Advantages & Disadvantages Of Boat Clubs
Lets break down the advantages and disadvantages of a boat club:
Advantages
- Boat clubs provide a wide range of boat types and sizes.
- Boat club prices are far less than buying most new boats, and in many cases different levels of membership are available at different price-points.
- Reservations can be made ahead of time for specific models, or you can grab whatevers available on the spur of the moment.
- Boat club membership comes with a number of perks ranging from boating education to insurance coverage.
- The club takes care of maintenance and tends to keep the fleet in excellent condition.
- Some membership plans include reciprocal rights to go boating at the clubs different locations, so you may be able to utilize your membership from coast to coast.
Disadvantages
- You dont actually own the boats, so you cant customize them.
- A boat youd like to take out on the spur of the moment may have been reserved by someone else on that particular day.
- There may be some restrictions and/or required training for overnight use.
- Although joining a boat club is far less expensive than owning the average boat, its still a substantial expense.
Boatsetter Vs Nautical Boat Club
Like many other boat clubs on this list, Nautical Boat Club has an initial one-time membership cost and an ongoing monthly cost. The monthly membership cost may vary depending on the boat and the location. The total for your first year with Nautical Boat Club can range from $4535 to $14,355. Our goal at Boatsetter is to make boating accessible to everyone by not tying our customers to recurring fees. All 4500 of our boats across the country are available for rent, no catches.
What Exactly Is A Boat Club
Boat clubs work by offering members access to a fleet of boats for a monthly fee. Members can reserve a boat to use without having to worry about the costs associated with maintenance, insurance, and boating education.
Boat clubs allow members access to a wide variety of boats for a much lower cost than purchasing a boat. This can make joining a boat club a good way to see if boating is the right hobby for you without having to commit to a large purchase.
In addition to providing members with boat training and well-maintained boats, boat clubs offer members many perks. Many boat clubs offer complimentary access to water toys such as skis and slides. Other clubs offer training for each specific vessel in their fleet to ensure your comfort and safety.
Boat clubs also act as social clubs that bring together people with similar interests. Many clubs offer member-only social gatherings, parties, and cruises.
These gatherings can be a great place to make new friends and connections in the boating scene.
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Does Freedom Boat Club Have Sailboats
Did you know that in North America, Freedom Boat Club sports a robust fleet of more than 1,500 boats? One of the best things about being a member of Freedom Boat Club is the opportunity to enjoy that fleet through reciprocal access. Some of our southern locations also offer wakeboard boats, sailboats and kayaks.
Are Boat Club Memberships Worth It
If you do not have a boat, yet you want to enjoy the fun that comes with sailing, you can either rent a boat or join a boat club. When you rent a boat, the cost will depend on the hours you are out with the boat. When you join a boat club, you pay a month fee and then pick a boat whenever you are available.
If you do not want to rent or join a boat club, you can buy a boat which comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Is a boat club membership worth it?
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Boats Available For Freedom Boat Club Members
The FBC owns more than 2,000 boats of different kinds. One of the perks of becoming a Freedom Boat Club member is your opportunity to use and enjoy all kinds of boats available. That way, you also get to enjoy different types of boating activities.
Freedom Boat Club has tied up with several boat manufacturers. However, this does not mean that all clubs have similar types of boats. Franchisees, club owners, and operators are free to choose boat models that they think are ideal for their local market and waterways.
Most boat types available in Florida are fishing boats, bowriders, deck boats, and pontoons to give you an idea. Whereas kayaks, sailboats, and wakeboard boats are more popular in southern areas.
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Get Access To Several Boats
Buying a boat is a good idea, but the problem is, one boat cannot meet all your needs. There are days you need a fishing boat for two people and others you need a family boat. On other days, you need to hold a nautical party.
With a boat club membership, you have access to several boats to meet different needs. All you have to do is reserve the boat you need and the club will ensure you have it when you need it.
There are many more benefits to joining a boat club. Some clubs have social gatherings and parties where all members can socialize and enjoy a good time.
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Why Does Monthly Membership Plans Vary
The reasons are the same to vary the monthly membershipplans with pricing and options. Thats why some clubs are located in some warmclimate zones offer unlimited year-long boating.
Also, they entail operations, staffing, maintenance, andongoing service for the whole year. These all require extra money and all ofthese make your boating experience more expensive.
