For more than 20 years, Bridge Marina has helped thousands of families discover boating through both boat ownership and our boating club. More often than not, new guests who want to get out on the water walk through our doors convinced they need to buy a boat.
Conversations often begin with guests focused on the boat itself – how big it should be, what brand to buy, or whether they want a pontoon or a bowrider. We can easily help guests quickly find the boat they think they want or need based on size, brand and type. But, to help our guests truly get what they’re looking for out of boating, our team spends far more time asking questions than selling boats or memberships. We want to understand how you envision spending your time on the water, how often you’ll boat, who will be joining you, and what matters most to your family.
Sometimes that conversation leads to boat ownership as the perfect fit.
Sometimes it leads to other options like our Boating Club as the ideal choice.
And sometimes it leads somewhere else entirely.
So which is better – a boat club or owning a boat? Neither option is inherently better… boat ownership and boat clubs simply serve different lifestyles. With decades of experience both selling boats and welcoming new members to our boat club, we developed this guide to help you understand the differences so you can decide which path is right for you.
Should I Buy a Boat or Join a Boat Club?
With 20 years of experience running New Jersey’s original boat club, this is easily the most common question we hear.
There’s no universal answer – but there are a few questions that can point you in the right direction.
Ask yourself:
- How many days will I realistically boat each season?
- Do I enjoy maintaining equipment or would I rather someone else handle it?
- Am I comfortable with unexpected repair costs?
- Is using different types of boats appealing?
- How important is flexibility versus having “my” boat?
- Am I brand new to boating?
These are exactly the types of questions we ask new guests because the answers are different for every family. Our boating personality quiz was designed with these questions in mind – it’s free to use and can quickly help you narrow down what might best suit your wants and needs.
Is a Boat Club Worth It?
For many people, yes.
But “worth it” depends entirely on how you define value.
If your dream is outfitting a boat perfectly suited to you, customizing every detail, or heading out fishing at sunrise whenever the mood strikes, owning a boat may be exactly what you’re looking for.
On the other hand, if your goal is enjoying weekends on the water without worrying about taking care of the boat itself – winterization, maintenance schedules, insurance, or storage – a boat club can be an ideal fit.
The real question isn’t whether a boat club is worth it.
It’s whether it matches the way you want to boat.
Boat Club vs. Boat Ownership
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the biggest differences between owning a boat and joining a boat club:
| Boat Ownership | Boat Club Membership |
|---|---|
| One boat | Access to a fleet of different boats |
| Responsible for maintenance and repairs | Maintenance handled for you |
| Storage and winterization required | No storage responsibilities |
| Insurance and registration required | Included as part of membership |
| Large upfront investment | Lower initial commitment |
| Unlimited access to your boat | Reservation-based access to the fleet |
| Ability to customize your boat | No ownership responsibilities |
| Time spent maintaining your boat | Time spent enjoying your boat |
| On-water training and orientation scheduled separately | On-water training included in membership |
Neither column is really better.
Some boaters love washing, upgrading, and caring for their own boat. Others simply want to show up, enjoy a beautiful day on the water, and head home when they’re done.
Is Owning a Boat Worth It?
Absolutely – for the right person. Most of us have heard the old adage that “Boat” stands for “Break Out Another Thousand.” Like most boating sayings, there’s some truth to it – but it’s also a bit exaggerated. Owning a boat does come with ongoing costs and responsibilities, and for many owners those are simply part of the experience. Boat ownership offers something a club never can: complete freedom to personalize your boat and use it whenever you’d like. Many owners enjoy learning every inch of their boat, tackling maintenance projects, and taking pride in ownership. At Bridge Marina, we sell boats because we genuinely believe ownership is the right choice for many families.
Owning a boat is just not the right choice for everyone. That’s why we never assume a guest should buy a boat simply because they walked into our dealership.
What Does Boat Ownership Really Cost?
On the other hand, boat ownership can be an awful experience if a guest has bought a boat that doesn’t suit them, requires maintenance they weren’t aware of, or they didn’t understand the true costs and commitments of ownership in the first place. That points to the other adage we often hear:
“The best two days of boat ownership are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.”
Again, there’s some truth to that saying, too – but it’s usually said by people who bought the wrong boat or underestimated the responsibilities that come with ownership.
In our experience, one of the biggest surprises for first-time buyers is that the purchase price is only part of the overall cost of owning a boat.
There are also ongoing expenses like:
- Insurance
- Maintenance and repairs
- Winter storage
- Registration
- Dockage or trailer storage
- Cleaning and detailing
- Fuel
If you’re considering ownership, our Boat Ownership Cost Calculator can help you estimate the full cost based on your boating plans. It’s a helpful tool that uncovers a lot of the ‘hidden’ costs some new owners aren’t aware of and it clearly outlines how much an owner can reasonably expect to pay on an annual basis, from the initial year of ownership to subsequent years. Our boating cost calculator is free to use and can be accessed right here.
Alternatives to Owning a Boat
If you want to get out on the water, buying a boat isn’t your only option anymore… there are lots of ways you can enjoy boating:
- Traditional boat ownership
- Boat club membership
- Boat rentals
- Fractional ownership
- Borrowing from friends or family
Each has advantages depending on how often you boat and the type of experience you’re looking for:
- Occasional boater? Renting a boat may make the most sense.
- Frequent recreational boater? A boating club often provides an excellent balance between convenience and value.
- Want complete control and unlimited access? Boat ownership remains a solid option.
Are Boat Clubs Good for New Boaters?
For new boaters, boat clubs can offer an ideal path into learning the sport, as on-water training and orientation is included in membership. At
Bridge Marina Boating Club, our members also have access to weekly member training clinics, which offers continued learning and opportunities to practice. We’ve watched new members arrive nervous about docking and, by the end of the season, confidently taking friends and family out on their own.
New boaters also benefit from getting the opportunity to try out lots of different boats, instead of just one. Bridge Marina Boating Club offers a deep and diverse fleet of boats, from fiberglass bowriders to triple pontoons to sporty center consoles. With so many different styles and layouts to choose from, it’s a great ‘training ground’ to see what suits you best.
Who Should Join a Boat Club?
In our experience, boat clubs are often a great fit for:
- Families who want to spend more time on the water without the responsibilities of ownership.
- New boaters looking for training and confidence before purchasing a boat.
- Couples who value convenience over maintenance.
- People who enjoy using different types of boats throughout the season.
- Busy professionals who simply want to show up and go boating.
If you read that list and thought, “That’s me,” a boat club may be worth exploring.
Still Not Sure Which Fits You?
That’s completely normal.
Many people don’t know which option is best until they’ve had a chance to think through how they really plan to use a boat. One thing we’ve learned over 20 years is that people almost never regret spending more time on the water. What they sometimes regret is buying the wrong solution for the way they actually boat.
If you’re unsure, start with our Boating Personality Quiz, which helps identify which boating lifestyle best matches your goals.
Even better, schedule a conversation with one of our boating consultants.
After helping thousands of families make this decision over the past two decades, we’ve learned there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice is the one that gets you – and keeps you – out on the water. Whether that’s through boat ownership, a boating club, or another option entirely, our job is simply to help you find the path that fits your lifestyle.