Special Events And Social Gatherings
In essence, Freedom Boat Club is a social club. It is a great venue to have fun and meet interesting people who share your love for boats.
Some clubs host events every monthsome host seasonal events such as during prime boating months. Suffice to say that the weather condition is a big factor when conducting events. Clubs located in areas that have hot weather conditions conduct social events more often than others.
Freedom Boat Club also has a national partnership with West Marine. Thats why FBC sometimes, or most of the time, conducts fishing seminars in local West Marine stores. There are also times when they conduct other specialty programs for members.
Again, how much does the Freedom Boat Club membership cost? The Freedom membership cost differs depending on the area and membership plan you will get. A one-time entry fee costs around $5 000. Meanwhile, a membership plan may cost around $349 a month.
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.
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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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.
Owning A Boat Vs Joining A Boat Club
It is understandable that some people have mixed feelings about boating.
They love to boat. They just have no interest in owning one. But just because someone cringes at the thought of taking care of boat, and all the expenses that go along with it, doesnt mean they have to miss out on all the fun and benefits of boating.
For some people, who dont mind the cleaning or maintenance, owning a boat might be the best choice. But for others, joining a boat club might make the best sense, both financially and in terms of time commitment.
Lets compare the bottom line:
Becoming a member of a boat club involves paying an initiation fee, typically in the $5,000 to $6,500 range. Then there is a monthly payment of $350.
After that, members only pay for gas, regardless of how often they take out a boat. Club members have the benefit of knowing their fixed expenses and the elimination of costly surprises that are so common with boat ownership. Plus, they can choose from various types of boats.
So, in terms of annual expense, a boat club member can expect to pay between $9,000 and $11,000, the first year.
In general terms, a person who buys a boat, in the $20,000 $30,000 range will have a monthly payment of $1,000. But that is only the beginning of the costs associated with boat ownership.
So, surprising as it might seem, joining a boat club not only saves members from all the hassles associated with boat ownership, in most instances, it can also result in greater savings.
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Boatsetter Vs 321 Boat Club
321 Boat Club is a Florida-based boat club with initiation costs ranging from $975 to $3,450 and monthly costs ranging from $149 to $249. 321 Boat Club membership levels largely depend on what day and time you would like to take out a boat. With 321 Boat Clubs fleet being limited to specific parts of Florida, this may not be the best option for everyone. With Boatsetter, you can rent boats across the country on any day of the week!
Carefree Boat Club Membership Overview
A membership offers unlimited usage of all boats, which, depending on the location, range from 23 to 29 feet long.; Most fleets include water sport boats, fishing boats, pontoons and sailboats, with most being less than three years old, but again, fleet choices will greatly depend on the location you sign up at.; According to the club, there is no limit to how many times you can boat; its truly unlimited, and again, depending on the exact geographical location, boats will be available year round.
All members receive;free, unlimited training with a USCG certified captain, which includes navigating, docking, anchoring and safety strategies.; The average training session can last up to five hours.
The company covers the insurance, boat purchase, slip fees, maintenance, repairs, taxes, towing, coverage, and winterization.
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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?
What Are The Advantages
If you missed it in the paragraph above, the most important advantage of the boat club is that the;club maintains the fleet of boats.; Yes, you heard that right!; As a club member, all you have to do is reserve your boat, show up, and have fun.; Members can enjoy the boating life completely worry free.; Maintenance, cleaning, storage, insurance, slip fees, etc these responsibilities and more fall on the club owners.; The members dont have to worry about any of that. Hows that for carefree?
Another huge advantage of the boat club is that insurance and liability are handled by the club.; Training is provided by the club, both group training and on-the-water training.; For an individual or family that may be new to boating, this is invaluable.
With all the advantages, though, the most important thing about boat club membership is that you can enjoy EVERYTHING that boating has to offer, with NO WORRIES about any of the expensive, boring things that come with owning a boat.
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Questions Most Frequently Asked About Boat Clubs And Memberships
Freedom Boat Club
Thanks for your inquiry!
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?
So, youre interested in possibly joining a boat club, but youre not really sure what to ask or perhaps how to conduct a thorough analysis of clubs in your market.
Many of our prospective members are either brand new or relatively new to boating, while others are often seasoned boaters who are just learning about the boat club option.
At Freedom Boat Club, we believe our prospective members should be very well educated about boat clubs prior to making a decision to join. With a nationwide 93% retention rate and 20,000+ active members in 31+ U.S. states,;Canada, and France, we at Freedom Boat Club believe in full transparency. We also believe it is our business to help customers navigate through this important club review process so they can make the best decision for themselves and their family.
Founded in 1989, Freedom Boat Club is the largest and oldest boat club in North America. Our club managers know the questions prospective members want to know! As a service to help newcomers and experienced boaters alike, we have compiled a series of;31 Questions Most Frequently Asked about Boat Clubs and Memberships.
Speak To A Membership Executive For Local Market Information
The membership executive in each local market knows all the available membership plans and associated costs, and will happily answer;all your questions.
We;understand that people are often reluctant to speak with a sales professional, but Freedom Boat Clubs membership executives are here to help you;decide if a boat club is right for you or not. They can;guide;you;through;all the options, and explain the costs and benefits of each.
If the pricing or the membership plan doesnt suit your lifestyle, needs or budget, thats OK!;The membership executive is just there to answer all of your questions, so you can make the best decision for you.
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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.
How Do Boat Clubs Work
Boat clubs allow members to access a boat from their fleet after paying a monthly fee. A member can reserve a boat for a specific day and time and the club will ensure they have that boat for their boating needs. The club takes care of boats maintenance and insurance, and they also teach members how to boat.
If you do not have the money to buy and maintain a boat, boat club memberships allow you inexpensive access to a boat. This comes in handy for new boaters who are not sure whether boating is the right hobby for them. Before you buy a boat that you may only use a few times every year, try joining a boat club.
If you are new to boating, the boat club offers training to start you off with boating. There are several other perks that may come with a boat club membership, including slides and skis among other water toys.
You do not have to boat alone when you can join other boaters at the club and make new friends. The gatherings can be a great place to learn more about boating and make a few new friends.
How many boats do you have access to? If you join a small boat club serving a community by the lake, you will have access to only a few boats. However, if you join an Oceanside club serving tourists and larger communities, you will have access to several boats.
The Freedom Boat Club is one of the oldest boat clubs, and they have a variety of boats, including cruisers, bow riders, deck boats, and fishing boats. Such a club doesnt restrict the boat you take out each time.
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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.
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 Type Of Boats Do You Have
We have the finest fleet in the Southeast US with a wide variety of great boats for our members use deck and ski boats, fishing boats, express cruisers, twin engine offshore boats, and bow riders; many that you can even take your pets on. The fleet ranges from 16 to 36 feet! Please check out the photos on our home page or feel free to call us and schedule a time to view our fleet in person.
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.
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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.
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