It’s that time of the year when the water beckons and all you can think about is getting everyone together to go boating.

But do you really want to take on the huge responsibility of owning and caring for a boat? For many, the idea of “boating without owning” is the ideal choice because they get to enjoy the highest quality boating experience without the hassle of ownership.

And at Carefree Boat Club that’s exactly what you’ll get. The goal is to make boating fun, easy and affordable for members who don’t want the expense and worry over owning a boat. And speaking of expense, a membership at Carefree is, in most situations, about 1/3 the cost of owning a boat. Carefree covers the cost of the boat, slip fees, insurance, maintenance, repair, taxes, towing coverage, winterization and depreciation. What’s not to love about all that?

Members also get to use Carefree’s boats whenever they please without paying anything extra. You reserve the boats online, where it allows you to choose the boat you want and the day and time you’d like to go out. When it comes to the types of boats available, there’s a huge variety, including the 18′-27′ Cruiser, Deck, Bowrider, pontoon, fishing, ski and sailboats.

Due to the number of boats Carefree has (a ratio of one boat to every 10 members), availability is never an issue as members generally always get the exact boat for which they’re looking. After all, as a member you decide when you need a boat and can reserve them up to six months in advance. And the online reservation system makes it easy as pie to reserve one. If you’re having a spontaneous moment, you can also simply walk up and grab a boat if the mood strikes.

One more thing: if you’re not a seasoned boater, Carefree has instructors at each of their locations to provide boat safety training and handling skills. You can learn how to operate a boat in close confines, navigate channels, pull in and out of a slip or up to a dock, radio operation, the general rules of the waterways and even practice for emergency situations.

So, do you really want the aggravation, stress and monetary concerns of owning a boat when Carefree offers such an enticing alternative? No? We thought not, so come begin your “boating without owning” adventure with us. It’s the one of the best summertime gifts you could ever give yourself!