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July 2024 by Lenore Imhof
Thankful to have Carefree Boat in Boothbay Harbor! We love all our boating experiences whether in Boothbay Harbor or at their many locations throughout the US
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July 2024 by Steve Jackson
my family and I have been visiting Boothbay Harbor for 13 years now and would always hire a fishing charter, go on a whale watch trip, or ride the Cabbage Island boat in order to enjoy the waters of Boothbay Harbor. Last year we met Ed of Carefree Boat Club during an open house at the docks and learned the concept of "Boating without owning". Honestly, it changed our whole experience! We now reserve 1 of 8 late model boats for am or pm shifts (or all day if you wish). Free private parking within 100 ft of the docks, cheery dockside attendant to see us off and the Midcoast is ours to conquer. We have traveled the Sheepscot, Damariscotta, and Kennebec Rivers. (Its amazing how the character of the rivers change with the changing of the tides.) We have passed by 9 lighthouses. Had lunch on uninhabited islands, swam in secluded beaches. We have seen seals, otters, whales, eagles, sea ducks and so much more habitat. Watch the lobstermen pull their traps. Motored amongst the Windjammers. We have caught Mackerel, Striped Bass, Haddock. Sea Pollack, and are waiting for the Blues. We have eaten at a half dozen dockside restaurants along the coast. The convenience of not having to maintain, register, insure, store, pay docking fees or even clean the boats is greatly appreciated. Some boats have a head on board, a live well, Garmin GPS Navigation w/ fishing sonar, and 2-way radios. All you need is to pack your lunch and bring your gear. oh and I forgot to mention, reciprocity at over 140 locations.
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July 2024 by Eric B
This has been our first year of membership and I'm sorry we didn't do it sooner. It has been a great experience. Large selection of boats, great dock hands, all around excellent and Care Free!
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June 2024 by Jeff Loreaux
Everyone likes the idea of owning a Boat, until they do! Then it hits them time, money and issues! Best thing we every did was joining Carefree Boat Club Maine. Easy to justify the cost! Very affordable. A conversation with Ed, who is not selling you at anytime, will convince you to join! Reservations are easy and boats are always available! Every boat we have been out on is pristine. Here is the other thing we have learned not trailering, mooring or a slip, you are in and out of Carefree in minutes. The Dock Staff is very Professional and accommodating. Parking in the Harbor is the Best Ever! We also learned that 3-4 hours on a boat in these waters is always enough. Good Luck feel free to reach out with Questions!
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June 2024 by Dan Mathews
What are you waiting for, join! My wife and I just joined the Boothbay Harbor CareFree Boat Club and we wish we would have known about it when it opened a few years ago! We live in the DC area but spend enough time near Boothbay each summer to justify making this our home club. So here is why we joined:
- Getting on the water makes your Maine summer 10X better! It opens up so many activities for you, your family and friends who visit!
- Fleet variety and quality - all new boats of different styles and passenger capacities. Some are ideal for fishing, some have lots of seats for a group pleasure cruise, some are for sunny days, while others have more protection from wind and rain. Pick the boat that is right for the weather, passengers and plan for the day. Nobody else nearby has this.
- Location and cruising options - Boothbay Harbor is the ideal midcoast Maine boating center. Marina is sheltered and has its own parking. There are so many incredible places to explore with different levels of exposure to the elements. If it’s a calm day you can head out to the further islands and open ocean. If wind and waives are up there are inland/sheltered options that could keep you occupied for months!
- Ownership and staff - we came up over Memorial Day weekend to get trained and certified to take out boats in Boothbay AND at other clubs. The owner, Ed, went above and beyond to fit a training session, and five rental sessions within a few days so we would qualify for reciprocal use rights at other clubs this summer. Captain Ron was a great trainer and the staff offers to carry all your things to the boat, pulls it in and out of the slip for you and literally makes it Care Free!
- Reciprocal use at other locations - since there are multiple locations in the DC area (and you get 3 rentals a year per location) it made the most sense to pick Boothbay as our home club for the unlimited use.
