Freedom Boat Club is considered the world’s largest and oldest members-only boat club that offers affordable membership. If you are looking for a boat rental company and wondering if it is worth signing up for, our Freedom Boat Club review below will tell you everything you need to know.
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How was the Freedom Boat Club founded?
In 1989, the Freedom Boat Club idea was born by John Giglio. He started the club with two boats in Sarasota, Florida, which has now spread all over the country with more than 150 locations.
The first location of the Freedom Boat Club was based on a simple idea: Instead of buying an expensive boat that would sit in a slip and depreciate, it made more sense for people to pay an annual membership fee.
With this fee, you enjoy unlimited access to different types of boats, from pontoons to fishing boats, as well as 24-hour support and training. However, when John Giglio recognized an opportunity to create a membership boating club, his idea was rejected by the major players in the industry.
Freedom Boat Club versus other Boat Clubs
Freedom Boat Club is an undisputed leader in the boat-sharing industry. We have more locations, more boats, and more freedom for our members.
Freedom Boat Club Fleet is the largest. They have more than 1,700 newer model boats in their fleet, which is way much more than other boat clubs. Freedom Boat Club is the biggest boat club in North America, with more than 18,000 members and growing.
With 150+ locations across North America and counting, there’s a Freedom Boat Club location near you. In these locations, you will find newer boats.
The fleet has an average age of just two to four years old because they purchase new boats every year.
Because freedom boat club boats are used by many members so much, they put them through a rigorous maintenance program to make sure they’re running well. In fact, the maintenance standards surpass what most private boat owners do.
Pros and Cons of Being a Freedom Boat Club Member
Pros
The biggest advantage of being a member of the Freedom Boat Club is that you do not have to worry about the maintenance of a boat. The club will take care of everything for you.
The Freedom Boat Club offers unlimited boat access to its members with no long-term commitment. Monthly membership provides the freedom to boat anywhere in the country.
You do not need to worry about where they can keep their boat and how they will get it into the water when they want to use it. The Freedom Boat Club takes care of all of these details, which can be appealing if you do not own a house near the water.
Freedom Boat Club has over 150 locations nationwide. There are different types and models available for you to choose from. At any given time, there’s at least one available for you to use. This is especially helpful if you are planning an event or family outing and need multiple vessels at once.
Cons
The biggest setback of signing up for the freedom boat club is that you cannot take their boats on vacation with you unless you own a 2nd home with a dock. Also, some Freedom Boat Clubs only offer 1 hour per reservation for shorter trips.
Reservations for the most popular boats fill up quickly, which means members may not have access to their preferred boat during peak times, such as weekends and holidays.
The company has a strict cancellation policy that charges members if they cancel at the last minute or if they do not show up for their reservation.
What Other People Say about the Freedom Boat Club
As I mentioned above, there are many benefits to becoming a member of the Freedom Boat Club—enough that we won’t cover all Freedom Boat Club reviews here. So, let’s take a look at some of what members say about their experience with Freedom Boat Club:
- Our experience with Freedom Boat Club has been more than great. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and we are always made to feel welcome when we arrive.
- This is the freedom you want in boating without the hassle and expense of owning your own boat.
- In just 25 minutes today, I was able to get out on the water and enjoy a great day of boating! Thank you, Freedom Boat Club.
- The Freedom Boat Club is precisely what it says it is. It’s freedom! It takes away all the work that goes along with owning your own boat, but you get all the enjoyment of owning your own boat.
Bottom Line
In the end, if you’re looking for a boat club that serves your area, Freedom Boat Club is worth checking out. There is power in numbers, and going by the reviews about freedom boat club, it’s clear they are unrivaled in the region.
