Here’s something that seems like the right idea at the right time. Riding the wave of a sharing economy, Dream Yacht Charter just announced that it will start the Dream Boat Club in the United States, offering members access to a wide variety of powerboats at a reasonable price. In the announcement at the Miami Boat Show, Dream Boat Club said it would partner with Zodiac and Beneteau to roll out clubs in the U.S.
Dream Boat Clubs were started just two years ago in Marseilles, France, and have proven popular in Europe. They give people access to boating without having to worry about maintenance costs or marina fees; they offer no-hassle, worry-free boating. The clubs are an outgrowth of Dream Yacht Charter, founded in 2000; the company now has more than 1,000 charter yachts in more than 50 destinations around the world.
The boat clubs will roll out in three to five months in the U.S., focusing initially on Florida, New Jersey, New York, the Great Lakes, the Pacific Northwest and California. Zodiac will provide semi-rigid RIBS, including the N-ZO line (pictured above). Beneteau will concentrate on its outboard-powered boats. The fleet will vary from location to location, but the idea is to provide a variety of boats, including bow riders, center consoles and pilothouse models.
Jean-Francois Lair, president of Beneteau America, said Dream Boat Club would provide “a different way of boating. Also, it will offer the possibility to our clients to test a boat before deciding to purchase it.”
In Europe, the clubs offer three categories of membership, based on the number of outings a year; the lowest level provides up to 12 outings a year, the highest provides an unlimited number. Those categories are then combined with four categories of boat sizes, plus low-season and high-season rates. Read more:
