Started in 1959 by Harold "Bud" Pretasky; over 60 years later SkipperBud's Boating SuperCenter is still a family business. Now owned by "Bud's" brother, Mike Pretasky Sr., SkipperBud's is headquartered in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, and has become one of the marine industry's largest sales, brokerage, service, and marina groups.

In the 1980s, SkipperBud's constructed its first waterfront marina, drystack facility, and restaurant on the KK River in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. New locations in Madison Pewaukee Oshkosh, and Winthrop Harbor, Illinois soon followed.

SkipperBud's signed a long term lease with the State of Illinois and invested into the North Point Marina property in the late 80s.

The Madison and Oshkosh locations each featured boat sales offices and a marine as well as service for boaters. The Pewaukee dealership has been an I-94 landmark since opening in 1987. Today, the Pewaukee dealership has 2 service buildings, outdoor storage, drystack and a 25,000 square foot sales showroom for new and used boats.