Get Local Market Information From Freedom Boat Club Membership Executives
Each Freedom Boat Club has membership executives who are highly familiar with all available membership plans and other costs. They know the features and amenities of each plan, so its best to get information from them.
Membership executives will also help you decide which is the right plan for you. They may ask you a series of questions that will help in your decision-making.
Whether or not you will join Freedom Boat Club, the membership executives are always there to answer your inquiries. So, dont hesitate to contact them.
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!
So How Much Does Carefree Boat Club Cost
Well break down an easy way to guesstimate this cost, as well as compare it to the cost of ownership. Here are the kinds of upfront and monthly prices / fees to expect. While we cant answer that in exact terms , we can give you the information you need to get a good idea of cost, and how it differs from area to area. Carefree Boat Club Cost can be calculated as twice the fee of dockage. Or stated another way, about half of the cost of a boat club is just the dockage fee you would have on a boat that you own. Another way to estimate the cost is to figure 1/3 the cost of owning a boat.
We cant answer in exact numbers because each boat club and location have differing rates. Some clubs are located in up-scale, high-profile marinas and some are tucked away in less expensive locations. The costs associated with boating in those areas will follow the local cost of living, just as other expenses would. Your best bet is to check with a local carefree boat club representative for a tour and a detailed quote.
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How Do I Cancel My Membership And Quit Freedom Boat Club
While Freedom Boat Club does boast an annual retention rate of 93 percent among its members, there are times when a member must cancel his or her membership. For instance, sometimes people may have an illness or grow older and be unable to boat any longer. Other times, someone may face financial difficulties and wont be able to cover their monthly fees.
So, in such a case, how do you cancel your membership?
Whenever you do need to quit Freedom Boat Club, you can cancel your membership by providing written notice at least 60 days in advance of the requested cancellation day. Speak to the staff at your local Freedom Boat Club to confirm the advance notice timeline to cancel your membership.
In your cancellation letter, add the date you wish to end your membership, your name and address, your membership number, email address, and telephone number. Send the letter to your local club. Once the staff members process the cancellation, they will contact you to confirm that it was completed.
Who Bought Freedom Boat Club
Brunswick CorporationFreedom Boat Club, a division of Brunswick Corporation , announced that it has acquired the Freedom Boat Club of New York franchise operation and territory. This announcement comes just four weeks after Freedom announced that it had acquired the franchise operation and territory rights in the Chicago market.
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Perks Of A Freedom Boat Club Membership Vs Disadvantages
Nonetheless, there are reasons to stay. Some of the perks and benefits of a Freedom Boat Club membership are:
- An entire fleet of ships to choose from, including sailboats, fishing boats, pontoon boats, deck boats, and more
- Boating lessons and unlimited training both in the classroom and on the water
- Ports located in Europe, Canada, and the United States, including Florida
- Parties and social events planned for members
- Not needing to cover the costs of boat maintenance and insurance
Yet, there are still disadvantages that may cause you to cancel your membership. Some of these are:
- Having to book a boat well in advance
- Only having a specific time to go boating
- High costs at certain popular destinations
- Potentially being responsible for a broken part of the boat that the previous boater caused
Renting Vs Boat Club Member
Boat clubs are very different from rental organizations, though the two often get confused. Rental facilities dont offer the extra services of a club, they often have a very limited number of boats in just one or two different sizes and styles, and are commonly found only in tourist destinations. Rather than having a fleet of well-maintained, relatively new boats to choose from, youre likely to encounter a limited choice of boats that have been used hard and put away wet, when you opt to rent.
There are also sailing clubsbe sure to read The Benefits of Joining a Sailing Club or Organization to learn more.
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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.
The Port & Starboard Option: Our Newly Designed Boating Plan
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Higher Accessibility Rates & Lower Prices just in time for Summer. Weve created two boating groups to alleviate accessibility issues and cut down on wait times while also providing a higher quality product for our members. Group Port can make a planned reservation on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays while group Starboard can make planned reservations on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
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Members get 6 Planned reservations on any day regardless of boating plan
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Usage at any of our 31+ locations across the Greater Tampa Bay area along with the choice of over 550 vessels
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Unlimited Day Of boating. You can still take a boat out on ANY day, just call your desired dock or book online
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Access to a fleet of exclusive Luxury vessels
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4 Rolling reservations.
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Reciprocal Usage: Access to over 240+ Freedom Boat Club locations nationwide at no extra cost
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First month is FREE!
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What Is Not Include In The Freedom Boat Club Membership Fee
There are many perks for becoming a Freedom Boat Club member. However, there is one thing that is not covered by any Freedom Boat Club plan. It is the fuel.
Freedom Boat clubs make use of fuel flow meters. When you check out from the dock, a fuel flow meter is initiated. This will then be reviewed upon return to determine the amount of fuel consumed. This means that FBC only charges you for the fuel used during your outing.
Several Freedom Boat Club franchises also offer optional programs. These programs may include special insurance coverage. They can also include towing provisions.
At the dock, someone will assist you with boarding, check-in, dock departure, and returns. Freedom Boat Club has a dedicated professional dock staff for all members. They will also assist you when it comes to loading and unloading your gear.
