No More Pontoon Pinball. Slip Assist Makes Docking A Breeze On Lake Of The Ozarks

Whether you're fighting a stiff breeze, a passing boat wake, dealing with currents or a still-learning hand on the wheel, docking a pontoon/tritoon on Lake of the Ozarks can feel like a game of pinball off the corners of the slip. 

With the price of 'toons and cost of repairs to docks and boats alike, guiding a square peg into a square hole can be very stressful.

It’s a real problem for many 'toon owners — even if some don’t want to admit it.  But Slip Assist makes it easy and safe. 

The Slip Assist docking system makes it practically impossible to miss your dock — or damage your 'toon in the process. Affordable, and easy to install on your dock, Slip Assist de-stresses the process of docking the boat.

Learn more at slip-assist.com and find Slip Assist on display and for sale at CWD Supply in Osage Beach.

“It increases the target area of your slip by a foot on each side,” explained the inventor of Slip Assist, Lew Westermeyer. “You can miss the slip by a foot, and it will push you back to the center.”

Slip Assist was invented in 2017 after Westermeyer was docking his pontoon into a slip, the wind caught the boat, and it missed the slip by a mere 2 inches, stopping abruptly by bouncing off the dock corner. Westermeyer and his family have been coming down to the Lake since the ‘70s, so he’s no stranger to docking a toon, but it got him thinking about the damage a 2-inch mistake could do. 

“I thought to myself, there's got to be a better way to get a toon in a slip,” he recalled. “How do I build a funnel to absorb and redirect energy? So, I came up with this idea for Slip Assist.” After building prototypes and multiple tests, he came up with a design that really works.

How Slip Assist Works

Slip Assist is a Patent Pending design that uses two powder-coated steel frames attached to the dock. These frames hold two non-marking, marine-grade plastic plates angled outward in a funnel shape. The plates are engineered with gas springs to absorb shock, redirect the forces, and seamlessly guide the vessel into the slip. The plates give boaters an additional two feet of extra wiggle-room to guide a boat into the slip. Westermeyer says as far as he knows there is no other product on the market that can make this claim.

“If you're in a place where it's rough and the boat’s rocking, you can pull in close and idle on in. It’s perfect for people who have slips in busy coves or on the main channel, even if your boat is rocking, wind or current working against you, the plates guide you back to the center,” he said.

And for those who are new to boating or just don’t feel confident, Slip Assist is a godsend.

He shared a story: “One lady was a life-long boater and widow; she had a pontoon boat with a narrow slip. With her husband gone, she wouldn’t take her boat out by herself because she was afraid she wouldn’t get it back in slip. This is an ideal application; Slip Assist makes docking so simple, you can take your boat out by yourself. You don't have to have someone standing up on the front trying to push off one side or the other. And no one must apologize for what they said while docking the toon!"

Slip Assist comes with a universal mount and an easy installation that can be done in short order with any drill and socket set. But not to worry, for those at Lake of the Ozarks, installation of Slip Assist is included in the purchase price. Since Slip Assist folds flat to the dock for a non-intrusive installation and uses no electricity, as it is completely mechanical, and does not touch the water, there should be no modifications needed for dock or electrical permits.

Slip Assist is manufactured at Lake of the Ozarks and designed especially for the Lake’s waters. Westermeyer says he’s eager to see more local boaters enjoying it, adding, “It’s made here at the Lake and designed to withstand the harshest conditions the lake has to offer.”

Slip Assist is out to "Save the Corners."

Visit slip-assist.com for videos and additional information. Check out Slip Assist on display at CWD Supply (cwdsupply.com) in Osage Beach. E-mail Slip Assist at slipassist@gmail.com or call 573-469-3629.

Slip Assist is a proud member of the Lake Ozark Marine Dealers Association.