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The Captain's Library

Real talk for charter captains. No fluff.

Guides, tips, and hard-earned wisdom from captains who've been there. Whether you're booking more trips or streamlining your operation, we've got you covered.

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Running Your Charter

Why You're Still Playing Phone Tag While Your Competition Gets Booked

That missed call while you were on the water? It just booked with someone else. Here's what successful captains do about it.

7 min read
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Growing Your Business

Charter Pricing in 2026: What Captains Are Actually Charging

What are captains charging in 2026? The answers—and the reasoning—might change how you think about your rates.

12 min read
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Growing Your Business

FareHarbor vs Peek Pro vs Guidewinds: The Charter Captain's Guide

Pricing, lock-in, page speed, and charter-specific features compared. At 50 trips/month, the cost difference is over $1,100/month.

15 min read
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Recent Articles

Fresh from the dock

Running Your Charter

Why You're Still Playing Phone Tag While Your Competition Gets Booked

That missed call while you were on the water? It just booked with someone else. Here's what successful captains do about it.

7 min readRead article
Running Your Charter

The Weather Cancellation Conversation Every Captain Dreads (And How to Handle It)

Rain in the forecast. Anglers want a refund. You've already blocked the day. Sound familiar?

8 min readRead article
Running Your Charter

No-Shows Are Killing Your Season. Here's What's Actually Causing Them.

No-shows cost captains thousands per season. The causes go beyond 'flaky customers' — and the fixes are simpler than you think.

9 min readRead article
Growing Your Business

Charter Pricing in 2026: What Captains Are Actually Charging

What are captains charging in 2026? The answers—and the reasoning—might change how you think about your rates.

12 min readRead article
Growing Your Business

OTAs Like Viator: Free Money or 30% Trap? The Real Math

Everyone's got an opinion on OTAs. Here's what the numbers actually say.

10 min readRead article
Running Your Charter

Online Booking for Captains Who Hate Computers

You got into this to fish, not to fight with software. Here's the no-BS guide.

8 min readRead article

Browse by Topic

Find exactly what you need to grow your charter business

Running Your Charter

Day-to-day operations and best practices

9 articlesExplore

Growing Your Business

Marketing, pricing, and booking more trips

8 articlesExplore

Industry Insights

Trends, regulations, and industry data

3 articlesExplore

Captain Stories

Real stories from real captains

0 articlesExplore

Tools & Templates

Templates, checklists, and calculators

1 articleExplore

Switching from Another Platform?

See how Guidewinds compares to your current booking software

Tour & Activity Platforms

From FareHarbor

Stop paying 6% per booking

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From Peek Pro

No percentage fees

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From Bókun

Skip the OTA middleman

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From Checkfront

No more double fees

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From Rezdy

Escape tiered pricing

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From TrekkSoft

Simple pricing, no setup fees

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From Xola

Predictable flat rate

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From Bookeo

Charter-specific features

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General Scheduling Tools

From Square

Built for charters, not salons

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From Acuity

More than appointment slots

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From Calendly

Real booking, not meetings

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From Setmore

Charter-specific features

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From SimplyBook

No booking limits

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From Spreadsheets

Stop chasing payments

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Salon & Spa Software

From Fresha

Charters aren't haircuts

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From Timely

No per-staff fees

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Seasonal Prep Guides

Get your booking page ready before the rush

🎣

Salmon Season

Alaska, PNW

🐟

Striper Season

Northeast, Chesapeake

🌊

Offshore Season

Gulf, Atlantic

🐋

Tarpon Season

Florida, Texas

❄️

Ice Fishing

Midwest, Northeast

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