When the sticky, sultry days of summer roll around, there’s no more refreshing place to be than out on Lake Murray. With 650 miles of shoreline and covering nearly 50,000 acres of land, there’s so much to explore and enjoy, especially by boat.
That’s where Freedom Boat Club steps in to help. Freedom Boat Club is a franchise that was created in Florida in 1989. The goal was to provide a hassle-free way to experience the best boating, and they do that by providing their members with unparalleled access to a diverse fleet of boats that they expertly maintain.
The local chapters of Freedom Boat Club are family-owned and operated by Anthony Viola. Once you join, you have access to over 440 locations throughout the United States and the world. Regionally, there are clubs in Charleston, Hilton Head, Beaufort, Myrtle Beach, Lake Hartwell, Lake Wylie, and Lake Norman. There are locations up and down the coast, stretching through Savannah, Georgia, and into Florida, where there are 90 different ones to visit.
You can find Freedom Boat Club at two locations on Lake Murray: Martin’s Landing in Prosperity and at South Shore Marina in Lexington/Leesville. With 11 boats in their fleet, ranging from tritoons to center consoles and bowriders, there’s a perfect option for however you want to enjoy your time on the water.
“All of our boats are maintained and inspected,” said Viola. “We have more rules and regulations that we have to follow as a franchise. You’re not going to get just a ‘rental boat’ from us. All of the boats that are Freedom boats are designated Freedom only and exclusively used by our members.”
Freedom Boat Club is dedicated to delivering an exceptional, white-glove boating experience for its members. Every detail is thoughtfully managed, making time on the lake with your family effortless and entirely focused on enjoyment.
“It’s essentially a boating concierge service,” said Viola. “We handle everything and all you need to bring is what you want to eat, what you want to drink, and what you want to play with. When you drive up, our team will help you carry your things to the boat, we’ll help you load up, and we’ll help you get out on the water. Afterwards, we’ll help you dock and unload, and then we’ll get the boat cleaned and gassed up for the next member.”
For those considering membership who may not yet feel confident at the helm, Freedom Boat Club offers comprehensive training designed to ensure every member navigates with confidence and ease.
“We provide unlimited training with our licensed Coast Guard Captains with all levels of membership,” said Viola. “We want everybody trained. There’s no limit on it, either. You can get trained every single time you want to take a boat out.”
From Lake Murray to the Lowcountry and around the globe, Freedom Boat Club is where effortless access, exceptional vessels, and elevated services come together to create the ultimate boating experience designed to create lasting memories.
“At the end of the day, that’s what we’re all about,” said Viola. “We want people to have fun on the water!”