The short version
With a boat club you pay to use boats, and when you stop paying you walk away with nothing. With a Share Our Boats partnership you buy 1/4 of a boat, put your name on the DMV title, and can sell your share later. It's fractional boat ownership, not a membership.
Side by side
| Share Our Boats | Boat clubs (Carefree, SailTime) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Your name on the DMV title | You own nothing |
| Agreement | Formal partnership agreement | Membership terms |
| Resale | Sell your share any time, and we help | Nothing to sell |
| Your time | 7 guaranteed days a month | Reservations compete with other members |
| Boats | One boat shared by four partners | A fleet shared by many members |
Club terms vary by location and plan. Check each club's current terms for their details.
Where a share wins
- You own it. Your name is on the title, with a legally binding partnership agreement.
- You can sell. We keep an interest list of buyers and help with resales.
- Your days are guaranteed. 7 a month, exclusively yours.
- Personal service. You deal with the owners, not a call center.
Where a club might be better
We'd rather be straight with you. If you want zero responsibility, don't want to share one specific boat with three other people, or just want a few outings a year, a club could be the simpler fit. A share makes sense when you want regular time on the same boat and want to own what you're paying for.
Straight answers
Is owning a share better than a boat club?
It depends what you want. If you want to own something, build a say in how the boat is run, and be able to sell later, a share fits. If you only want occasional access and no responsibility at all, a club can make more sense.
Do I get my money back when I leave?
With a club, membership fees are for access. With us, you own a share, so you can sell it and we help you find a buyer through our interest list. We can't promise a sale price, since that depends on the boat and the market.
Will I have to argue with my partners about scheduling?
Very little. Each partner is guaranteed 7 days a month, and everyone books on a shared online calendar.
What does it cost?
Buy-ins start at $4,000, plus your 1/4 of monthly dues for the slip, bottom cleaning and insurance. Call us at (310) 702-4423 for the numbers on a specific boat.