But, there is some seasonal boat business operating clubsdue to the rough weather conditions out there. When it comes to the off-seasonmonths of the business, you should pay the monthly fee to store, maintain, andwinterizing the boat.
You might be worried to pay for the offseason. No worry, youcan choose membership with pre-selected months. Many boat clubs come with theoffer of 3 and 6-month based seasonal membership. It could be a great optionfor you if youre looking for reducing the monthly cost.
Benefits To Boat Club Fuel
While you may not be able to bring your own fuel, there are benefits to paying a little extra.
Boat clubs will take care of fueling the boat up for you before you ever leave the marina! Youll never have to worry about having enough fuel, and most clubs, particularly those with franchised locations, have their own fuel flow meters.
This allows them to charge you appropriately for the fuel you used and to adequately prepare the boat for its next reservation.
Smaller boat clubs that dont have access to fuel pumps at the marina may allow you to supply your own fuel, though. Simply check with the management to determine what facilities are available and what rules will apply when it comes to the provision of fuel.
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What Are The Extra Costs
Fuel isnt included in the costs. Depending on the distance traveled and the current gas prices, most members pay $15 to $45 per outing. As a rule of thumb, most boats in the fleet will burn three to five gallons of gasoline per hour.
A transfer fee, if you were to want to transfer to another location, can be done for about $500.
How Long Beforehand Should I Make A Reservation
This is one of the most commonly asked questions about boat membership clubs. Will there be any boats available during the peak season? How far in advance should I book my reservation?
Both Carefree Boat Club and Freedom Boat Club try to stick to set ratios that ensure they have enough boats for all members to comfortably enjoy and experience being on the water. For every ten members, there should be one boat.
This ensures that every member has an opportunity to access their premier selection of boats.
There is a good possibility that you may be able to call your local marina and reserve a boat for the day of your trip. This is particularly true during the off-season when sailing is not quite as popular.
However, you may want to be safe rather than sorry if you know there are specific dates that you would like to use a boat.
At Freedom Boat Club, you can make up to four reservations through their online app up to six months in advance. You can also make reservations up to six months in advance at Carefree Boat Club.
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Is Joining A Boat Club Worth It
Pros and ConsJoining a boat club will mean no more maintenance or seasonal headaches with your boat, no more slip fees, and no more driving a trailer around. Also, you will likely be able to use boats at different locations, like when youre traveling out of town to visit relatives.
How Much Does Freedom Boat Club Cost
How much does it cost to belong to Freedom Boat Club? Its typically the first question I get from someone who is considering joining.
There are various elements that determine the fees. There is not a cookie-cutter, standardized pricing that it applicable coast to coast. Membership fees vary from club to club, just as some fitness clubs charge $70 a month while others $15 a month. Location, amenities, and other factors all play a role in determining fees.
Every member of Freedom Boat Club, and there are 15,000 across the nation, pay a one-time fee to join, and then a monthly fee. It is to be expected that a Freedom Boat Club franchise operating from a five-star marina would have significantly higher expenses than one based in a more modest marina.
Please keep in mind that many of the franchises and corporate clubs occasionally offer promotions and incentives during the year, so be sure to ask if special offers are available.
Monthly Membership Plans
These fees also vary across the country for the reasons cited above.
Many of our clubs are located in warm climates and operate year round with unlimited boating. This requires year-round staffing and maintenance of the fleet.
Thats why when someone asks, What does it cost to join Freedom Boat Club, the answer is: It depends.
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What Are The Main Reasons People Join A Boat Club
Some of the reasons people join boat clubs include:
- Boat club owners take care of maintenance
- Many boat clubs offer boat training
- Access to a variety of different boats
- Many boat clubs have social club gatherings and parties
- Boat clubs handle insurance and liability
- Access to boating expertise and on the water training
One of the main reasons that people join boat clubs is because the initial fee and recurring monthly fees are less expensive than buying a boat outright. The cost of a new boat is much higher than the fees charged by a boat club.
Another reason to join boat clubs is that many of the larger companies have locations across the nation and internationally. Often, your membership will allow you to use these locations at no extra charge. This can save you both time and money by allowing you to skip the boat rental on your next vacation.
Boat clubs also bring together like-minded people with a love for being out on the water. They can be a great way to make friends with fellow boaters and enjoy club activities together.
