Your boat gets a monthly check-up, even when you can't get down to the marina.
Once a month we start and run your engine, test the batteries and bilge pump, compare everything with your boat's Day 1 baseline, and send you a clear green/amber/red photo report.
For private boats 28–50 ft in Clear Lake, Kemah, Seabrook and the Galveston Bay area. From $99/month.
We test it, not just look at it.
Each visit includes a defined 10-minute engine start and run (when it's safe and you've authorized it), a battery test, and a live test of your automatic bilge pump. Problems that a walk-by visual check would miss show up here.
We spot changes early.
On Day 1 we record a baseline for your boat: battery voltages, oil pressure, coolant temperature, bilge level, humidity and more. Every visit after that is compared against it, so slow changes get caught before they turn into big bills.
You decide on repairs.
We don't do repairs. If something needs attention, we tell you what we found, show you photos, and coordinate a vendor you trust, or one we recommend. Nothing gets booked until you say yes.
What you get every month
- Engine start & 10-minute run (authorized boats)
- Battery & charging test
- Automatic bilge pump test
- Lines, fenders, shore power & hatches checked
- Green / amber / red photo report
- Compared with your Day 1 baseline
Built for owners who aren't at the dock every weekend
Maybe you live in Houston and get down a couple of times a season. Maybe work or travel keeps you away. Your boat still sits in the Texas heat, humidity and storms. SlipMate gives you a set of trained eyes and hands on board every month, plus a report you can read in two minutes.
Already a SlipMate Monitor subscriber? Check on your boat any time.
Sign in to the Owner Portal to see your boat's live dashboard.
Owner Sign In Learn about the Owner Portal →Also available
- SlipMate Monitor: 24/7 alerts for low battery, bilge activity and shore power loss, with a live Owner Portal. Learn more
- Owner report app: your reports and history in an app. Coming soon.
Simple to start, and it runs itself after that.
Join and sign up
Tell us about your boat: size, engines, generator and marina. We confirm we can reach your slip and send the service agreement. You choose what we're authorized to do on board, including whether we run your engines, at what RPM and for how long.
Day 1 onboarding
About 90 minutes. We record your engines' specs and a baseline run, battery inventory and chemistry, bilge and seacocks, mooring setup, cabin humidity, photos of existing damage, and your contacts, vendors and approval limit. $199 one-time.
Monthly visits
About 30–40 minutes on board. A SlipMate technician checks your boat from the dock to the engine room, then starts and runs your engine(s) if conditions are safe. Everything is compared with your Day 1 baseline.
Your report
A one-page green/amber/red report with photos and key readings, usually the same day. GREEN means no action, AMBER means a vendor check within about 30 days, and RED means we contact you right away.
You approve, we coordinate
If something needs work, we recommend next steps and coordinate the vendor once you approve. We never do repairs ourselves and never book a vendor without your go-ahead.
If something urgent comes up
For urgent problems (water coming in, a failed bilge pump with water present, a shore-power burn, a break-in, a chafed-through line) we call you while we're still on site, then text photos and notify the marina office. If we can't reach you, we try your alternate contact and then the marina. We stay until the boat is made safe or the marina or a vendor takes over.
What "make-safe" means
A few small actions we're authorized to take to protect your boat. They're not repairs, and each is logged and photographed:
- Adjust a dock line or chafe gear, reposition or re-inflate a fender
- Clear cockpit drains, scuppers or the bilge pump intake
- Return the bilge pump to AUTO, or reset a tripped breaker once
- Shut off power at the pedestal if there's heat, burning or arcing
- Close and secure hatches and canvas, tie down loose items
- Close a seacock to stop a leak at a hose or fitting above it
The same written procedure, in the same order, every visit.
Dock & exterior
How the boat sits in the slip compared with baseline, the hull at the waterline, dock cleats and finger pier, and security (hatches and doors locked, any sign of entry).
Lines, chafe & fenders
Dock and spring line count, setup, tension and chafe gear. Fender count, height, inflation and rub marks.
Shore power
Cord and pedestal condition, an infrared temperature check of plug and inlet (an early sign of a failing connection), panel voltage, polarity and main breaker.
Deck, hatches & canvas
Drains and scuppers clear, hatches and ports closed with seals checked, canvas tears and pooling, and the anchor, rails and deck hardware secure.
Below decks
Bilge levels against baseline, pump cycle counts, a live automatic bilge pump test, odors, water intrusion, stuffing box, seacocks, hoses, and cabin humidity and mold.
Batteries & charging
Chemistry identified (lead-acid, AGM/gel or LiFePO4) so the right ranges are used. Resting voltages, state of charge, charger mode and profile, terminals and cabling.
Engine room (before start)
Oil level and condition, coolant, belts, hoses and clamps, leaks and drip pan, the fuel/water separator and the raw-water strainer.
Engine start & run
With your signed authorization, each engine in turn. Cooling water confirmed within about 30 seconds, then a 10-minute run in neutral at your baseline fast-idle RPM, never in gear. We log oil pressure, coolant temp, alternator voltage, smoke, vibration and raw-water flow.
