Ah, summer. 

Take a trip back to a simpler time, when summers were all about spending the day on the water, feeling the boat sway with the waves and smelling the scent of the salt-filled breeze. 

But you need a boat for that, and owning and maintaining a boat can be a real hassle. 

Here’s an alternative: Silly Lily Fishing Station and Carefree Boat Club. Boat clubs like this combine all the nostalgia of the past with the convenience of the present. Every adventure summer has to offer is now as easy as a drive to the dock. 

What is a boat club?

A boat club is the epitome of ‘Living your best life.” 

A boat club is all about convenience: Spend less time maintaining a boat and more time using a boat. With a boat club membership, you get to enjoy all the benefits of boating without any of the responsibility of owning a boat. 

Less labor means more time for you and your family to spend out on the water. 

What are the benefits of a boat club?

Boat Clubs gets rid of the headache of owning a boat– storage, maintenance, cleaning, insurance– all of it! In exchange for a monthly fee, boat club members have access to more than 150 boats, incredible beaches, and experiences you and your loved ones will remember forever. 

Cost-effective 

Boat buying? In this economy??

Boat clubs are an incredibly cost-efficient way to enjoy the boating scene without the exorbitant costs of boat ownership. 

While boat pricing depends on the type of the vessel, the average price of a new boat is around $45,000– and that’s just the price tag of the boat! Luxury vessels will set you back $100,000 or more. 

Boatowners spend hundreds to thousands of dollars more in fuel, insurance, docking, towing, winterization, taxes and upkeep just to maintain the boat. 

Boat clubs are a fraction of the cost of owning a boat Learn more here with our savings calculator. With a boat club membership, you can say ‘Bon Voyage’ to a monthly boat payment and the insurance payment. 

No upkeep

More maintenance, more problems. Not to mention money. 

The biggest benefit most boat club members cite is the absolutely hassle-free boating experience. All the literal and figurative heavy lifting is done for you by the club. Hate cleaning the boat? No problem! No place to store a boat? You won’t need to!

A boat club is the solution if you’ve always wanted a boat but don’t want to actually own a boat. It’s boat ownership without the work. Boats are fueled and ready for you to hop into immediately. Many boat clubs also have dock staff who will assist you with any needs you may have to begin your adventure. 

Vast network of locations

Boat clubs generally have an expansive network of locations from which members can benefit. Carefree Boat Club members enjoy reciprocity at any of the 130 Carefree locations in the US and Canada. 

Longing for the water in the winter? We’ve got great news for you. A boat club membership allows you to boat year-round with locations from coast to coast. 

Variety of boats

One major benefit of a boat club is the access members have to a variety of different vessels. If you’ve never experienced a sailboat but also want the flexibility of being able to kayak or take a skiff out fishing, a boat club might be for you. 

Here are some of the 150 boats you’ll have access to at Lily’s Boat Club, a Carefree Boat Club: 

• 16 ft. Dories

• Beach boats

• Flying Scot Sailboat

• Sunfish Sailboat

• Stand-Up Paddle Boards

• 1-2 person kayaks

• And more! 

Learn from the experts

Another benefit of joining a boat club is access to hands-on learning from the club’s experienced staff. Most clubs also provide in-depth training for each vessel available to its members. 

Never sailed? No problem. Even the most novice boaters can feel confident in their skills as they navigate the water on whatever vessel they select.

A boat club is a great way to expand your boating skillset, learn new techniques, and maybe even discover a new passion. 

How do boat clubs work?

A boat club isn’t a rental station, nor is it a boat share or timeshare boat. Boat club members don’t own any portion of the many boats they have access to. 

A boat club like Carefree Boat Club owns a fleet of boats at each location. The club stores, maintains, and repairs all boats, ensuring each is in tip-top shape for members to use. 

Members have access to the entire fleet of boats. Take a weekend fishing trip one Saturday, and enjoy sailing the next. The fleet is at your disposal.

How do I reserve a boat?

The boat reservation process depends on the club. In general, however, getting out onto the water is three easy steps away: 

1. Reserve your boat online, over the phone, or on the app. 

2. Pick up your boat as soon as you arrive. 

3. Go have fun! Bring your boat back to the dock when you finish and go home without any extra work. 
   

Boat availability

Boat clubs vary in boat availability. Some require advance reservations and have only a modest selection. 

Carefree Boat Clubs maintains a low member-to-boat ratio and has an easy online reservation system. Carefree members can also utilize spontaneous walk-on access for your spur-of-the-moment boating trips. 

How much does Carefree Boat Club cost?

Most boat clubs offer membership plans. Fees for most boat clubs, including Carefree Boat Club, include a one-time initiation fee and a monthly fee. The cost of the initial and monthly fees vary based on location.

How do I join a boat club?

Joining a boat club is an easy experience. Join a Carefree Boat Club and join a community of thousands of fellow boating enthusiasts across the country. If you’re ready to experience all the perks of boating without owning, schedule a free tour of Lily’s Boat Club today. 

FAQs

How much do boat clubs cost?

Most boat clubs charge a one-time initiation fee and then regular monthly fees. Monthly fees vary based on location. 

Is a boat club worth it?

There are a lot of variables to consider in addition to the cost of the boat (see our savings calculator here) including ongoing expenses like fuel, how frequently you plan to use the boat, and the value you place on accessibility to other vessels.

Can I take a boat club boat out overnight?

Due to safety reasons, most boat clubs do not allow members to keep a boat out overnight. Contact your club for more information regarding special training and exceptions that may be available. 

What is the difference between a yacht club and a boat club?

While many traditional yacht clubs require boat ownership as a prerequisite for joining the club, many boat clubs allow members to share the club’s boats rather than owning their own. Boat shares tout they offer the benefits of boat ownership without the hassle. 

What is a timeshare boat?

A timeshare boat is fractional boat ownership. A company may manage a fleet of boats and then sell ‘portions’ of the boat to many others to divide the costs associated with boat ownership. 

Timeshare boat members also pay for their own costs including fuel, crew, and provisions, and only purchase the rights to use the boat during specific periods of time.