Lake Murray Boat Club® Hosts Grand Re-Opening at One Location, Hits Membership Capacity at Another
Nautical Boat Club® locations at Irmo and Lexington experience extraordinary growth as Columbians show their love of lake life.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2019
Contact: Jon Dukes 803.407.2828
fun@lakemurrayboatclub.com
COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Lake Murray Boat Club®, a licensee of Nautical Boat Club®, announces the Grand Re-Opening of its Lexington location at the Peninsula at South Shore Marina as Nautical Boat Club® – Lexington. At the same time, the Boat Club’s Irmo location has reached full membership capacity at the Lake Murray Marina at Marina Bay.
“With 14 years of happy members and boating fun, our Lake Murray Marina location is currently full,” confirms Jon Dukes, owner/operator of all three Nautical Boat Club® – South Carolina locations. “We’re capping our membership at Irmo to ensure we can continue to provide members with high-quality boats and toys, superior boat availability, and ultimate customer service and satisfaction.”
The Lake Murray Marina location in Irmo will be beginning a waitlist for new memberships. Based on many years’ experience, the business expects a limited number of memberships to become available this spring as existing members relocate or opt to go inactive. New memberships will be filled from the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis. Lake Murray Boat Club® is offering the very first waitlist spots to folks attending the upcoming Columbia Boat Show [February 8 – 10th]. The Club is holding a limited-time Priority Enrollment period in conjunction with the Show; prospective members can reserve their spot on the Irmo waitlist by visiting the Boat Club booth at the Boat Show. For those that cannot attend the Boat Show, call the Boat Club as soon as possible to scheduling your personal tour during our Open House Weekend following the show.
Meanwhile, the Boat Club is offering expanded boating opportunities at its location across Lake Murray, in Lexington. Its location at the Peninsula at South Shore Marina is currently undergoing a makeover, with plans for a gorgeous Grand Re-Opening later this spring as Nautical Boat Club® – Lexington.
“Now is the perfect time for new members to get established with our Lexington location,” Dukes notes. “They can begin boating immediately at Irmo’s Lake Murray Marina, then switch over to Lexington once its ‘facelift’ is complete. The location’s rustic, relaxed atmosphere is ideal for launching your boating excursions, and the Peninsula has everything you need for a wonderful day on the water, including convenient parking, top-notch staff, and complimentary kayaks and standup paddleboards.”
Nautical Boat Club® – Lexington is currently accepting new Charter Members; Charter Members pay no annual Membership Renewal Fees as long as they remain active, and no New Member Training Fees. All members receive unlimited boat use, guaranteed reservations with an availability rate over 97%, complimentary use of water toys, premium dockside valet service, and reciprocal guest privileges at all Nautical Boat Club® locations nationwide – including all three in South Carolina.
“The best time to join either of the Nautical Boat Club® Columbia locations is now,” concludes Dukes. “Don’t let a waitlist or a little construction keep you off of Lake Murray – membership with our Boating Country Clubs® is still the easiest, most affordable, and most fun way to get out on the water for good times and great memories! Don’t buy a boat – just join the club!”
For more information about Lake Murray Boat Club®, please visit www.LakeMurrayBoatClub.com.
For more information about Nautical Boat Club®, please visit www.NauticalBoatClub.com.
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Nautical Boat Clubs Launches Newest Location
on Wando River in Charleston, SC
Nautical Boat Club – Mount Pleasant joins franchise to offer members more
benefits and a fleet of brand-new boats to enjoy out on Charleston Harbor waterways
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tom Gardiner
February 9, 2018 512.659.6135 | ahoy@nauticalboatclub.com
AUSTIN, Texas – Nautical Boat Clubs® proudly announces the grand opening of Nautical Boat Club – Mount Pleasant – the company’s thirteenth national franchise, and a third location for South Carolina members.
“We’re thrilled to be launching Nautical Boat Club – Mount Pleasant,” attests Tom Gardiner, a longtime franchisee who took ownership of Nautical Boat Clubs® in 2012. “This is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, and Charleston was named 2016’s World’s Best City by Travel + Leisure. So the timing is terrific for the addition of one of our Boating Country Clubs® here – making it easier than ever for folks to experience all the fun and relaxation to be enjoyed along the many waterways around Charleston Harbor!”
