How a simple support request reminded us what SailProof is really about.
Where it all began
For those who don’t know our story, everything began in 2020 with a Kickstarter campaign. When we launched SailProof, every order meant far more than a sale. It was a vote of confidence. People were trusting a brand-new product that was entering a new market and addressing a very specific niche within the marine industry.
Since then, six years have passed filled with learning, new products, challenges, mistakes, and milestones. We’ve seen our tablets used on America’s Cup boats, IMOCA campaigns, the Vendée Globe, and even in Antarctica. Yet despite all those achievements, the people who believed in us from the beginning remain at the heart of everything we do. That’s why this story means so much to us.
A tablet, a boat, and fourteen years
Recently, Børre Lien, one of our very first Kickstarter customers reached out for support. His original SailProof tablet — purchased at the very start of our journey — was still working and still accompanying him on the water.
What made the story even more special was the boat she had accompanied all these years. A classic Knarr built in 1948, lovingly restored by by Børre over the course of 14 years. The restoration was finally completed this year, in 2026, and our tablet had been part of that journey, sailing aboard a boat whose story reflects the same values we believe in: craftsmanship, patience, and building things to last. He simply needed help identifying the correct compatible cable.
(c) Børre Lien.
More than a support ticket
This wasn’t just a cable request for us — it was a chance to return the trust Børre placed in us years ago. We helped him identify the right cable, got it in the mail to him right away, and assured him that SailProof would continue to support him for any future needs. Shortly afterward, we received a message that genuinely touched our team:
“I have never been treated so well by any company ever… After the response I received from SailProof, I can wholeheartedly recommend SailProof products and customer service.”
That message is exactly why we do this.
Børre also shared some photos of the boat, our tablet, and himself sailing with it. Seeing one of our very first SailProof tablets still being used aboard a beautifully restored 1948 Knarr was a powerful reminder of why we started this journey in the first place. Some customers become part of the story. He’s one of them.
What reliability really means
In the marine world, reliability isn’t just about the device. It’s about knowing someone will answer when you need them. Six years after his Kickstarter order, Børre is still sailing with the same tablet. That’s the kind of relationship we want to build.