Who Is Freedom Boat Club Owned By
Brunswick CorporationIn May of 2019, Freedom Boat Club was acquired by Brunswick Corporation. A leader in the marine space, Brunswicks portfolio includes Mercury Marine engines along with boat brands including Bayliner Boats, Boston Whaler, Cypress Cay Pontoon Boats, and Sea Ray among several others.
Freedom Boat Club Of Toronto
Local Club Locations: Outer Harbor Marina
Conveniently located at beautiful Outer Harbour, Freedom Boat Club is here to take the hassle out of boating. When you become a member of the nations oldest and largest boat club, you gain access not only to your own clubs fleet, but over 3000 boats in over 275 locations across the US, Canada and Europe. Along with unlimited access to the fleet, and unlimited free training by certified captains, our members receive the exclusive opportunity to attend special events hosted by the staff at FBC.The Freedom Boat Club is not just a membership, its a lifestyle. Allow us to take care of maintenance, fueling, winter storage and all the hassles of boat ownership, while you enjoy the perks. Take a sunset cruise, sight-see along the Toronto waterfront, go tubing and water-skiing with friends, and soak up the sun. The boats are waiting why are you?
Our Members Bill Of Rights
We operate according to an established Members Bill of Rights, which is given to all new members, and clearly communicates what you should expect as a member of Freedom Boat Club.
We highly encourage you to read it for yourself. for more information.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Freedom Boat Club. We hope you found this article helpful! Our goal is to be as transparent as possible, and to treat our members in the same manner as we would want to be treated.
Freedom Boat Club has been in business since 1989, and is the oldest and largest boat club in the world. With more than 15,000 members and a 93% annual retention rate, we strive to provide superior boating experiences for our members, helping to create memories to last a lifetime!
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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.
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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Boat Clubs In Florida You Should Know
Joining a boat club is a great way to gain access to a fleet of boats without the need for hefty financial investments or laborious maintenance on a ship. Around the peninsula of Florida, several different boat clubs will allow you to rent their boats in exchange for a monthly fee. Knowing which ones are available and what they can offer helps you to make a wise commitment.
If you have been thinking of joining a boat club in Florida, here are a few examples that you should know about.
Freedom Boat Club Membership Cost
Membership cost of Freedom Boat Club is an essential issue to consider when you want to join them. But, dont forget one thing that the boat club membership cost may vary from one coast to another.
Despite having the variations, well try to give the bestpossible and the most accurate information about the pricing. We already haveknown about the pricing of the club membership which is in total $ 5,349.
In this amount, there is the inclusion of a one-time joiningfee along with a monthly fee. That means, when youll pay the amount, you justneed to pay a $349 for every other month.
You might be thinking that this is a large amount to becomea member of the club. But, this is indeed 60 to 70% cheaper than being an ownerof an individual boat. Its because youd need nothing to deal with a boatregarding wrapping, storing, or towing it.
Most of their members are have enough money to theirpersonal boat, but they dont do it. The reasons are that we have mentionedearlier and they simply like to avoid the mess.
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What To Ask Before Joining A Boat Club
There are some things you need to know before you decide which club to join.
Some questions to ask include:
- What all does my fee include?
- Do I need additional insurance or boating insurance?
- Will I need to get a boating license?
- What is involved in your training and safety programs?
- Will I be expected to volunteer at the club?
- Do you have family activities for children?
- What are the regulations on gas refills for the boats?
- What are the rules for turning in the boats at the end of the day?
Getting all the answers upfront will make a big difference in where you decide to drop anchor.
One key factor is finding out if you can bring guests or children out on the boat. You also need to find out what insurance is required to bring others on a boat.
Be sure to read membership agreements carefully, especially when it comes to additional fees or liability.
You will also want to ask about their maintenance policies on their boats. Most clubs are great at maintaining their fleet, but you should know how often routine maintenance is done and what type of performance to expect. Also, ask about procedures if the boat has mechanical issues on the water.
It is important to know who to call for a tow back to shore.
One of the most important factors is whether you like those in the club. It is a good idea, if possible, to attend a couple of social functions to see if you enjoy being around other members before you decide to join the club.