Launched more than two decades ago, Nautical Boat Clubs® was a pioneer in the boat-club business. The company’s Boating Country Clubs® are a simple alternative to buying a boat: for about one-third of the cost of purchasing a single boat, members get unlimited use of a selection of brand-new boats and the convenience of valet boating service. Monthly dues cover all expenses except for gas.
“For our members, a day out on the water is as easy as 1-2-3,” Gardiner affirms. “You make a reservation for the boat you want; you arrive at the marina at your reserved time – the boat you’ve chosen will be clean, fueled and loaded with whatever water toys you request; and you just hop in, turn the key and go! Once you’re done, you gas up, return your boat and head home – with your day well-spent and some lifelong memories, too.”
Nautical Boat Club – Mount Pleasant will be located at the beautiful new Wando River Marina, offering members easy access to the four rivers flowing into the harbor – the Wando, Cooper, Ashley, and Stono – as well as Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant’s popular waterfront dining and drinking district.
“In addition to its well-known seafood and night life, Shem Creek features panoramic views of the creek, its surrounding wetlands, and Charleston Harbor,” notes Nautical Boat Club – Mount Pleasant franchisee Jon Dukes. “Launching from the Wando River Marina, boaters get a unique vantage point of the many sights around Charleston Harbor – the expansive Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge, the beloved Battery, historic Fort Sumter and Castle Pinckney, and of course, our glorious sunsets over the water. It’s really the most picturesque waterway in the Lowcountry, and there’s no better way to see it than by boat.”
The Marina facilities include sparkling restrooms, a fuel dock with both non-ethanol gas and diesel, a Marina Store fully stocked with cold beer, wine, soda, and a good assortment of snacks, candy, and marine apparel, as well as the Wando River Grill for a delightful bite before or some local brews after hitting the water.
Nautical Boat Club – Mount Pleasant members will especially enjoy the quarter-million-dollar fleet of state-of-the-art watercraft available at the new location, including sportboats and skiboats, fishing boats with center and dual consoles, and luxurious pontoons with all the latest features.
“We invite folks to come take a tour and see our shiny fleet of the newest boats around,” Dukes urges. “And we’ve got thousands of dollars’ worth of water-sports equipment – including wakeboards, wake skates, wake surfers, skis and tubes – all of which our members get to use for free!”
All Boating Country Club® members receive unlimited boat use, guaranteed reservations with an availability rate over 97%, complimentary use of water toys, premium dockside valet service, and reciprocal guest privileges at all Nautical Boat Clubs nationwide – including the two other South Carolina locations at Lake Murray in Columbia.
“Now is the time to join Nautical Boat Club – Mount Pleasant,” concludes Gardiner. “The boats are new, the water is gorgeous, and the weather’s just about to warm up. Folks can call for a tour today, get in as members and get out on the water at the first sign of spring!”
For more information about Nautical Boat Club – Mount Pleasant, please visit http://NauticalBoatClub.com/charleston-harbor-mount-pleasant/.
For more information about Nautical Boat Clubs®, please visit http://www.NauticalBoatClubs.com.
Nautical Boat Clubs Launches Westlake/Lake Austin, TX Location
Nautical Boat Club – Westlake joins franchise to offer members the ultimate in boating quality and convenience, deep in the heart of Texas
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tom Gardiner
May 3, 2018 512.659.6135 | ahoy@nauticalboatclub.com
AUSTIN, Texas – Nautical Boat Clubs® proudly announces the grand opening of Nautical Boat Club – Westlake – the company’s fourteenth national franchise, and a fifth location for Austin members.
“We’re thrilled to be launching Nautical Boat Club – Westlake, right in the heart of Austin,” effuses Tom Gardiner, a longtime franchisee who took ownership of Nautical Boat Clubs® in 2012. “Now Austinites can enjoy the benefits of membership with us wherever they are – our locations at Volente or Lakeway on Lake Travis, our private locations at Austin Country Club or Westwood Country Club, or our new public location at Westlake on Lake Austin.”
Founded more than two decades ago, Nautical Boat Clubs® was a pioneer in the boat-club business. The company’s Boating Country Clubs® are a simple alternative to buying a boat: for about one-third of the cost of purchasing a single boat, members get unlimited use of a selection of brand-new boats and the convenience of valet boating service. Monthly dues cover all expenses except for gas.
