Boating without Owning

by Beth Hester

Carefree Boat Club’s 34’ Luhrs “Wild At Heart” fishing in-between the third and four island.

Since 2002, Kevin Bonnema has watched his dream of creating Carefree Boat Club become a reality and take on a life of its own. His corporate motto, “Boating Without Owning - It’s About Time,” is inspired by a goal of providing an alternative to boat ownership that eliminates all the work while emphasizing a “carefree” experience on the water. This motto resonates with many in Hampton Roads who enjoy the open water but seek to be liberated from responsibilities such as slip fees, insurance costs, maintenance time, property taxes, cleaning, repairs and storage. Kevin explains, “Our customers are often business owners and families who are limited by time constraints. The Boat Club allows them to enjoy their boating experience and maximize their leisure time”.

The Carefree Boat Club has enjoyed incredible growth over the last six years. On the East Coast, 15 Carefree Boat Clubs operate in New York, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Hampton Roads and Ft. Lauderdale. Members pay a monthly fee and initial down payment and join for three to five years. Excited to have the enjoyment of boat accessibility for one-third of the cost of owning their own boat, members recognize a good value for both their time and money.

Within Hampton Roads, Bonnema manages four locations. Boat Club members have unlimited use of boats and can maintain up to four advanced reservations at either Salt Ponds Marina in Hampton, River’s Rest Marina in Charles City, VA (near Williamsburg), Ocean Marine Yacht Center in Portsmouth, or Long Bay Pointe Marina in Virginia Beach. Bonnema maintains a 1:10 ratio of boats to members and employs a staff of fourteen to serve the needs of the Club. Reciprocity agreements are maintained with other Carefree Boat Clubs on the East Coast allowing members to reserve boats in any of those locations at their leisure.

Carefree’s 23’ Key West returns from a day on the water.

The fleet of club boats available in Hampton Roads range in size from 18 to 27 feet and the yacht club offer boats from 28’ – 40’. Having adequate boats to complement each member’s boating personality is essential to Bonnema. Cruisers, sailboats, ski boats, speed boats, deck boats, and pontoon boats are a part of his thirty-four boat fleet. “The variety,” he states, “is what interests our family members. Oftentimes, one family member wishes to fish, one is excited to ski or sail, and another dreams of cruising the waterways. With our club, families are not limited to one kind of boating experience”.

As a member arrives at the pier for a reserved outing, their boat is already gassed, cleaned, and equipped for the voyage. Members are able to concentrate fully on making new memories with their family and friends instead of boat preparations. Pastor Jeffrey Bell of Virginia Beach explains, “How can you live in a place like Tidewater and not have access to a boat? Just in the past year, I’ve done more with my wife, sons, and family than I could have imagined. We’ve cruised alongside dolphins, enjoyed terrific fishing, and created memories that will last a lifetime”.

Bonnema is especially proud of his organization’s excellent training opportunities in boat handling, safety procedures and fishing techniques. Both classroom and “on deck” boat handling courses are organized for all new members. Certified by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to teach boater safety, Bonnema has a staff member exclusively dedicated to these classes. “Our members are like family,” Bonnema states, “We like to prepare them for emergency situations, navigation challenges, and operator issues. Most of all, we like to prepare them so they can have a great time out on the boat”.

Bonnema focuses on creating a “country club” atmosphere where members share mutual interests and experiences. At least two times each year, the Boat club organizes social events at marina locations in Hampton Roads. Summer luaus and winter socials give members a chance to share their love of boating and the water. Members are delighted with the opportunity to experience a variety of boating experiences in Hampton Roads’ waterways in this unique Club environment.