Does Freedom Boat Club Have Sailboats And How Much Can You Use The Boats
Freedom Boat Club started in 1989, making it one of the oldest operating boat clubs in the U.S. It started in Sarasota, Florida, and then grew all over the U.S. and later in Canada and France. Today, you can access FBC in more than 210 locations.
The club has at least 2,400 boats and more than 20,000 members. Although they do not have sailboats, they offer bow riders, cruisers, fishing boats, and . Most boats are between 12 and 25 feet. You do not have to limit yourself to the same boat as you can pick any boat you like as long as you are a member.
The boat fuel is not part of the fee you pay. Before you reserve a boat, you need to consider how much fuel it will consume in the duration you will have it out in the waters.
Some clubs offers special plans that may limit when you access the boats. Some of these plans include:
Weekday-only plan
Unlimited usage
Friends and family usage plan
You will have unlimited access to the boats during the time that the boats are accessible to you. For instance, if you pick a weekend-only plan, the boat will be available to you on weekends for unlimited usage.
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South Florida Boat Club
The South Florida Boat Club boasts two significant locations, one in the famous Fort Lauderdale area and another in Key Biscayne. Together, these two destinations have been serving the greater Miami area for more than a decade.
They place a great emphasis on maintaining their large fleet and helping it to grow in accordance with the number of members enrolled in their program. Based on the demand from their customers, South Florida Boat Club can offer a wide variety of boats, including center-console boats, bowriders, deck boats, and cruiser models.
Each year, the United States Coast Guard inspects each boat to ensure that it is still seaworthy from the previous season. This gives prospective members more peace of mind about their safety out on the open water.
Another key feature of the South Florida Boat Club is that there are no restrictions on the amount that you can use a boat. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance, but there is no limit to the number of reservations you can make with a full membership. There are no daily charges for taking a boat out on the water. You pay only for the cost of fuel.
How Many Times Can I Use A Boat
Your usage is unlimited.
You can make four reservations in advance using our proprietary online reservation system. Those reservations roll: as soon as you use one, you can book another.
You can also call your dock of choice at any time to check on availability. If theres a boat in the dock that has either returned for the day, or is unreserved, its yours!
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What Does The Monthly Membership Fee Covers & What Dont
Freedom Boat Club is nothing but a type of community clubthats a nice way to meet new people and get fun. Also, its great to make newfriends and to learn about their passion and experience of boating.
Besides, they have a partnership to joint venture with WestMarine. So, many of them arrange fishing seminar and some other special eventsfor the members. But, the clubs of all locations dont offer fuel for theirmembers to operate the boat.
Some of their clubs have had meters to monitor the flow ofthe fuel that they review upon return. In every case, you just need to take thecharge of taking the fuel that youll be using while youre outing.
Is It Cheaper To Buy A Boat Or Join A Boat Club
Boat club costs are significantly less than purchasing a boat outright, boat club membership often comes with additional perks like boating education classes, on-the-water training, insurance coverage, and/or social events, and there are boat clubs near me, near you, and near just about everyone else who lives anywhere
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Freedom Boat Club Cost
- Post author:Morgan Pell
The Freedom Boat Club employs trends and practices of the sharing economy to expand the publics boating participation. It allows its members to expose themselves to a fleet of boats and the opportunity to participate in social events. How much does a Freedom Boat Club membership cost?
The Freedom Boat Club membership cost varies, depending on your area and the type of plan you choose. To give you an idea, the one-time entry fee may cost $5,000. Whereas the monthly membership plan may cost $349.
Read on to learn more about the Freedom Boat Club membership price and the perks of becoming a member.
Freedom Boat Club Lends Boats Without Hassle
Want a boat without the headache of actually owning a boat? You know, cleaning it, fixing it, figuring out where to dock and store it.
Renting a boat for a day isnt really an option around Cleveland. But the Lake Erie Freedom Boat Club is sort of a boat library. For a $5,500 initiation fee and $259 a month, you can make up to four reservations , to check out a power boat for any day between April and the end of October. You can also borrow a boat from any of 148 locations across the United States and Canada.
Were hassle-free boating, said club owner Beckett Spreng.
Nationally, the Freedom Boat Club started in Florida in 1989.