“For our members, a day out on the water is as easy as 1-2-3,” Gardiner affirms. “You make a reservation for the boat you want; you arrive at the marina at your reserved time – the boat you’ve chosen will be clean, fueled and loaded with whatever water toys you request; and you just hop in, turn the key and go! Once you’re done, you gas up, return your boat and head home – with your day well-spent and some lifelong memories, too.”
All Boating Country Club® members receive unlimited boat use, guaranteed reservations with an availability rate over 97%, complimentary use of water toys, premium dockside valet service, and reciprocal guest privileges at all Nautical Boat Clubs® nationwide.
Nautical Boat Club – Westlake will be located at the Lake Austin Marina, the lake’s only full-service marina, providing 168 boat slips, fuel and a fully stocked ship store. Certified by ValvTect, Lake Austin Marina is also the lake’s only Certified Clean Texas Marina, demonstrating its commitment to environmental responsibility, clean activities, and best management practices.
“The marina’s central location and awesome amenities, combined with our unparalleled benefits, means Nautical Boat Club memberships will be in high demand,” predicts Gardiner. “The wait for a boat slip at the Lake Austin Marina is extremely long, so we’ll have a limited number of memberships available at this location. We urge folks to join quickly in order to secure their spot and start loving life out on the lake!”
As further incentive, Nautical Boat Club – Westlake is offering a special bonus for those who act promptly: The first 40 members at the new location will receive Charter Memberships –and will never have to pay an annual renewal or rejoin fee.
“Now is the time to join Nautical Boat Club – Westlake,” Gardiner concludes. “We invite Austinites to call and come for a tour today – the boats are new, the lake is beautiful, and getting out on the water is easier, more affordable, and more fun than ever!”
For more information about Nautical Boat Club – Westlake, please visit http://NauticalBoatClub.com/austin-texas-lake-austin-westlake/.
For more information about Nautical Boat Clubs®, please visit http://www.NauticalBoatClub.com.
Nautical Boat Club® Launches Employee Purchase Program
Club H2O offers entrepreneurial employees a fast-track opportunity to go from Hire To Owner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tom Gardiner
February 22, 2018 512.257.2628 | ahoy@nauticalboatclub.com
AUSTIN, Texas – Nautical Boat Club® proudly announces the premier of Club Hire-To-Owner [H2O], an accelerated path to franchise ownership for Nautical Boat Club® employees. Club H2O is designed to encourage and enable high-quality, hardworking Boat Club hires to become owners of their own franchise locations in a solid company and a unique industry.
“Business ownership is part of the American Dream,” attests Tom Gardiner, a longtime Nautical Boat Club® franchisee who took ownership of the company in 2012. “We’re excited to offer Club H2O to our exceptional employees who want to turn that dream into a reality – and have a ton of fun doing it.”
The Club H2O program provides full-time Nautical Boat Club® employees with a structured path to successful ownership of their own franchise. Eligible candidates with a minimum of three years of management experience at an existing Boat Club may be considered for the General Manager position at a new location they intend to purchase; qualified GM candidates may be offered the option to purchase that franchise location following three years there. This six-year system is minimal compared with typical franchisees, who come into the company with over a decade of managerial or executive-level business experience.
Once employees are ready to purchase their franchise, Club H2O also gives employee-purchasers a discount on their franchise fee based on their tenure with the company – a 10% discount for each year they’re with Nautical Boat Club® after year one, up to a full 50% discount. The extensive, hands-on training employee-purchasers have received not only prepares them to run their own business, but also helps them build a business plan and secure competitive financing.
“At Nautical Boat Club®, we want to help our people fulfill their potential and elevate those who have established themselves in this business,” Gardiner affirms. “Our excellent training and success-proven system makes franchise ownership both attractive and achievable, while Club H2O ensures a win all the way around for new employee-purchasers, current franchise owners and the company overall. The program rewards employees who stay with the company and work toward a bigger goal, while current franchisees benefit from employees who are more motivated, productive and stable.”
Of course, standard pay policies and franchise agreement provisions apply, and ownership eligibility is based upon individual job performance and negotiation of a suitable location/market.
“Nautical Boat Club® has always sought employees with an entrepreneurial spirit, a passion for superior customer service, and a desire to belong to a uniquely fun business,” notes Gardiner. “Now, through Club H2O, we can offer them higher levels of advancement, achievement, satisfaction and success than ever before. It’s just a great deal for everyone involved – including our members, who will get more Nautical Boat Club® locations, run by people who are truly invested in their happiness.”
