Boat clubs are a great first step to enjoy the Lakefront Living lifestyle on our beautiful East Tennessee lakes without actually owning a boat.
What is a boat club?
They 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 in East Tennessee 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.
Some lake communities like Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake even offer boats exclusive to their residents! Contact us to learn more about what lake communities can offer to boating and lake enthusiasts.
How many boats do boat club members get access to?
The amount and variety of boats a boat club member will receive access to depends on a variety of factors. For example, a smaller boat club serving a lake community will have a different fleet than an oceanside boat club.
One thing to keep in mind with boat clubs is that members must reserve their boat time beforehand. During peak times, such as weekends or major holidays like the Fourth of July, there may be limited availability for the most popular boats.
However, the vast majority of boat clubs don’t have a limit on how often you can rent a boat. Boat club members can often reserve specific boat months out in advance in order to celebrate special events, enjoy a relaxing weekend at your dream lake home, or spend time with family coming in from out of town.
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.
By being a member of a boat club, people have access to a well-maintained boat for the cost of a monthly fee and fuel.
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.
How much to Boat Clubs Cost?
The cost of joining a boating club varies based on your location and the type of boats a club keeps in its fleet. Many boat clubs require an initial membership fee that typically ranges between $1,000 to $5,000. The monthly fee for a boat club can range anywhere between $150 to $500.
Knoxville, Tennessee offers a boat club with the world’s oldest and largest membership boat club with over 30 years of experience, Freedom Boat Club. They take care of maintenance, cleaning, repairs, insurance, and storage and offer a variety of boats such as pontoons, fishing boats and center consoles, deck boats, and wake boats with a varies of membership plans.
Reserve a boat by phone or online with Freedom Boat Rentals. Then go fishing, tubing or head to a restaurant with friends on Tellico Lake or Ft. Loudoun Lake. When you’re done, just bring the boat back and pay for the fuel, they take care of everything else!
Excepts by GoDownSize.com
Post by Mike Hogan, Lakefront Living TN, On The Lake Realty TN