JOIN THE CLUB

Is participation more important than possession? We explore the rise in popularity of pay-to-play boat clubs

- WORDS: Adam Fiander

We've all heard the old trope that if it flies or floats, you're better off renting it but when it comes to boats, there is a third option - subscription-based boat clubs. The premise is simple enough - rather than buying your own boat, you pay an annual or monthly subscription for access to a shared fleet of boats. These are typically modern, professionally maintained new or nearly new boats based in convenient marina locations that are cleaned, fuelled and ready to go the moment you arrive.

The appeal isn’t hard to see: you don’t need to stump up a big lump sum to buy a boat; you don’t need to spend precious time cleaning and maintaining it; and you don’t have to worry about variable and often unpredictable expenses such as unscheduled repairs and depreciation.

You could of course charter a boat but unlike the transactional experience of hiring, membership clubs offer a more immersive, longer-term proposition that allows members to use boats much as they would their own craft. This includes spur of the moment excursions, year-round access, familiarity with the boats and social interaction with fellow club members. "Hassle-free boating" is a phrase commonly used on boat club websites and for those who relish the freedom and enjoyment of going boating but are worried about the commitment of owning and looking after their own craft, boat club membership certainly offers an easier route in.

All the financial risks of buying, berthing, insuring, servicing, maintaining and selling the boat are taken care of by the club, leaving you to pay for the fuel and enjoy all the fun stuff. Obviously that comes at a price: the boat may not always be available at the time you want to use it; you can’t leave your possessions on board; and your time is usually limited to a few hours or days aboard at a time, but to Gen Zs and millennials, less concerned with the concept of ownership, it makes a lot of sense.