For more information about Club Hire-To-Owner [H2O], please visit www.nauticalboatclub.com/boat-club-careers/ .
For more information about Nautical Boat Club®, please visit www.NauticalBoatClub.com.
For Immediate Release – April 19th, 2017
BOAT CLUB COMING TO KNOXVILLE
Nautical Boat Club Set to Open at Concord Marina April 19th
Knoxville, TN – Nautical Boat Club is excited to announce the opening of their new location at Concord Marina in West Knoxville on April 19th.
The club will offer an alternative to buying a boat with annual memberships starting at $195 per month. Members will receive unlimited use of all boats within their membership along with complimentary water toys including wake boards and inner tubes.
The club will open featuring eight brand new boats, ranging from Malibu and Mastercraft wake boats to Regal sport boats and luxury tri-toons – including one double-decker with a slide. The first 40 members to sign up we be offered a discounted membership as part of the “Charter Member” program.
Owner Scott Payne said “I can’t tell you how excited we are to start this journey. Between financing, insurance, storage, and maintenance, owning a boat can get expensive. Our vision is to get more families on the water by making it more affordable and less complicated than buying a boat.”
“Our saying is ‘Cultivating relationships through life on the water,’ and that’s everything to us.” continued Payne. We believe spending time on the lake will strengthen relationships and create priceless memories.”
Nautical Boat Club started over 20 years ago in Texas and has grown to over 10 locations, including Nashville, South Carolina, and even Wisconsin – all of which will honor membership access.
For more information contact:
Nautical Boat Club
10903 S. Northshore Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37922
865-234-0000 ext 4
StephenK@NauticalBoatClub.com
www.nauticalboatclub.com
Lake Murray Boat Club Opens Second Location on Lake Murray/Lexington/SC
May 11, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jon Dukes
May 11, 2016 803.407.2828 | fun@lakemurrayboatclub.com
IRMO, South Carolina, – Lake Murray Boat Club proudly announces the grand opening of their second location on Lake Murray at SouthShore Marina near Lexington, SC.
“We celebrated our ten year anniversary in April of this year and have been considering opening a second location for the past few years,” says Jon Dukes, owner of the Lake Murray Boat Club. “We have grown steadily since opening in 2006, particularly with boaters from Lexington, SC. When the opportunity to work with the great crew at SouthShore Marina became available, we jumped on it. The unique location on the Peninsula gives us an opportunity to create a destination location in Lexington for our members. We will provide picnic tables, adirondack chairs, kayaks and more. This new location will make it easier than ever for members to get out and enjoy the fun and relaxation of life on the lake!”
With its newest addition, Lake Murray Boat Club now has two Boating Country Clubs on Lake Murray:
Lake Murray Marina at Marina Bay, 1602 Marina Rd, Irmo, SC 29063 | Open for boating Tuesday – Sunday
The Peninsula at SouthShore Marina, 3072 US-378, Leesville, SC 29070 | Open for boating Friday – Sunday
For more information, including detailed office and boating hours, visit www.lakemurrayboatclub.com/locations
Nautical Boat Clubs Franchise Launches Newest Location at Lakeway/Austin/TX
Lakeway Boat Club joins franchise to offer members more benefits & a fleet of brand-new boats to enjoy out on a full Lake Travis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Peyton Skinner
April 1, 2016 512.261.2582 (CLUB) | ahoy@lakewayboatclub.com
AUSTIN, Texas – Nautical Boat Clubs® proudly announces the grand opening of Lakeway Boat Club at Lake Travis – the company’s tenth national and fifth Texas-based franchise, and a fourth location for Austin members.
“The timing to launch Lakeway Boat Club couldn’t be better,” attests Tom Gardiner, a longtime franchisee who took ownership of Nautical Boat Clubs® in 2012. “Lake Travis is at full capacity for the first time in six years, so Central Texans are more than ready for a phenomenal boating season. The addition of Lakeway Boat Club will make it easier than ever for folks to get out and enjoy the fun and relaxation of life on the lake!”
Launched more than two decades ago, Nautical Boat Clubs was a pioneer in the boat-club business, and is Austin’s oldest and largest boat-club franchise. With its newest addition, Nautical Boat Club of Austin has two public clubs on Lake Travis – Lakeway Boat Club and Volente Boat Club, as well as two private clubs affiliated with Austin Country Club and Westwood Country Club on Lake Austin.
