freedom boat club?

[Got Stripers]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

Having to deal with busy boat ramps is the only downside.

Agreed and why I always avoided the ramps (like Plymouth) that are filled with pleasure boaters, yahoos and idiots. I had a permit for years for Westport, mostly fisherman, the only drawback was the long idle out and back.

[tlapinski]

My dad moved/retired to Florida a few years ago and had plans of buying a boat once there for both fishing and pleasure cruising. A lifelong boater, he wasn't really sure what type of boat would be best for him down there as he wasn't familiar with the fisheries, etc., so he joined Freedom Boat Club. His plan was to test out a bunch of different styles and makes throughout the first year and buy based off his experiences. Here is is at least 3 years later and he likes the process so much that he has yet to buy and just keeps on using their boats each week. Every time we speak he has nothing but good things to say about the service, and he is always sending me pictures of the 'new boat' he is testing. I can put you in touch with him if you'd like to talk more and get better details on the pros and cons that he has experienced if you'd like.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

My dad moved/retired to Florida a few years ago and had plans of buying a boat once there for both fishing and pleasure cruising. A lifelong boater, he wasn't really sure what type of boat would be best for him down there as he wasn't familiar with the fisheries, etc., so he joined Freedom Boat Club. His plan was to test out a bunch of different styles and makes throughout the first year and buy based off his experiences. Here is is at least 3 years later and he likes the process so much that he has yet to buy and just keeps on using their boats each week. Every time we speak he has nothing but good things to say about the service, and he is always sending me pictures of the 'new boat' he is testing. I can put you in touch with him if you'd like to talk more and get better details on the pros and cons that he has experienced if you'd like.

thanks! i think i agree with, and am ok with, the pros and cons. having access to a 100k boat for 5k down and 400 a month, while letting someone else do all the work ( maintenance and cleaning) those are pretty good pros. cons are that you can’t always use it when you’d like to, and that’s a reasonable concession given that i’m only incurring a tiny fraction of the cost of owning a newer tidewater 24 center console.

My big question is availability. if it’s the middle of september and the bass are biting and on thursday i look to make a reservation for saturday, what’s the likelihood a boat is available. that’s my big hang up.

i also have a bunch of charter trips planned and paid for, for this year. so i’ll probably wait until next year.

[Rmarsh]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

Agreed and why I always avoided the ramps (like Plymouth) that are filled with pleasure boaters, yahoos and idiots. I had a permit for years for Westport, mostly fisherman, the only drawback was the long idle out and back.

That's true about the ride in and out.....I've gone as slow as possible and still get looks and comments from people on moorings having coffee on their sailboats. My boat makes a wake when it's moving.
I really gun it passing the knubble on the way out....if it's all clear....full throttle.
Have you ever tried the back Chanel see guys flying through there sometimes

[wdmso]

Most Marinas in my view are just floating Camp grounds 90% of boats leave the slip once all season . .I’ll stick to trailering

But if I wasn’t a hard core boat fisherman and just a boat rafter. Or did a lot swimming or Diving and waterskiing the Boat club would be a serious contender