Generator, outboards & gas
Generator: the same checks plus a 10-minute run under light load. Gas inboards: at least 4 minutes of blower and a sniff test first. Outboards run only with the intake submerged and the tell-tale confirmed.
When we won't start your engine
Any fuel or electrical burning smell, rising or unexplained bilge water, unsafe weather or lines, low oil or coolant, a critically low start battery, a marina that doesn't allow engine running, or you've asked us to skip it. A skipped run is logged with the reason and flagged AMBER for follow-up.
Before we leave
Seacocks set the way you like them, bilge pump on AUTO, charger confirmed charging, switches and breakers as you want them, hatches dogged, canvas secured, doors locked and keys back in the lockbox. Then a final photo.
Typical ranges are general guidance. Your manufacturer's specifications, recorded at onboarding, always govern. A SlipMate visit is a monthly health check. It's not a marine survey and doesn't replace scheduled maintenance by a mechanic.
One page. Color-coded. Photos attached.
Here's what lands in your inbox after each visit: one page, color-coded, with photos. Everything below is EXAMPLE data and doesn't describe a real boat.
EXAMPLE Marina, Slip C-14 · Visit 2026-10-12, 09:05–09:42 CT · Tech: EXAMPLE TECH · 78°F, wind SE 8 kt
| Reading | This visit | Baseline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start battery (resting) | 12.6 V | 12.7 V | GREEN |
| House bank (LiFePO4) state of charge | 88% | 95% | GREEN |
| Charger | Float | Float | GREEN |
| Shore power at panel | 121 V | 120 V | GREEN |
| Cabin humidity | 55% RH | 58% RH | GREEN |
| Bilge level (aft) | 0.5 in | 0.5 in | GREEN |
| Bilge pump auto test | PASS | PASS | GREEN |
| Port engine hours | 612.4 → 612.6 | 540.0 | — |
| Port oil pressure @ 1,100 rpm | 40 psi | 42 psi | GREEN |
| Port coolant temp @ 10 min | 172°F | 170°F | GREEN |
| Port alternator voltage | 14.2 V | 14.3 V | GREEN |
| Port raw-water flow | Weaker | Strong | AMBER ▲ |
| Smoke / vibration / leaks | Normal / None | Normal | GREEN |
All good, consistent with your baseline.
Keep an eye on it. We suggest a vendor check within about 30 days or at the next visit.
Needs attention now. For urgent issues we've already called you from the dock.
Owner Portal · live boat dashboard
Check on your boat any time, from anywhere.
The SlipMate Owner Portal gives SlipMate Monitor subscribers a live dashboard for their boat, along with their visit history, in one secure place. Monitor and the Owner Portal launch together with the site.
- Live status: battery level, bilge activity and shore power status from your SlipMate Monitor unit
- Alerts: a log of every alert, when it fired and when it cleared
- Visit reports: every green/amber/red report with photos
- Trends: how your readings compare with your Day 1 baseline over time
- Approvals: approve or decline recommended vendor work
- Boat details: your vessel record, contacts and preferences
Passwordless sign-in. Enter the email on your account and we'll send a one-time sign-in link. No password needed.
Need help? mail@getslipmate.com
Your boat's data is private to you and SlipMate. The portal works in your web browser on phone, tablet or computer. An owner report app is coming soon.
Dashboard preview with example data.
One simple monthly price, plus a few add-ons depending on your boat.
For boats up to 40 ft with one engine.
- One full health-check visit each month
- Engine start and 10-minute run (with your authorization)
- Battery, charging, bilge pump and shore power tests
- Comparison against your Day 1 baseline
- Green/amber/red photo report after every visit
- Immediate phone call for urgent issues
- Vendor coordination with your approval
Add-ons: +$20/month each
- Boat over 40 ft (41–50 ft)
- Second engine
- Generator
Examples
| 34 ft, single engine | $99/mo |
| 38 ft, twin engines | $119/mo |
| 44 ft, single engine + generator | $139/mo |
| 48 ft, twin engines + generator | $159/mo |
Onboarding (Day 1 baseline): $199 one-time
About a 90-minute visit that records your boat's baseline. Required to start a subscription.
One-time health check: $149
A single full health-check visit with a report and no subscription. Good before a trip, after a storm, or to try us out.
SlipMate Monitor: available at launch
24/7 alerts and the live Owner Portal dashboard. A monthly add-on to any plan, plus a one-time hardware and installation fee (pricing to be announced). See Monitor →
Not included (priced separately)
- Repairs and parts: done by vendors, quoted to you and approved by you first.
- Storm services: hurricane prep, extra lines, post-storm checks and similar.
- Fluid top-ups, cleaning, detailing: not part of the standard visit unless agreed in writing.
For boats 28–50 ft; outside that range, ask us. Prices are in USD, before any applicable sales tax.
SlipMate Monitor · 24/7
Your monthly visit, plus a watch on your boat 24/7.