The company’s Boating Country Clubs® are a simple alternative to buying a boat: for about one-third of the cost of purchasing a single boat, members get unlimited use of a wide variety of boats and the convenience of valet boating service. Monthly dues cover all expenses except for gas, as well as complimentary boating privileges at other Nautical Boat Clubs around the country.
“A day at the lake for our members is as easy as 1-2-3,” Gardiner affirms. “You make a reservation for the boat you want; you arrive at the marina at your reserved time – the boat you’ve chosen will be clean, fueled and loaded with whatever water toys you request; and you just hop in, turn the key and go! Once you’re done, you gas up, return your boat and head home – with your day well-spent and some lifelong memories, too.”
BRAND-NEW MILLION-DOLLAR FLEET ON LAKE TRAVIS, TEXAS
Lakeway Boat Club members will especially enjoy the sparkling fleet of state-of-the-art boats available at the new location, including:
– competition wakeboard boats: a 2016 MasterCraft NXT 22’ with Gen II Surf System and a 2016 Moomba Craz 22’ w Auto Flo Surf System;
– sportboats: a 2016 Cobalt 2200 with wakeboard tower and a 2016 Regal 2000; and
– tri-toon/party boats: a 2016 Avalon double-decker with a water slide, and 3 2016 Bennington 24SSRX models, 1 specified for fishing/pet-friendly.
“We invite Central Texans to come take a tour and see our million-dollar fleet of the newest boats in Austin, with all the latest features,” notes Gardiner. “And we’ve got over $50,000 worth of water-sports equipment – including wakeboards, wake skates, wake surfers, skis and tubes – all of which our members get to use for free!”
All Boating Country Club® members receive unlimited boat use, guaranteed reservations with an availability rate over 97%, complimentary use of water toys and premium dockside valet service.
“There’s no better time to join Lakeway Boat Club than right now,” Gardiner concludes. “The lake is full, the boats are new, and this year’s mild winter means an extra-long boating season. Folks can call for a tour today, get in as members and get out on the water by the weekend!”
For more information about Lakeway Boat Club, please visit http://LakewayBoatClub.com.
For more information about the Nautical Boat Clubs® Franchise, visit http://www.NauticalBoatClubs.com.
Nautical Boat Club Opens Location in Dallas on Lake Lewisville!
May 5, 2014
Dallas, Texas – Nautical Boat Club, part of the Nautical Boat Clubs, LLC franchise, opened its doors today at Cottonwood Creek Marina in Little Elm, TX. The members-only Boating Country Club® boasts a fleet of eight 2014 top-of-the-line boats for its members to enjoy. In addition, members enjoy complimentary use of the Club’s water toys (skis, wakeboards, surfboards, tubes and jackets), valet dock-side service and reciprocal boating privileges at other Nautical Boat Clubs around the country. Monthly dues cover all expenses except for gas.
Launched more than two decades ago, Nautical Boat Clubs was a pioneer in its industry, and today, is one of only two U.S. boat club franchises. The company’s Boating Country Clubs® are a simple alternative to buying a boat- about one-third the cost of purchasing a single boat.
Jonathan Hargrove, a twenty year veteran of the Financial Services industry, became a Nautical Boat Clubs franchisee in October of 2013 and has been preparing the way for the Club ever since.
“It’s been a lot of work but I’m extremely pleased to bring a Nautical Boat Club franchise location to the Dallas area,” Hargrove said. “The Dallas market is one of the top boating regions in the country and the people here love their lakes and water sports. The Club is a natural fit for Lake Lewisville.”
He added, “People today are busier than ever and don’t often get to do the things they’d like to with their families and friends. The Club allows them to slow life down, get back to nature and enjoy making lasting memories. But owning a boat can be a chore. We take the hassle out of boating. The old saying goes that there are two great days in a boater’s life: the first is when he buys a boat and the second is when he sells it. We’ve added a third: the day he joins Nautical Boat Club!”
This is a dream-come-true for me,” says Hargrove. “I was searching for an opportunity to do what I love and having grown up around boats this seemed like a natural fit. I was looking for an organization that runs a first-class operation and treats its members the right way. I found both in Nautical Boat Clubs. The business model was key. The fact that we turn the fleet over every 2-3 years and replace each boat with brand new boats separates us from our competitors. It also helps that we’re located at Cottonwood Creek Marina the most beautiful marina on Lake Lewisville. In 2013, it was named Marina of the Year by the Marina Association of Texas- its fourth such award since 2003.”
