Five Year Member. Canceled for Lack of Available Boats
We were members of Freedom Boat Club for about five years, and overall it was a very good experience with one significant drawback that ultimately led us to cancel our membership.
First, the positives. The staff at every dock we visited were outstanding. Everyone was friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful. The boats were generally in excellent condition, and the docks were clean and well maintained. Over five years, we only had one or two minor issues with boats being unavailable due to maintenance, which is completely understandable. Boats are mechanical, and things happen. Having owned my own boat for years, I know that comes with the territory.
One of the biggest advantages of the club is convenience. You don't have to worry about fueling, cleaning, maintenance, or repairs. You simply reserve a boat, show up, enjoy your day on the water, and hand the keys back when you're done. There are also multiple locations throughout Cape Coral and Fort Myers, along with reciprocal access around Florida and the rest of the country.
The only issue, and it's a major one, is availability during peak season. From roughly December through April, when Southwest Florida weather is absolutely perfect for boating, it becomes extremely difficult to reserve a boat. In many cases, you need to book two to three weeks in advance just to secure one. The problem is that no one knows what the weather will be like that far ahead. You might reserve a boat weeks in advance only to have a windy or rainy day, while the beautiful sunny days in between are fully booked.
During the summer months, when it's hot, humid, and afternoon thunderstorms are common, getting a boat is usually no problem. But during the cooler months, when the weather is ideal and you most want to go boating, availability is so limited that spontaneous trips are nearly impossible.
In our opinion, the club simply has too many members for the number of boats available during the busiest season.
If you're someone who plans far in advance or primarily boats during the summer, Freedom Boat Club can be a fantastic option. The staff, boats, and facilities are all top-notch. But if your goal is to take advantage of those perfect Southwest Florida winter days whenever the mood strikes, be prepared for some frustration.
We appreciate the excellent service we received over the years, but in the end, the scheduling limitations during peak season made the membership no longer worth it for us.
9 mei 2026
Review zonder uitnodiging