About Buddie Products

Buddie Products began with a simple challenge: docking a sailboat safely with young grandchildren on board. After years of sailing my 34' boat, I realized that returning to the dock could be difficult even with an experienced crew—and nearly impossible for kids to assist.

One day, my granddaughter said, “Hey Papa, you’re an engineer. Why don’t you invent something to help us dock?” That moment sparked the idea that led to the Dock Buddie. During development, I discovered that existing products required being screwed into the dock—something most public marinas don’t allow. Determined to find a better solution, I engineered a completely non-invasive alternative.

When I shared the prototype with my marina’s Director of Operations (under NDA), his response was immediate: “Brilliant!” Soon, other boaters who saw the Dock Buddie asked to buy one. I began selling on Etsy, and growing demand encouraged me to launch DockBuddie.com—hence the spelling of “Buddie.”

Today, Buddie Products continues to innovate practical, safe, and user-friendly solutions for boaters. From refining the Dock Buddie to developing new marine accessories, our mission remains the same: to make docking safer, easier, and more enjoyable for everyone.