FISHRAIDER GETS ONBOARD WITH DECKEE

The boating review website Deckee is expanding its reach with the acquisition of the Sydney-based online fishing and boating community forum, Fishraider.

Fishraider will continue to operate as a standalone website and Fishraider owner Donna Barton will stay on as community manager of the forum, reporting to Deckee founder and CEO Mike McKiernan.

McKiernan said that Fishraider’s range of discussion boards, articles, forecasts and guides will complement Deckee’s work to provide a variety of online tools to all kinds of marine enthusiasts.

“When we launched Deckee in 2015, initially we spent a lot of time focusing on how we can help the cruising and sailing community in Australia,” he said. “By welcoming Fishraider to our family, we can now start to help a much larger group of Australians that enjoy the marine lifestyle in a variety of ways.

“I have spent many months talking with Donna and seen first-hand her passion and dedication to fostering a helpful and respectful community of Australian fishing and boating enthusiasts. Fishraider shares our values and I’m excited to combine forces to serve more people who love to explore Australia’s waterways.”

McKiernan said that while Fishraider will maintain its own identity, over time the two sites will share content and integrate tools and features to assist members of both communities. Deckee recently launched an online marine insurance comparison tool which enables boaters to compare the features offered by different marine insurers and obtain competitive quotes.

“Deckee is revolutionising the marine industry here in Australia with their broad range of free tools and services for anyone that enjoys being on the water,” said Barton. “Their vision, values and approach mirror what Fishraider has been focused on since 2004.

“We are thrilled to join the Deckee crew with a continued commitment to helping fishing and boating enthusiasts learn and connect with one another in a safe and welcoming environment.”