Charlie Shackelford runs Double Fun Pontoon Rentals across three marinas on the Florida Panhandle. With 65,000 guests a year sliding off double-decker pontoons into the waters of Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City Beach, the last thing he wants is for paperwork to be anyone's first impression.
At that volume, a slow check-in doesn't just frustrate guests. It backs up the entire dock. Every minute a group spends signing waivers on arrival is a minute they're not on the water, and in the rental business, that compounds across every boat, every day.
By bringing Wherewolf into the check-in process, Charlie's team made pre-arrival waivers the default across all three locations. By the time guests reach the dock, the paperwork is already done. The only thing left is to hit the water.
When the Dock Becomes a Waiting Room
Double Fun's reputation was already built. Inc. 5000 company, 5-star ratings, and some of the most sought-after boats on the Gulf Coast. But reputation doesn't fix a backed-up dock.
At 65,000 guests a year, the check-in process isn't a minor operational detail. It's the moment between a guest's anticipation and their experience. Get it wrong and it doesn't matter how good the waterslide is.
When the Dock Started Moving
Waivers aren't going anywhere in the watersports industry. They exist to protect the business, the guests, and everyone on board. The question was never whether Double Fun needed them. It was whether they could make them work harder.
That's where Wherewolf came in.
Three years in, the pre-arrival flow is now the default. Guests receive a branded email with a QR code and waiver link before they arrive. By the time most groups reach the dock, it's already done. For those who haven't completed it, the QR code is on display and the dock keeps moving.
"It gets them out on the water quickly and keeps everything moving smoothly."
But for Charlie, the bigger shift wasn't just operational. It was experiential.
"Messages and branding can be tailored to match Double Fun's voice, which builds confidence with our guests. We know everyone is acknowledging and signing the important documents they need to understand before getting on board."
The waiver stopped feeling like an obstacle and started feeling like part of the Double Fun experience.
Smooth Waters Ahead
Most waiver tools hand guests a wall of text and a signature box. Charlie saw it differently.
"It's more than just a form. It's an educational tool."
By breaking the waiver into sections, safety video, rules, then the signature, guests arrive at the dock already briefed, already confident, already in the Double Fun headspace. That's not compliance. That's customer experience.
"Wherewolf just works. It makes our operations smoother, keeps our customers informed, and gives us confidence that everything is covered before we even hit the water."
The Right Tool for the Right Tide
Double Fun didn't need to reinvent their customer experience. They just needed to close the gaps.
Waivers are a non-negotiable part of running a watersports business. But with the right tool, compliance doesn't have to feel like friction. It can feel like an extension of your business, one that communicates clearly, prepares guests properly, and makes every step before the waterslide as smooth as the ride down it.
If you're not sure where the gaps are in your own customer experience, start with your waiver. It's often the first touchpoint a guest has with your business before they arrive and it's telling them something about you whether you've thought about it or not. To quote Charlie, “Wherewolf just works”
How does your waiver stack up? Run it through the Wherewolf Waiver Analyzer and find out how Wherewolf could work for your operation.