Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce: Clear Lake Connections Podcast Episode 27 | Making The Bay Area Unique.

Press release from the Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce:

July 28, 2021

Meet Ken Vollbrecht, General Manager of Freedom Boat Club in South Shore Harbour Marina. In this week’s episode, Ken discusses the benefits of being a part of the member-based club and how the Bay Area is a boaters personal playground. Ken also talks about the different access and opportunities members have when it comes to trying different types of boats, his tips for someone who is looking into getting into boating and how this is a great steppingstone to seeing and getting involved in our area.

In the marina at South Shore Harbour. Freedom Boat Club is a private member-based club a club where members don’t own the boats. The members join like they would a country club and then everything is taken care of for them. They provide access to boat lovers and boat owners maybe use their boats 6 times a year, they have some members go out 40 times a year. There are no excuses to talk you out of boating when you have a place like Freedom Boat Club.

Ken chose to open the club in this area because of how much of a playground it is, it is the third largest recreational port in the US, the Clear Lake area holds more concentration of slips anywhere on the gulf coast. The opportunities here and being close to Houston was ideal. He is local and it is home to him here.

Many of his members come from 50% the bay area, the nice thing he promotes them to the bay area. He has a lot of members inside the loop, Katy, Cypress, Tomball, Kingwood and they want to saltwater fish in the bay. They do a lot of training, excursion days and programs. If they’re not that experienced, they will help them. When everyone joins, they have a training program where they asses your skills and you get safety certified. There are many club benefits. They do group seminars and excursion days that are usually a big hit what they call “Get to know the bay day”

Within the recent months, the demand has gone through the roof and a lot of people have realized how accessible boating is. They have 20 boats and adding more for next season to keep up with high demand and be able to serve all of their boaters.

Ken’s top tips for someone looking into getting into boating him in this area are.

1. What are your intentions
2. Do your homework

The club is a great steppingstone for that and the folks at Freedom Boat Club are ready and willing to help you every step of the way.

This press release was produced by the Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.