More information can be found at Nautical Boat Club’s new website: http://Dallas.NauticalBoatClub.com.
CONTACT: Jonathan Hargrove FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
214-250-4428 | jlh@nauticalboatclub.com
DALLAS’ ONLY BOATING COUNTRY CLUB® LAUNCHES
New Alternative to Boat Ownership- Nautical Boat Club Opens on Lake Lewisville
Grand Opening at Center Hill Lake!
The Nashville Boat Club located at Sligo Marina
NASHVILLE, TN – September 17, 2013 – The Nashville Boat Club starting its seventh season in Nashville on Percy Priest Lake and its fourth season on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville announces the grand opening of its Center Hill Lake location!
The official grand opening of the Nashville Boat Club at Center Hill Lake will be Saturday May 11th, 2013. We will be located at Sligo Marina in Smithville, about an hour east of the current Nashville location. We picked Sligo for many reasons but most of all the convenience. You can drive down and park right by the water, with no hills to climb. You walk right by the restaurant and restrooms on the way to our boats. The boats are parked right by the gas dock and restaurant, making it very quick to gas up and get your boat in.
Sligo is located in the most desirable part of the lake, near the center of the lake. Marinas closer to Nashville are near the dam and are not as desirable for water sports and all the many coves on Center Hill for anchoring. You would spend a lot of time driving your boat to the more desirable part of the lake. Sligo is about a 15 minute boat ride to the popular Hurricane Marina and restaurant.
Driving to Sligo you travel I 40 east to Lebanon, exit 239 and travel east on Highway 70 through the town of Smithville.
Nautical Boat Clubs Relaunches, Readies for Nationwide Expansion
With new management at the helm, boat-club leader refreshes its name, brand & website in preparation for a fleet of new franchisees
AUSTIN, Texas – Nautical Boat Clubs, formerly Nautical Toys International, has completed a year-long corporate makeover – from company leadership to website – designed to attract more visionary entrepreneurs to its nationwide network and exponentially expand its presence across America.
Launched more than two decades ago, Nautical Boat Clubs was a pioneer in its industry, and today, is one of only two U.S. boat-club franchises. The company’s Boating Country Clubs® are a simple alternative to buying a boat: for about one-third of the cost of purchasing a single boat, members get unlimited use of a wide variety of boats and the convenience of valet boating service. Monthly dues cover all expenses except for gas, as well as complimentary boating privileges at other Nautical Boat Clubs around the country.
Tom Gardiner, a nine-year franchisee who took ownership of the company in July 2012, intends to extend those boating privileges to the extreme by spurring growth of the company’s franchises throughout the U.S.
“In terms of both a business investment and a lifestyle opportunity, our franchising concept is unparalleled,” Gardiner attests. “I run three Boating Country Clubs® here in the Austin area, so I’ve got not only a complete commitment to the concept, but also almost a decade of first-hand experience as a franchisee. Our business model has proven recession-resistant; our operations plan is watertight. We’ve got a superior selection of major markets available for new franchise owners, along with ample opportunity for multiple-location growth, so we’re seeking visionaries and doers ready to dream big and follow through.”
New Leadership with a Lifetime of Experience
Tom Gardiner grew up around water, always living near the ocean or a lake, with swimming and fishing part of his daily life.
“Some of my fondest memories are of being out on the water,” recalls Gardiner. “I distinctly remember the first time I sailed a sunfish with my dad – it was glorious. Family vacations at Cape Cod, getting up on water-skis, learning how to surf … there is something just so powerful, almost spiritual about the water. It’s really healing.”
Gardiner was also a natural entrepreneur, having a strong sense at an early age that he wanted to be his own boss. To reach this dream as an adult, Gardiner learned all he could as an executive with Dell, Inc. and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
“My experience at Enterprise was invaluable,” Gardiner says. “When I began shopping boat-club franchises, I was amazed by how similar the Nautical Boat Clubs’ operational plan was to Enterprise’s system – and it’s America’s most successful car-rental company.”
Beyond the realization that [then] Nautical Toys International had the right system in place for success, Gardiner also knew he had found his professional passion – a company with which he could do what he loved while loving what he was doing.
