets, and phones. And it's free.
(0:34) The first release will display all of the ActiveCaptain data, including the Sponsor information, and will alert boaters about known hazards as they come into proximity of their track. We are rolling out the features slowly so that all of us can learn what is needed, what the issues are, and how to best utilize this new capability. After all, there is nothing like this out there today.
(0:24) As usage grows we will add new features such as warnings about bridges that need to by lifted based on the boat characteristics entered in the boater's eBoatCard. It will show where friends or members of a club or group are with the addition of the Locator Service.
(0:15) It will also allow ActiveCaptain Sponsors to see boaters in their area and send messages such as a special offer to draw a boater in or a welcome to a returning customer. The possibilities seem endless.
(0:09) Make sure you catch tomorrow's newsletter and future newsletters as we discuss and roll out the features bit by bit. It is exciting, it is new, and I look forward to working with you to discover all the possibilities.
(0:02) And that's the marina minute.