- Cost - Membership buys a lot more than boating in Maine, which makes it more cost effective than all the alternatives. We considered buying a boat and keeping it in Maine, but I can’t imagine doing that now. This way we have different kinds of boats to use plus access in the DC area and when we vacation in other locations. Tortola here we come!
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May 2024 by John H
We are reciprocal members and they treated us very well. Private parking. New boats. Knowledgeable staff. Everything was perfect. Ed and AJ were super helpful.
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July 2023 by Brian Graber
I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to take advantage of a reciprocal reservation at the Boothbay Harbor, Maine location. The crew there is top notch, and the boats were spotless. I had an opportunity to meet Ed Bernard (The Owner) and I felt like I was talking to a buddy I hadn’t seen in a while. My family couldn’t have been happier with our experience and want to give a special shout out to Piper, Marina, Cyrus, Otto, Oliver & George for all of your help. We were always met with a smile and everyone was willing to help make our time out on the water the best it could be. Thank you to Ed and his team for making this a very memorable experience for me and my family and I look forward to visiting again soon!Best regards,Brian
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July 2023 by Matt Bodwell
Friendly and courteous
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January 2023 by Jason Denby
One of the best decisions I've made in my adult years has been to join the Carefree Boat Club. Being on the water is incredibly therapeutic for me and not having to deal with the hassles of physically own a boat is even better. The Carefree Boat Club in Boothbay Harbor feels like home - no matter who is there to assist at the dock, whether it is a seasonal employee or Ed himself, the experience is kind and genuine.
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January 2023 by Walter Cahill
I joined Carefree Boat Club this year even though I had minimal experience driving a boat. They have helped me every step of the way as they have experienced captains that can assist with training, docking, safety etc.So far this summer I been out over 20 times exploring the beautiful bays and shoreline around Boothbay Harbor. I have taken many out of town guests for days trips so they can experience the beauty of the Maine coastline from the water side - this has been a great treat for our guests. The boats are always clean and ready to go and Ed Bernard and the deckhands are always eager to assist when we leave and return.I would highly recommend the Boothbay Carefree Boat Club to anyone. It has been a delightful experience and has really enhanced our summer enjoyment. We look forward to continuing with our Carefree Boat experience next year!Walter Cahill
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January 2023 by Eric Campbell
On my second year and and enjoy being a member. I've never boated before joining and now am always looking forward to my next day out. The boats are top notch and a joy to operate. I've used the 2 Massachusetts locations as well and was able to get my first choice each time. Ed and the dock staff make the whole process a breeze.
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January 2023 by Neil Whitman
I've owned my own boat here in Maine for several years. When I factored in the cost of ownership including moorage, maintenance, haul out time and winter storage I realized that Carefree gave me a more economic alternative. Ed Bernard and his team are great. The boats they have are perfect for cruising / fishing the local waters. I've always been able to reserve one when needed. The local crew are professional and courteous. A real bonus has been the guided fishing trips Ed has arranged. It's helped me learn the ropes of the local fishery. If you're looking for a cost effective alternative to your own boat, you should check out Carefree in Boothbay Harbor.
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January 2023 by Metehan Sahin
Amazing opportunity for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with maintenance of boat. They have boats available all the time and staff is very helpful for beginners. Club has branches around the country so if you are seasonal like me , it gives you opportunity to enjoy the club somewhere else as well.
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January 2023 by Matthew Robbins
Love having the variety of different boat types!
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January 2023 by Lisa Stover
Boat owners Liberation!Having owned a boat for the past 13 years, we cannot believe how much better boating is with Carefree!Having limited time for vacation, putting the boat in, pulling it out and the constant need for repairs, boat ownership was bittersweet. Short trips to the Harbor meant no boating or a less than ideal quick turn around with our fingers crossed.Carefree has been a most welcome experience! Beautiful new boats, dock hands to help us get ready to go, no need to stop for gas, free parking and never any repairs are the best reasons to join. On top of that we can take advantage of any of the Carefree locations around the country!Boothbay Harbor is such a special place for us and Ed and his team have made it even better.