“As a husband and father myself, I love being able to spend healthy, high-quality time together as a family,” affirms Gardiner. “My favorite thing is when one of our member families pulls up to the dock following a long day on the water, and the kids are asleep and the parents are so relaxed. They’re all just so happy. There aren’t many businesses where you can have that sort of impact – you can’t help but love it.”
Club Franchisee & Member Voices Speak Volumes
Gardiner launched his first Boating Country Club®, Austin’s Volente Boat Club, at Lake Travis in 2004; he subsequently opened Westwood Boat Club [2011] and ACC Boat Club [2012] – both at Lake Austin – before buying the company last year. Since then, Gardiner has been preparing to take Nautical Boats Clubs’ successful business blueprint to the next level via a refreshed company name, logo and brand, as well as an enhanced marketing campaign complete with a website content and design reboot.
“Our operations model remains unchanged, because it works beautifully as it is,” Gardiner notes. “Our superior support and training, along with the expansive opportunity we offer franchise owners – the things that set us apart from and ahead of our competition – are already the best they can be. Truly, if you follow our club-management system, you will succeed. We simply want to widen our net, and make sure that success story is being told – and heard.”
Gardiner insists no one tells Nautical Boat Clubs’ story better than its franchise owners and their customers, so actual testimonials play a key role in the company’s new branding and marketing.
“When I began researching the boat-club concept last year, I checked into the main franchise players,” explains Jonathan Hargrove, Nautical Boat Clubs’ newest franchisee. “One’s negative customer reviews scared me off immediately. Another’s business model didn’t seem quite right to me – older boats, buying boats from members, etc. Nautical Boat Clubs impressed me from day one with its Boating Country Clubs®. Their insistence on buying only new boats, on having at least 80% of the fleet less than three years old, and on impressive customer care made Nautical Boat Clubs exactly the kind of club I want to own, and the kind of reputation for excellence I want within the community.”
“Joining [Nautical Boat Clubs] is a much better deal financially [than buying a boat], but what I really appreciate is how much easier it makes it to spend time on the water,” a review from member Benton M. reads. “The club really removes all the chores of boat ownership. I studied all the clubs in my area, and this one is definitely the best. They have been around the longest, while others have come and gone. They have newer, nicer boats than the other clubs, a wide variety within their fleet, and boats have been available whenever I’ve called.”
Gardiner says it’s this sort of feedback that lets him know his company is the best at its business – now he’s ready to spread the word and the benefits of Nautical Boat Clubs membership and franchising
“People who love the water need to know who we are and what we do so well,” Gardiner concludes. “Bringing our members the fun and adventure of the boating lifestyle without the expense and hassle of boat ownership – and bringing our owners opportunity and success as entrepreneurs living the waterside dream!”
More information can be found at Nautical Boat Clubs’ new website: http://www.NauticalBoatClubs.com.
Lake Murray Boat Club Held Open House At New Marina Bay Center
BALLENTINE, SC – April 26, 2013 – For seven years the Lake Murray Boat Club has helped countless families and individuals enjoy the beautiful waters of Lake Murray. A recreational boating company, the Lake Murray Boat Club offers its members unlimited use of a variety of boats as an alternative to boat ownership. During those seven years, LMBC serviced its clients from a temporary office and from the docks at Lake Murray Marina.
Sunday, April 21, the Lake Murray Boat Club held an open house to celebrate its modern new office located at the recently completed Marina Center. The Marina Center is part of the new Marina Bay, a waterfront, lifestyle community featuring luxury apartments, a convenience store and Liberty on the Lake restaurant. Thanks to near perfect spring weather, over 100 members and guests were able to enjoy boat rides, kayak and standup paddling, and watch wake surfing demonstrations on the lake. New club boats slated to join the LMBC fleet were on display for the guests to preview.
Sunday’s festivities also marked LMBC’s seven year anniversary. Jon Dukes, owner of the Lake Murray Boat Club, was excited when asked how he felt about leaving his old, familiar office and moving to his new office situated between the ship store and Liberty on the Lake. Dukes stated that the Marina Center is a definite improvement and club members will benefit from the new modern facilities which include a heated, resort-style pool.
Residents of Marina Bay and their guests have shown a growing interest in LMBC. The staff is adjusting to the large number of inquiries from residents curious about the company. “We’re excited about our new neighbors, and we are anticipating a higher demand for our products and services,” said Dukes.