The Sprengs opened the Lake Erie franchise in 2009, with four boats. Now the club has 185 members and 20 boats, all three years old or newer, 22-28 feet long.
The Lake Erie fleet which is spread among Catawba, Huron and the Emerald Necklace Marina in the Rocky River Reservations includes bowriders, deck boats, single- and double-consoles and tri-toons. No jet skis, though, and no tubes, water skis or other toys.
The club plans to add boats at a downtown Cleveland location next year.
The resurgence of downtown has really helped, Spreng said. People want to be out on the lake.
Members like to take boats to the Flats for lunch or to Edgewater beach to listen to live concerts on Thursday nights, she said.
The club provides life jackets, plus unlimited training on skills such as docking and navigation.
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Can You Split A Boat Club Membership
Maybe you like the idea of boating, but you know that you dont have very much time to dedicate to this hobby right now. Sometimes, people find that they simply arent going to maximize the full usage of their membership.
This is why many begin to wonder if they should just split the membership costs with a friend or family member who also enjoys boating! Some clubs do not allow this, but some do.
Carefree Boat Club, one of the largest in the country, allows you to share a membership with someone else.
In this type of situation, you can split the fee fifty-fifty with your friend or family member!
This includes the initiation fee, monthly membership fee, and the online reservation system fee.
Each person included in the membership has equal access to make reservations throughout the year. They will have their unique log-in credentials that grant access to four rotating shared reservations.
However, all members can manage these reservations. You should make sure to keep the lines of communication open when it comes to making reservations for a weekend on the water.
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What Is The Difference In Pricing
Both Carefree and Freedom Boat Clubs will have pricing that varies based on location.
They can agree that larger metropolitan areas will have more expensive one-time initial fees and monthly membership fees. This is because dock slips are at a premium in these busy marinas, and companies can command top dollar for this precious space.
Many cities are not forthcoming with the rates you can expect for membership.
This is in part due to the fact that both companies offer multiple types of membership.
For example, Freedom Boat Club offers five different membership levels:
- Three-month seasonal membership
- Weekend-only membership
- Friends and family programs
At Freedom Boat Clubs West Palm Beach location in Florida, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2,750 to $5,500 for a one-time fee. Their monthly rates are a little more affordable with prices ranging from $149 to $299.
You can see some price examples on membership costs from various boat clubs in our article here.
Carefree Boat Club also has an initial fee that can vary.
However, they do offer an affordable solution for members who want to enjoy boating without the commitment of owning their own ship. You can join for as low as $300 per month at their Clinton, Connecticut location.
One of the benefits of the Carefree Boat Club is that you arent locked into lengthy contracts.
You can sign up for as little as a single year instead of being stuck long-term contracts.
The same policy applies to the Freedom Boat Club.
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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.
What Is The Jacksonville Boat Club
Golfers dont buy golf courses they join the Country Club and share the facilities. Jacksonville Boat Club operates a lot like that. We are a private Boating Club whose members have all the benefits of owning their own boat but none of the hassles and expense of maintenance and repairs that go along with it. They also dont have a boat loan or insurance payments. They dont even pay to store the boats. Without all that aggravation, they also go boating a lot more and are able to experience just the enjoyable part of being on the water with family and friends and none of the aggravations.
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Free Or Unlimited : 1 Training
Freedom Boat Club offers free or unlimited training for its members. This training is conducted by the licensed captains of the U.S. Coast Guard. Through this training, FBC exhibits its commitment to the boating safety of its members.
As a Freedom Boat Club member, you will not be able to go boating unless you have attended the training. Before the one-on-one training, a captain will orient you about your states boating regulations in a classroom setup. The captain will also discuss FBC guidelines, rules, and regulations.
Then, they will provide you with hands-on training and orientation. The coverage includes the following:
- Open-water navigation strategies,
- Close-quarter navigation techniques, and
- Docking maneuvers when it comes to on-water training.
Dont expect the training and orientation to be a short one. It is an extensive and comprehensive training session. Freedom Boat Club designed it in such a way that members will not only learn about how to be safe while boating. But members will also learn how to be confident boaters.
Freedom Boat Club Training is unlimited. In case you need a refresher session, it is possible. If you are looking for advanced boating sessions, FBC conducts these too. You can inquire through FBC membership executives about this.
