photos courtesy of freedom boat clubB
oating gets into your blood. There’s something incomparable
about the purling of water against the hull, the happy sounds
of children splashing off the swim platform, the crispness of the fresh
lake air, and the whirr of a fishing reel. It’s unlike anything else.
Embracing the boating lifestyle is not always as simple as just
buying a boat, however. Today, young adults are bombarded with
recreational opportunities. Parents are juggling work, home life and
too many summertime activities for the kids. Retirees are downsizing
in the hopes of minimizing workload and hassle.
And, for those who are brand new to boating, it’s easy to become
overwhelmed with the sheer number of available choices. How on
Earth can you decide which boat will be right for you?
There’s a single innovative solution. It’s called a boating club, and
it presents an appealing alternative to boat ownership. You don’t need
to have a lot of time, and major effort is not required. Just get to the
dock, and the club will take care of the rest.An innovative vision
John Giglio, 40, is the enthusiastic chief executive officer of Freedom
Boat Club, the world’s largest members-only boating club. From one
Florida location in 1989, FBC has grown to incorporate 86 corporate
and franchise locations nationwide, including Great Lakes franchises at
Chicago; Lake Charlevoix, Michigan; and Catawba Island, Sandusky,
Rocky River and Huron, Ohio.
Giglio grew up in Rhode Island. Despite the state’s reputation as
a boating hotspot, he says he didn’t really get into boating until he
studied business at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
“I started dating a girl from Winter Haven, and we went boating
together,” he says with a smile. “We got engaged in 2000.”
Armed with an MBA from Florida Southern University, Giglio became
part owner in a chain of auto body repair shops with 20 locations, yet he still
found himself drawn to the water. He purchased a 17-foot waterski boat and
logged many hours fishing aboard a previous employer’s 42-foot Hatteras.
“I got addicted to boating,” he says.
That addiction informed his decision when he decided to move
into a new career, joining FBC as operations manager in 2004.
Since its 1989 founding, the Sarasota-based company had newowners roughly every four to five years, which Giglio attributes to
a time-share model that was deeply flawed.
“When I started in November 2004, the company had just been
purchased by a Cincinnati investment group,” he recalls. “The existing
model wasn’t very solvent, and the new owners were excited about the
idea of growing through franchising. So, in the next two years, we
invested in new boats and cleaned up our procedures.”
Giglio, who became sales manager in 2007 and director of sales and
operations just six months after that, had his work cut out for him.
“It was so difficult to sell these expensive memberships, because
the club got all the money up front,” he says. “It cost between
$12,000 and $15,000 to join. So we created a lower entry fee and
recurring monthly payments, and club members could stay as long
as they liked at a locked-in rate.”
This sustainable new business model made the club accessible to
many more people. By 2009, the club’s franchises were gaining traction,
growth spiked — and the company owners decided they wanted to leave.
“I still don’t know why,” Giglio muses. “I tried to help sell it. We
had six to eight offers, but there’s so much involved with a business
like this. It’s hands-on, with a big capital investment. The last potential
buyer eventually fell off, (so) I made an offer.”
He and a partner purchased FBC in March 2011, and Giglio bought
out the partner in May 2012. Today, the company has 15 corporate
locations and 71 franchise locations in 13 states, with more than 800
available boats serving approximately 10,000 members.Why do the club thing?
“Our members are united by their passion for boating,” Giglio says,
“and their desire to find an alternative way to be on the water.”
Their numbers are growing. Urban locations see younger members,
including singles, couples and families with small children. In places like
Florida, Savannah, Hilton Head and Charleston, more retirees are involved.
“Right now, probably 60 percent of our members are ages 55 and
up,” he says. “Seventy percent are retired, but as our concept becomes
more mainstream, the numbers of younger people are increasing.
“Young professionals and parents just don’t have time, plus they’re
cost-conscious and don’t want to take on more debt,” he continues.laKelaNdboatING.com | aprIl 2015 4 1FreedomBC_APR15_2.indd 41 3/2/15 12:10 PM