Training and Expectations

What brought you to the Carefree Boat Club?

• Training?
• Learning to boat?
• Gaining experience?
• Had a boat and know the hassles and costs?
• Don't want the work or expense
• Want the ease of boating without owning
• Looks more practical and cost/ benefit for sure seems to make more sense
• More places to go boating. Boat on the River and the Bay without towing.
• Other

Have you taken the basic Boat Safety Class from the U.S.C.G. Auxiliary or the Power Squadron?
CBC is authorized to teach the class and conducts one every 2 weeks, always on a Saturday, and it is an 8 hour course with instructor.
It is included with membership.

To take the class individually, one could spend a couple of hundred dollars per person. It is included in all membership plans.

Do you have a Boater’s drivers License?
Now, all boaters must have a driver’s license. It is part of the Homeland Defense Team’s requirements to keep America safe.

CBC is authorized to issue a Boater’s Driver’s license after you have successfully completed the Boat Safety Class.

Have you been involved in any “On Water” training and drill to learn the basic maneuvers of boating?
As our concern for boaters’ safety is high on our list, we require that everyone take the On-the-Water Boating Skills development with an instructor.

This is a 2-6 hour training class with a qualified certificated instructor and a boat and you will learn a set of maneuvers that will help you become competent, confident and comfortable.

You can imagine that this training alone, if you were to contract someone, would cost about $750.00. ($50.00/hr for an instructor and $500 for the boat.)

Your education and training continues as you earn the ability to reserve a boat and practice what you have learned.

You may choose a small boat to use for practice. Even the smallest Sea Ray boat in our fleet lists for $64,000.00 plus tax. Our members are get to use fine boats.

(That boat would require a down payment of $5,000 plus about $2,250 in taxes. The mortgage would be about $464.00 per month for 10 years.)

And that’s the smallest Sea Ray boat in our fleet.

Are you planning to use the boats to explore new areas?
In the boat club, you will have boats up to 28’ to enjoy cruising to other marinas and spending time exploring the many coves and bays along the Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

There are many historic towns along the Potomac River and around the Chesapeake Bay for you to explore, visit, tour or dock at the local marinas. Many offer food and preparations served as they did nearly 200 years ago. Just visiting them is a treat in itself and a great learning experience for the family.

Do you plan to use the boats for Over-Night excursions?
The Sea Ray 240 and 260 Express Cruisers will sleep 4 adults and have a stand up shower, a head, and a galley with hotplate, microwave oven and a refrigerator. (Our Sea Ray Weekenders sleep 2)

Typically a boat of this type will sell for between $90,000 to $110,000 depending on how well it is equipped. You might have to put down $9,000.00 and have payments in the range of $650 a month for 10 years (or more) to buy a boat like this.

You could have a Carefree Yacht Club membership for that.

This is another reason why the Carefree Boat Club is a far better choice financially than owning a boat.

Have you had Navigation Training or attended a course in navigation?
To go touring over night, you will need to demonstrate that you can complete a “Float Plan.” This requires calculating your time, distance, speed and fuel burn, to get to the next way-point.

CBC provides its members with a course, called, Navigation 101, on a space available basis at no charge. (There is a $99.00 fee for the instruments and manual for the course, which you keep.) Our navigation class is the basis for your preparation of a float plan.

Your safety, the safety of those with you, the care and protection of the boats are our number one concern. That’s why we invest so heavily in your training.