Boat clubs?? (Tampa, Clearwater, Dunedin: transporting, to rent, HOA) - Tampa Bay - Florida (FL) -Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater - City-Data Forum

overit2 · 06-24-2013, 02:22 PM

Well, for the first time I heard of boat clubs there in that area. Although the move is a little time away-we have thought about the pros and cons of owning a boat there, with maintenance, towing back/forth, or marina fees, etc...

My brother mentioned his friend that lives there is part of a boat club, where you can use different kinds of boats year round for a monthly fee.

Does anyone on this board use this service, do they run about 150-200 a month? Have you found it to be worth it (benefits vs cost), just curious.

Maggi07 · 06-24-2013, 04:05 PM

I don't use ours, but many of our neighbors do. I think it's $250/month per family.

SeaSpur · 06-24-2013, 05:16 PM

There is one called Freedom Boat Club.

Last time I inquired about a year ago, it was around $5000 up front and then $200/mo.

That gets you access to a boat at all of their locations around the country.

Occifer · 06-24-2013, 08:20 PM

It all depends on what you want, how much you want to pay, and how much you plan on using the boat.

If you don't have a truck or SUV and/or don't have a place to keep the boat and trailer on your property (most HOA communities prohibit them in driveways), you will have to pay for storage. Depending on what kind of storage you want, that could be around $10 per foot per month. That itself could match the monthly cost of a boat club, and that doesn't even begin to take into consideration maintenance or the initial cost of owning your own boat.

With boat clubs the costs are the same no matter how much you use the boats. The only variable is the cost of fuel. So the more you use the boats, the more economical a boat club is. The same can be said for owning your own boat, but then there is the maintenance, upkeep, and hassle of transporting it. If you don't have to pay for storage, have a specific type of boat you want, and don't mind the hassle that can go along with boat ownership, then owing a boat will probably make more financial sense in the long run as long as you use it enough. This is especially true if you know enough to be able to do some of the upkeep and maintenance yourself.

If you plan on only using a boat once or twice a month, it may make better financial sense to rent. There are lots of places that rent boats, and many of them have special rates and participate in groupon or living social promotions.

The best option, obviously, is just finding a friend with a boat!

daaronm80 · 06-05-2019, 11:39 PM

Resurrecting this thread instead of starting a new one. Anyone have recent experience with any of the boat clubs around Tampa Bay area? I am specifically considering Freedom Boat Club, but would consider others as well.

Schuttzie · 06-06-2019, 10:24 AM

How about Dunedin/St.Pete/Clearwater area? I am curious as well.