How to Enjoy Boating When you Don’t Own a Boat
Would you like to go boating but not ready to buy boat? A lot of people are but unless you’ve got friends or relatives who own a boat you might be wondering how. Today there are quite a few options with more in the making. Here’s a few suggestions:
Take a tour– Most destination spots on the water offer a variety tours from sightseeing to fishing, para-sailing, watersports, etc. both self-guided and captain operated craft. Here on the Harris Chain of Lakes we a have a few tour operators offering fishing trips and cruises thru the picturesque Dora Canal.
One very unique touring experiences operates here from Mt. Dora Boating Center. Cat Boat Adventures leads the way as you pilot your own 2-person powered catamaran on a guided tour across beautiful Lake Dora through the world-famous Dora Canal and into Lake Eustis. You will see nature at its finest and learn some of the history of this area on this 2-hour narrated tour. Visit Cat Boat Tours for details.
Rentals – more people are interested in renting and as a result more boat rental operations are popping up. Pontoon and personal watercraft are by far the most popular craft to rent but more places are beginning are expanding their rental offerings with bow riders, deck and fishing boats.
Mount Dora Boating Center has been renting pontoons boats for a number of years. Recently we’ve expanded both the number and types of boats offered. We now offer four pontoons and new this year, Glastron 22’ Deck Boat. We’ve also began renting tubes to enjoy as well. Visit our Rentals Page for details.
Cat Boat Adventures has recently begun renting their boats as well.
Boat Clubs- have become very popular for people who are somewhere between boat ownership and rental. They want to be on the water more frequently but not quite enough to consider ownership. Freedom Boat Club and Carefree Boat Club are the two that have emerged as the leaders with the number of both locations and boats available.
Shared Leasing– Coming to a marina near you very soon. Boat ownership requires a considerable investment in time and treasure. It’s the amount of time people have to go boating that makes ownership a not so great proposition when the total cost is considered. Renting frequently approaches the cost of ownership and availability can be an issue. Boat Clubs cost less but often boat choices and availability, especially during peak demand times, are limited.
The concept of shared leasing is for a small user group (4) to have access to a single boat, guaranteed one weekend per month or anytime one of the other three users aren’t using it. Monthly lease payments would include use of the boat, storage, mechanical maintenance, cleaning and insurance costs. Users call for a launch, hop on board for a great day on the water then just drop off the keys. Cost will be a fraction of total ownership and fuel used.
Details will be available June 1, 2020. In the meantime here are the first two boats we’ll be offering in the program:
2019 Four Winns HD 200
Contact Joe Lewis Joe@mtdoraboats.com with questions or to get on the mailing list for all the details.