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Fractional Boating Fractional Boating & Fractional Ownership, how this trend is getting more people on the water for less money and fewer headaches. Factional Boat Ownership allows many people to use a boat, like they own it, but without the financial and maintenance headaches. Fractional boating works where each club provides boats for its members to use. For an annual fee each member gets a guaranteed use of the boat. Typically this amount of time is greater than the average Owner uses his boat, which maybe 20 times per year. The Fractional club handles all maintenance and pays all the bills, you pay just the annual fee and an initiation fee. Fractional Ownership is where you purchase a boat and put into one of the Franchise boating Clubs. You still get use of the boat like any club member, but you get a lot of costs paid for and the organization maintains and looks after the boat. They can tell you how the program works.  Whether you are looking for a powerboat for fishing, cruising, tubing or waterskiing
or if you are looking to go sailing, there are many
fractional programs to suit your needs. With the economy and the real
cost of boat ownership, fractional boating is increasing.There are several benefits to fractional programs and these include, much lower costs, less time working on the boat, More time on the water, availability of the boat (the organization has the boat ready to go at any time), ease of use (all you need to do is turn up) and finally commitment.
It's easy to see Fractional Boating is very much cheaper. There are many other benefits beyond just the cost issue and time is one. You only need to show up and provision. The boats are ready to go, after you have booked the spot which is easily done online. Typically 24 hours reservation is needed, but if you suddenly decide you want to get out on the water, call and if a boat is free, off you go.
Maintenance in the Boats in these clubs are taken care of by the organization. You will clean the boat after using it, using the "leave it as I found it principle". Boats in fractional clubs are actually in very good shape for the moats part. It seems that members actually treat the boat like it's their own. Rental boats on the other hand tend to get trashed as the renter has no "Skin in the game".
The larger franchises have multiple clubs around the country and they
offer reciprocal membership, so you could travel to another location and
use the boat there. Finally Ownership is a big commitment, but Fractional boating allows you to get on the water for a years membership, after that you can choose to renew or not.
Types of shared boat Ownership Fractional Boating Franchises exist all across the country. You can join one of these with or without a boat. Decide which type of boating you are looking for and see what is in your area. Each franchise offers different boating experiences and boat types. Local Boating Club; There are many local boating clubs that are not part of a franchise. many of these clubs already owns the boats. They are similar to fractional ownership franchises in many ways. Private Ownership. This is where you share a boat between you and maybe 1,2 or 3 others in exchange for a share of the expenses. Own to charter. Several companies in the Caribbean, encourage boat Ownership, where you can offset large amounts of cost by putting your boat in the charter program. Moorings is one such Company. Franchise Fractional Boating Clubs
Many of these type of Clubs are driven by manufacturers. The boats in
each club tend to be from one manufacturer.
These clubs operate on a Franchise basis.
These Franchises cover much of the coastal US and let almost anyone join as a member or Owner member. The third option is start a franchise (warning the Industry joke is "how to make a million in the marine Industry? start with two million). Franchise fees start at $25,000 include a royalty and setup costs which can be very large depending on how many boats you would operate. The Freedom boat club was the first to start Fractional Boating back in 1989. Join as a Member or start a Franchise. The boats are all power catering to the fisherman and water sports enthusiasts, some cabin cruisers available depends on location. They have 24hr reservation, unlimited time, depending on availability, reciprocal with other locations. Sailtime started in 2001, Pinnacle and WindPath have agreements with builders. In each of these cases the organization encourages an individual to purchase a boat, either a Hunter, Jeanneau or Catalina with the idea of putting it into the Fractional program. The Owners get reduced costs and maintenance taken care of a and the members get a boat to use. Members get use of an Owners boat for an annual membership fee. Video Sailtime promo Local Boating Club Operating just like the franchises the local clubs have boats which are for the use of the membership. You join, take the orientation and you are ready to go. All hassles are gone. There are plenty more examples of boating clubs around the country and across the World.
A club like the Chesapeake Boating club started in 1992 own most of their boats. They offer a wide range of boats for all tastes. You can join any one of the tiered layers and get out on the water. The layers depend on your use. You may want a small boat just for day cruises. You may want to overnight or you may want extended cruises. Each of these uses are accounted for in the layers.
Chesapeake Boating
Club demo Video
You will be taken through an orientation course so you and they know you are safe to handle the boat and then you can book you time online. You are not restricted to one boat at Chesapeake Boating Club, but can use any boat in your level.
With this program you get orientated with an instructor in each type of boat. Once the club is satisfied that you understand and can operate each boat safely you are good to go. If they recommend you take some instruction they can arrange that. Shared Private Ownership In these types of program you actually know everyone using the boat, as you are partners. In many of the fractional programs, if you are the boat owner you may never know who is taking your boat out. With Shared private Ownership you choose to share a boat so that costs and maintenance are shared equally, thereby reducing the cost of Ownership.
You may purchase 1/4 for example of a boat. You share
with 3 others all the cost and time of use. This type of DiyFractional may help manage this concept. You find a group of people or friends who like to go in on a boat and you can use DiyFractionals software to manage the program. If you do not know of anyone to join and you would like to see opportunities to join a partnership you can use Yachtshare to find you a boat.
There are two big negatives with this type of sharing. First how do
you get out of the program. If you are locked into a long term
relationship, that you are not enjoying. Second since there is only
one boat you will not have the spontaneous lets go out on the water,
you would get with a club.
Ownership to Charter If you are the Owner of a boat in a charter position you must consider how the boat will look at the end of the program and its values then. I have seen older Beneteau's that have been through charter programs in the Caribbean and at the end of the contract, the owner came out well financially, but the boat was worn hard, to the point its resale value was way down. Before committing to such an agreement ask to see a boat that has been in the program for several years, this should give you an idea of the boats condition after the program. Unlike Fractional boating clubs where you get to meet the other members you will not know who is taking out your boat.
High end programs Fractional Ownership happens at every size range. There are several super yachts that are shared between a few billionaires. They have professionals like the ones below to run the program. Whatever the size you can find a program.
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Most of these fractional ownerships clubs
have a policy of having one boat for around every 10 members. With too many members per
boat, availability is an issue.
