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Random Quote: The gun in my mouth was real and the taste blew my mind.....
I have been thinking about these two clubs, and I was wondering if anyone has some first hand knowledge. PM me or reply.
The Navigator Club is in Charlestown, I think has two 24' WA...but perhaps fewer users.
The Freedom Boat Club has a few more sites, but obviously more users/boats.
There are some things that I do not like about them, such as customizations, time limits, night time runs (may be not allowed!), etc. But they seem to be about the same price as the cost of a slip in the BHarbor area, if you average 2-3 years, if I were to purchase a boat.
Ideally I would own a boat, slipped in BH, and take a bazillion fishing trips around the world, but there's just not enough $$!
The last time I ran the numbers on the Freedom Club the cost was around $5G a year.
I think the concept is good, and it's a good way to 'dip your toe', but there are many limitations. For me, the primary value in a boat is to do what you want when you want. With Freedom you have to have the boat back by 5, can only schedule rolling blocks (i.e. 2 blocks) at a time, cannot use every boat the way you want (i.e. they determine if model X is suitable for fishing - if no - you can't fish from it), etc. Let's say you want to reserve a boat for June 20 and July 4th. You can't schedule another date until you have used your first block on June 20. You can check the day of to see if a boat is free, but you will not know until you call the day of.
You can't do overnights unless you buy into a larger (more expensive) membership class; at the time they called it the "Cruiser" package or something like that.
My neice and her husband belong to the Freedom Boat Club. For them, it works out great. I have gone with them on most of their trips to provide some "experience". After seeing the time I spend maintaining our boat, they love being able to pull up to the dock, unload, and walk away. There are limits, of course, but once you figure out if they are acceptable, it can be a real good deal. Plus they have one of the largest networks of outlets in that market. You can use their boats in many locations.
The last time I ran the numbers on the Freedom Club the cost was around $5G a year.
I think the concept is good, and it's a good way to 'dip your toe', but there are many limitations. For me, the primary value in a boat is to do what you want when you want. With Freedom you have to have the boat back by 5, can only schedule rolling blocks (i.e. 2 blocks) at a time, cannot use every boat the way you want (i.e. they determine if model X is suitable for fishing - if no - you can't fish from it), etc. Let's say you want to reserve a boat for June 20 and July 4th. You can't schedule another date until you have used your first block on June 20. You can check the day of to see if a boat is free, but you will not know until you call the day of.
You can't do overnights unless you buy into a larger (more expensive) membership class; at the time they called it the "Cruiser" package or something like that.
I've been boating with the club for a few years now. I'd been a boat owner for years and loved it but I was pretty much fed up with all the "extras" that you don't exactly see in the dealership (the expense and the hard work!) I switched to the club and have really enjoyed it thus far (3 seasons under my belt). I'm not sure where the above fellow was looking but at my club (Quincy, MA) I've been out well after 5pm and can reserve up to 4 days at a time. I've also done many overnight trips and I don't below to the Cruiser Club package.
It cost me $5,900 to join and then I pay my dues of $299 a month. So the longer I stay, the lower my per year average cost will be. I joined in the peak of the season (just before the 4th of July) - I'm sure you could negotiate a cheaper price this time of year!
I've been a member of The Navigator Club since its inception and have nothing but complimentary things to say about the location, the condition of the boats, the work staff and the owner.
I don't have experience with Freedom so I can't comment there but what lead me to The Navigator Club was location, location, location and the professionalism of the club owner. He's a straight talker, honest and goes out of his way to be helpful, all the while showing his passion for boating.
I am still really on the fence. I will most likely call them both soon and see how I feel then. I'll keep you updated.
Thank you,
Chris
I know Ed at Navigator. He's a great guy who's 100% committed to his customers, not sure about freedom. If I had a Family or an urban lifestyle, those programs are a no brainer. It's a cheap way to have access to $80,000 boat with no cleanup, upkeep or headaches.
I have gotten quotes from both, and they are similar if I recall correctly. Everyone seems very nice...but it's still a lot of $$ for a limited use item.
If it were less, it would be a super easy decision...but I can take a whole lot of fishing charters for the cost of a 2 year membership. Sometimes I think I should just keep saving for a sled of our own...
Still looking for unbiased actual customers/members though, before I make any decisions...
Navigator or Freedom Boat Clubs- Boston Area? 
