Boat club memberships skyrocket during the pandemic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Boat club memberships have skyrocketed as families look to have fun while social distancing.

"Every day is like the 4th of July on the water which is very very busy," Mariah Lawrence said, "This has been our biggest year yet. We actually just hit our 100th membership sold, which is the biggest year that Nashville has had thus far, and it’s been open for about 4 to 5 years now."

Mariah Lawrence, the Chief Operating Officer with Freedom Boat Club in Nashville, said they were able to reopen in May with safety precautions.

"We had to buy a certain type of chemical we can spray on the boats to be sure they’re completely sanitized,” Lawrence said, “We have a pressure washer, and it’s a mixture, and we basically just hose every single boat."

Families can take boats out during their designated time slots. Some people had to cancel trips due to COVID-19, so they're using that money for a membership. "So it kind of ranges between that $4,000 and $6,000 entry fee, and then your monthly is kind of ranging between that $350 to $450 range."

She said the membership is popular for first time boaters who want to learn the ropes. "Not only are these members getting access to the water, they’re getting access to the lake life, like ‘Okay is this something that we want to do? And maybe in a couple years we’ll buy our own boat.’"

Freedom Boat Club has boats at marinas on Percy Priest Lake, Center Hill Lake, and Old Hickory Lake."And 235 across the globe, and it is the perfect alternative to ownership if you want to just show up, get on the boat, go out with the family and enjoy it, when you’re done you give us the keys and you head home," Lawrence said.

Boat sales are also up this summer.