SlipMate Monitor is a small onboard unit that watches your boat between visits and alerts you the moment something changes.
🔋 Low battery
An alert if your batteries drop below a safe level.
💧 Bilge
An alert when the bilge pump is running or water is rising.
🔌 Shore power loss
An alert if your boat loses shore power, so your charger, dehumidifier and fridge don't go down unnoticed.
How it works
Monitor is built on a Raspberry Pi running Signal K, an open marine data standard. It connects to your boat's systems, keeps watch around the clock, and alerts you (and SlipMate) when a reading crosses a threshold.
Works with the Owner Portal
Monitor subscribers see their boat live in the Owner Portal, along with every alert and visit report. See the Owner Portal →
Add-on to any SlipMate plan: monthly price plus a one-time hardware and installation fee, to be announced. Join the Waitlist
Monitor is designed as an early-warning tool. It doesn't replace your bilge pumps, high-water alarm or monthly visits.
Serving boats in the Clear Lake and Galveston Bay area
- Clear Lake, including Clear Lake Shores, Nassau Bay and League City
- Kemah
- Seabrook
- Galveston Bay area
Is my marina covered? Most likely, if it's in the area above and allows outside service providers on the docks. Put your marina and slip in the waitlist form and we'll confirm.
How we work with marinas
- SlipMate is an independent service. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any marina.
- We follow each marina's rules: check-in, no-wake zones, quiet hours and any limits on running engines at the dock.
- If your marina doesn't allow engine running or requires a second person, we'll tell you and adjust your visit.
- We flag dock problems (a loose cleat, a failed piling) to the marina office and to you.
Be first in line.
SlipMate is launching soon in the Clear Lake, Kemah, Seabrook and Galveston Bay area. Leave your details and we'll be in touch before visits start.
Questions owners ask
Who is SlipMate for?
Owners of private boats 28–50 ft in the Clear Lake, Kemah, Seabrook and Galveston Bay area who can't get to the marina as often as they'd like.
What makes a SlipMate visit different from a quick look?
We test things. Every visit includes a battery and charging test and a live bilge pump test, and on authorized boats a 10-minute engine start and run with readings. Then we compare the results with your Day 1 baseline, so changes stand out.
Do you have to run my engine?
No. Running the engine is your choice and needs your signed authorization, where you set which engines, the RPM and the run time. Without authorization we still do everything else on the checklist.
Will you ever put the boat in gear or take it out?
No. Engines run in neutral at the dock, at or below the RPM recorded at your baseline, and only after a full set of safety checks.
What if something is wrong?
You'll see it in your report as AMBER or RED, with photos and a recommendation. For urgent problems we call you while we're still on the boat. We coordinate repairs through a vendor once you approve.
Do you do repairs?
No. That keeps our advice honest. We only take small "make-safe" actions, like adjusting a line, clearing a drain or resetting a breaker once. Everything else goes to a vendor with your OK.
Can I use my own mechanic?
Yes. Tell us your preferred vendors at onboarding and we'll use them. If you don't have one, we can recommend one. You also set a spending limit for approvals.
How long is a visit?
About 30–40 minutes on board for a typical boat. Twin engines or a generator take a little longer. Onboarding takes about 90 minutes.
When will I get my report?
Usually the same day as the visit. Urgent issues get a phone call right away.
How do you get on board?
We use a lockbox or key arrangement you set up at onboarding, and follow your marina's check-in rules. Everything is locked and keys are returned before we leave.
Do you work on gasoline boats? What about outboards?
Yes. For gas inboards and sterndrives we always run the blower for at least 4 minutes and do a sniff test before starting; any fuel smell means no start. We run outboards only when it's safe (cooling stream confirmed, intake submerged). Otherwise we do a visual and battery check.
Do you handle hurricane prep?
Storm services are available and priced separately from the monthly plan.
Is this a marine survey?
No. It's a monthly health check designed to catch changes early. It doesn't replace a survey or your regular scheduled maintenance.
What's the Owner Portal?
It's a live online dashboard for your boat, available to SlipMate Monitor subscribers. Use Owner Sign In at the top of any page. Sign-in is passwordless: we email a one-time link to the address on your account.
Is there an app?
An owner report app is coming soon. Until then, your reports are sent to you after every visit, and the Owner Portal works in any web browser.
What is SlipMate Monitor and when is it available?
It's an onboard unit that sends 24/7 alerts for low battery, bilge activity and shore power loss, and feeds the live Owner Portal. Monitor launches with SlipMate. Join the waitlist and tick "SlipMate Monitor" to hear first.
When do you launch?
Soon. Join the waitlist and we'll contact you before visits start. Questions? mail@getslipmate.com
Hi, I'm Bruce.
What you can expect from SlipMate
- We follow the same written procedure on every boat, every visit.
- We tell you what we found, good or bad, with photos.
- We never do repairs and never spend your money without asking.
- We treat your boat as if it were our own.
Your boat, checked and tested every month.
Join the waitlist and we'll reach out before launch.
Join the Waitlist