Members can tip them for their service. While tipping is fully done at the members discretion, FBC nonetheless encourages members to tip them.
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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How Do I Join Freedom Boat Club
Joining a boat club is as simple as providing your details and then paying for the one-time fee and the monthly membership fee. If you travel a lot, you need a boat club with boats in different places around the country so that you can use your membership to the fullest.
Freedom Boat Club requires you to choose your location, give your name, and then continue to pay a one-time payment and a monthly membership fee. The one-time payment varies based on several factors and so does the monthly payment.
How much is Freedom Boat Club a month? The Freedom Boat Club one-time payment is about $5,000 . From there, you will pay a monthly fee of between $300 and $700.
It may sound like you are paying a lot to be a member, but this is more than 60% cheaper than owning your boat. Once you pay that amount, you never have to deal with boat storage, wrapping, maintenance, and towing.
The entry fee varies based on the market situation. The entry fee is also different in different locations as the market varies from one market to the next. If the boats are in a popular boating destination, you may have to pay a higher entry fee.
The boat club pays higher marina charges, including slip fees and office space than they would in other locations. If you live in a large metropolitan market, be ready to pay a higher fee.
Once you pay the needed fees, you will have unlimited access to a boat. You can book as many times as you need. However, you have to reserve a boat in time.
Boat Club Memberships: Why Should You Join
You may not feel completely ready to choose a boat even after shopping around and using our Boat Finder tool, you might need to wait to pull the trigger because of economic factors, or maybe you just think easing your way into the boating lifestyle is a smart movewhatever the reason, boat clubs offer an excellent alternative to buying a new boat. In fact, boat clubs have experienced soaring popularity since they first began showing up a few decades ago.
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 close to a popular waterway. In fact, there are hundreds of locations across the nation from several different providers and whichever you choose to be your boat club, endless boating opportunities for you and your family probably lay right around the corner.
Follow along as one family explores what a boat club membership is all about in their local area.
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Freedom Boat Club Overview
The monthly fee will entitle a member to unlimited boating at their home port location and four outings a year at any of the 80+ locations throughout the world. A member may have up to four active reservations at a time and can book as far out as six months in advance.
Freedom Boat Club boats range from 16 to 24 feet, including flats, skiffs, deck boats, pontoons, bow rides, sailboats, and kayaks, with almost all boats younger than three years old. All options will vary from location to location.
The club will clean, maintain, store and do all of the prep work on its fleet so you dont have to.
The membership will also include a two-hour training class to learn how to operate the various boats in the fleet.
According to members, a two million dollar insurance policy along with a $2,500 deductible is included as well, but this may vary from location to location.
Aside from the boats, clubs will hold a dock party at least once a month, offering a member the opportunity to meet other members of the club.
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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Can I Bring My Own Fuel For The Boats
Unfortunately, most boat clubs do not allow you to supply your own fuel for the boats.
When it comes to your boat membership, the only additional fee that you incur is the cost of your fuel consumption. There are no daily usage rates or rental fees that you need to worry about. However, many people feel that they would be more comfortable bringing their own fuel for the boat.
This is one way that some individuals feel they can save a few dollars. By hitting up the cheapest fuel station, you could save a substantial amount of money if you are an avid boater.
However, charging members for fuel consumption is one way that a boat club can ensure their boat receives quality fuel, helping them to manage and maintain their fleet.
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.
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Extended Hours For Boating
Depending on your location, some clubs offer extended hours so that you can rent the boats early in the morning and stay late past sunset. There is even a possibility that you could take the boat out overnight, perhaps docking it on a local island so that you can enjoy an evening under the stars.
While there are no hard and fast rules about how far you can take the boat away from the marina, you should be cognizant of how much time you have with the boat. Plan ahead to account for boating against the wind, against the current, and other factors that can influence how much time it will take to return to the dock.
A Sound Future Investment
Youll never hear anyone say this about a buying a boat, but investing in Carefree Boat Club is truly a sound investment. As the club grows, the more its value increases. When you join at your local lake, you will also enjoy membership privileges at any of the clubs 50+ other locations. So theres a big benefit in choosing a club that has branches at locations to which youd like to visit. One trend we are seeing more and more of is club members planning their vacations around other boat club locations. Simply click on one of the pricing guide download links, and we will send you our detailed guide to Carefree Boat Club Cost.
Are you a member of carefree boat club? Let us know what your experience has been like in the comments.
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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.
What Is Included In The Boat Membership Price
This question really does depend on the specific boat club and which location is closest to you. For most of the leading boat clubs, you gain unlimited access to their entire fleet of boats across the country.
Each location will have a unique lineup, but you should have several makes and models to choose from.
The monthly fee paid toward your dues includes any insurance that you may require, safety lessons on how to use the boat properly, and slip fees.
The only thing that it does not cover is the cost of fuel.
It would be hard for a boating club to factor fuel into the monthly fees as this can vary depending on which boat you choose and how far you sail.
Many boat clubs also include complimentary access to water toys such as tubes or wakeboards. Be sure to inquire if this is something that interests you.
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