Is Freedom Boat Club A Good Deal Vs Buying A Boat
A boat club is always a good deal when you need to enjoy boating without the hassle of paying for insurance and maintaining your boat. It is estimated that up to 142 million Americans went boating in 2016, and you may have been one of them.
While boating is a great hobby, buying a boat and taking care of it doesnt come cheap. When you join a club membership, you enjoy the following benefits:
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Is This The Career You Want
Membership executiveThere is no future as they will hire you, provide unproof read documents, paid onsite training which all expenses normally are paid unless your plane gets hit by lightning twice and you get stuck in Sarasota fl airport and grounded and have to pay 400 for a hotel and 200 for taxis to get you home.
How Can I Save Money
Groupon, from time to time, does offer daily deals for the Freedom Boat Club. For example, in the past, one club in Venice, Florida, offered a $149 trial membership. Check out these daily deal websites to see if you can save.
Be sure to compare more than one location. For example, in Florida, there are more than 10 locations, each offering its own pricing. While most will offer a quote via email, some may ask for you to come in. In some cases, it may be worth it to travel an additional 15 to 25 miles in order to save $50+ a month.
Promotions may be available, so it doesnt hurt to ask before committing. Some members have also had luck haggling on the initiation fee.
Check out Craigslist and eBay. There are times when members will sell their membership at a discounted rate. Since you do have to commit, often as much as three years at a time, some members simply dont want to make payments anymore and are willing to get rid of them at a discount.
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Video: How Does A Boat Club Work
Freedom Boat Club
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We will be sending you all the details about local plans, discounts & local partnerships. In the meantime, check out the local reviews, events and frequently asked questions for your local club.
Where would you like to boat?
Freedom Boat Club the worlds largest members-only boat club was founded in 1989 in Sarasota, Florida. Today, the Clubs 300+ locations welcomes hundreds of members to its docks each day to enjoy a day on the water while we take care of the rest including fueling, cleaning, maintenance, and more.
What About Boat Safety Rules
New to boating? It may feel overwhelming to consider all of the safety rules you must learn before you can be released onto the open water. Boating safety is one aspect of sailing that you can never overlook or underestimate. Should an emergency come up, you will be glad that you knew just what to do!
Fortunately, many of the most popular boat clubs offer some form of training for new skippers.For most of these locations, safety training is a mandatory part of your membership. You will not be permitted to reserve a boat until you have completed the necessary safety training.
Some clubs have members of the United States Coast Guard on hand to train their members and do official walk-throughs of their boats.
Freedom Boat Club offers both classroom training and on-the-water classes to get you up to speed quickly. Their courses cover basic safety and operation of the different types of boats included in their fleet.
Carefree Boat Club offers similar training. You start by reading their training manual and follow-up with a hands-on class that covers the same concepts.
Both clubs give you numerous opportunities to ask questions and see the demonstrations in person before being asked to perform them on your own. If you finish both training sessions and still feel like you need more assistance, dont be hesitant to ask for more help.
Every boat club would instead take the time to teach you how to sail safely rather than risk injury to you or the boat.
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How Much Does A Boat Club Cost
The cost of any boat club differs from club to club, and also differs from location to location. In short a club membership in a marina in L.A. will cost more than a membership in Wisconsin. There are many reasons for this. Saltwater locations have different types of boats they have to maintain and things are just generally more expensive. Here is the really cool part though if you join a boat club at a local lake all 50 clubs will have reciprocal membership, allowing you to have access to 350 boats without an additional fee! As far as the actual cost there are typically one-time buy-in fees, plus membership fees paid on a monthly or annual basis. Those fees vary, but one thing is for sure it is MUCH cheaper to join a boat club than it is to buy a boat.
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What Isnt Covered In The Monthly Membership Fee
The answer to this question is the same for every Freedom Boat Club location: fuel.
Many of our clubs use fuel flow meters that are initiated at check-out from the dock, and then reviewed in full upon return. In all cases, you are only charged for the fuel that you use during your outing.
Some Freedom Boat Clubs offer optional programs that include special insurance coverage and towing provisions. Your local membership executive can provide full details.
Finally, every Freedom Boat Club has a professional dock staff, whose total focus is to assist members with boarding, check-in, dock departure and returns. They are happy to help load and unload your gear. Many of our satisfied members choose to tip for outstanding service, and the dock staff appreciates the consideration, this is fully at the members discretion.
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