PORTSMOUTH — The Port City's working waterfront is working a little differently on Sagamore Avenue.
Sea lovers who love to boat but hate the hassle of maintenance, can't afford mooring fees or can't find a marina slip now have another option. For a $5,900 entry fee and $299 per month, Freedom Boat Club offers unlimited use of its boats in Portsmouth and Newburyport, Mass., and four visits at 42 other locations in the United States.
"We had no intention of being here this quick and open, but when this piece of property became available, we couldn't resist," said Mike.
Members must get their safe-boating certificate and complete six hours of training. Then all they have to do is call the club, tell it when they need a vessel, and the boat is ready to go whenever they want.
Because the Goodriches own the Newburyport club, Portsmouth members get full use of that fleet as well. The membership also comes with four visits per location in other clubs in Michigan and on the East Coast, from New Hampshire south. One could spend a year going from location to location, paying only the monthly fee.
"It's a concept that's growing very rapidly," said Mike. "I think it's catching on now because the cost of boating and maintenance is getting to the point where people are saying, 'I can't be bothered.' This is a practical, affordable way to go boating — especially in an area like this with a limited amount of marinas and moorings."
So far there are five members in Portsmouth, most of whom signed up prior to the club opening or even before the new pier was installed. There are 20 members in Newburyport, which has been open for a little over a year.
All the vessels are top of the line, and members have the option of taking out the cruiser boat or the center console fishing boats. For some people, Mike said, the convenience just works.
"For people who own boats, it's very hard for them to go for a two-hour ride because of all the time it takes to put the canvas down, open up the boat, go ride, come back, wash down, clean it up," said Mike. "We do all that, so their actual time boating is boating. ... The headache is gone."
