Memorial Day has passed, and the summer is officially here. Of course, if you’re like us, you’ve been out on the water for weeks already. Hopefully, however, you’ve been doing it for fun instead of for work.

This spring has involved a lot of big changes for everyone at Manke Enterprises. Buying Don’s Marine, moving to the new location, and learning how to get the two companies to work together smoother and more closely have all required a lot of work. We’re happy with the results, however, and know that the result is going to make things better for everyone–especially you.

Now that it’s summer, and the hardest work is done, we can take a moment to catch our breath–and then get right back to work. We have a lot of plans in the works to give you more, and better, service in the years to come.

Enjoy your summer and wave hello if you see us driving by. And… when you’re trapped in the office, thinking about spending your weekend on the lake, take a moment to check back in and see what’s new.

Tip of the Week.

This weekend kicks off the official beginning of the summer. Even if you already have your boat in the water, and you’ve been using it for the past few weeks, it’s still a good idea to take time for a pre-season check. If you had your boat summerized by us, we’ve already checked the boat itself. There are still a few things, however, that should be checked before you start out.

• Do you have enough PFDs for everyone? Are they in good condition? Are they the right size for the peope who’ll be wearing them? (This is especially important for children who can quickly outgrow their old PFD.)
• Do you have a throwable flotation device on board? Is it in good shape? Is it easy to get to if it’s needed?
• Do you have a flashlight or glow sticks? Does the flashlight have fresh batteries? Can you find it in the dark?
• Is your first aide kit stocked? Is everything inside still in good shape? Have any of the medicines or first-aide creames expired?
• Do you have a basic tool kit? Screwdrivers (philips and flat-head), pliers, and wire-cutters (for fishing-hook accidents).
• Do you have a fire extinguisher? (Many boats are required by law to have one onboard.) Is it charged and in good condition? Do you (and your passengers or other drivers) know how to use it?
• Do you have sunscreen?
• Do you have a way to signal for help if you get stranded? Flares? Glow sticks? (These are much better than flares, since they last longer, don’t spoil, are water-proof, and won’t start your boat on fire.)
• Is your docking line in good condition?
• Do you have spare fuses? Spare bulbs for your running lights?
• Are you familiar with any changes to the law?

A few minutes spent making sure you’re prepared can save you hours later on. It can even save your life.

Now that the water is open and the boats are out, it’s time to start telling some stories. What kinds of things are you seeing? Tell us about the funny–or stupid–things you’ve seen out on the water, at the boat landing, or just sitting on the shore. Or, if you’re brave, tell us about the embarrassing thing you did.

We’ll post the stories here as we get them.

Send your story to stories@manke.com
Please: Keep them clean, and don’t use any names. We reserve the right to edit any stories for spelling & grammar, and to clean them up if need be.

Now that the weather is warming up (in between those rainy days), people are starting to think about the water again. We’ve been doing more than thinking about the water for almost two months now. We’ve been on the water, working hard to make sure you can have fun this summer.

If you’re just calling us now, please understand it may take us a little while until we can get to your dock & lift. But rest assured that we’ll be there as soon as we can. We believe in doing our work correctly, and that means taking that little bit of extra time to make sure that we live up to your expectations.

Would you like your dock & lift in earlier next year? Call us and ask about our automatic early in/late out service. We’ll put you up at he top of the list, and you never need to worry about calling us to schedule a time again.