BOAT SHARING AND MARINE SERVICES
Enjoy the convenience and take pleasure in the excitement of the boating lifestyle this season.
Boat sharing and valet-style services for recreational boaters are not a new concept in the marine industry. But it is a concept enthusiasts in the Okanagan region are now embracing – and the beauty of it all is many opportunities on the water can be enjoyed whether local or visiting boaters own a boat or not.
“We are already at 75 percent capacity of our boat sharing program and steadily taking reservations for our boat valet services for 2021,” says Ryan Blonar, co-owner of The Okanagan Luxury Boat Club (OLBC) and Valet based in Kelowna, which offers a boat sharing program, providing visiting and local boaters the chance to have access to the water without the common responsibilities of owning a boat. “My business partner, Donovan Karisse, and I are basically aiming to bridge the gap between the high expenses of rentals while eliminating the time commitment that is often associated with boat ownership.”
Although owning a boat still may be preferred by many, for others, it’s all about the convenience of boating without the added costs, seasonal maintenance, and time savings. For instance, boat insurance, safety gear, water toys, and valet services are all included in its membership-based programs.
More convenience is provided by the fact that the boats come fuelled, and clients only pay for what they use. The program even includes fuel discounts on the lake and the OLBC then refuels the boat(s) at no charge after a day on the water.
Times and scheduling to access any of its boats are also flexible and accommodating. Blonar explains there are two seasonal memberships available, Premiere and Elite. While both cover all the essential criteria, the Premiere membership offers boat access from Monday to Friday with the ability to book three reservations at any one time. The Elite membership allows weekdays plus weekend access with four reservations at any one time. Bookings can be made from 9 a.m. to 1 .p.m. or from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Should clients want to book both morning and afternoon sessions, they can have the boat for the whole day or any portion of the day. Shared memberships are even available to a maximum of two separate households for added cost savings.
“We aim to offer a limited ratio of eight members per boat, which allows a lot of water access during the season,” says Blonar. “A family can simply make an online reservation for when they want to go on the water, meet us
at our boatyard or the Water St. Boat Launch downtown Kelowna (that’s two minutes away), we launch the boat and they take off. They can then text or call us 15 minutes before they want to come in.”
Blonar also explained that there are no limitations on how far clients can book a boat in advance or how many reservations they can make in any given week or month. Once a reservation is completed, another one immediately becomes available for members to reserve.
To ensure new models each season, the company rotates its boat fleet every year and lengths range from 6 to 7 m (20 to 23 ft). For 2021, members should expect to see between seven to eight boats available (along with three Sea-Doo PWC’s), a variety of pontoon boats, runabouts, and the latest wake surf boats.
More specifically, its fleet for the 2021 season includes a Nautique Super Air 230, a Centurion Fi21, and Ri217, plus a Mastercraft NXT-22. Its pontoon fleet has three models to include a pair of South Bays and for those looking for some great blasts along Lake Okanagan, two Sea-Doo Sparks and two Sea-Doo GTI SE 130’s are also available. The rentals in the company’s bowrider series have even been upgraded with a 22’ Monterrey.
“About 60 to 70 percent of our clients use the wakeboard boats since wake surfing is very popular,” says Blonar. “But our whole fleet is ideal for Okanagan Lake, and the wakeboard boats provide the performance as well as the low speeds to create a wake of 1.2 to 2 m (4 to 6 ft).”
Valet Services
The company’s boat valet services are equally popular. As the service implies, the program is designed for owners of trailerable fishing boats, pontoons, runabouts, wakeboard boats as well as cruisers up to 9 to 10 m (30 to 32 ft), and simply eliminates the ‘before and after’ routine maintenance, as well as the travel and launching processes.
“This is an ideal solution for many boat owners,” says Blonar. “Rather than resorting to a marina or storing it elsewhere, we manage all the care that’s required when a client wants to go on the water. It’s a one-stop shop for boaters.”
The valet process is straightforward. The client’s boats are stored at the company’s yard and within a few hours of notice, the boat can be fueled, trailered to the boat launch, and put in the water ready for use. Afterward, the staff takes the boat out, it is trailered back to the yard, and then covered for the next outing. Cleaning and/or detailing services are available for an additional fee, while engine maintenance or addressing any mechanical issues is provided through a second-party marine service.
“Getting the boat ready from a marina or elsewhere can take a lot of time, and this eliminates the whole process,” says Blonar. “All of our clients that use this service see the time and cost savings and really like it.”
While the company is already set for a busy 2021 season, plans are underway to expand its existing operations (as well as offer franchise opportunities) with boat rentals to other areas of the Okanagan including Vernon and Penticton, and on the coast in Vancouver.
For more details and seasonal rates visit www.olbc.ca