Family owned & operated
Karen and Eric run the club like family, and you talk directly to the owners — not a corporate call center. When you need something, real people who know you by name pick up the phone.
Family owned & operated since 2015All the boating.
All the boating.
None of the ownership hassle.
Join the Carefree Family — the North Shore's family-owned boat club in Boston, Danvers, and Gloucester. Premium boats, always ready, whenever you want.
What is a boat club?
The joy of boating, without owning a boat.
Owning a boat sounds like the dream — until the reality sets in. Maintenance, insurance, winterizing, storage, and a slip you pay for all year but rarely use. The season is short, and too much of it gets spent on upkeep instead of on the water.
A boat club flips all of that around. You get the fun and flexibility of boating without any of the stress or expense of ownership. Make a reservation, show up at the dock, and go — the boat is fueled, cleaned, and ready.
All-inclusive membership
We own the boats. You own the adventure.
Everything that makes boat ownership a chore is on us. Here's what your membership handles — so you don't have to:
- Maintenance & repairs
- Cleaning & detailing
- Insurance
- Taxes
- Mooring fees
- Winterization
- Storage
- Fuel
All you do is make a reservation, show up, and go.
Why Carefree
A boat club that actually feels like family.
We're not a corporate franchise. We're a local family who runs the club the way we'd want to be treated as members.
The lowest member-to-boat ratio in the industry
We deliberately keep our ratio low so members get on the water when they want. As one member put it: “I try to get on a boat every week and have never been turned down.”
Premium, meticulously maintained boats
Every boat is inspected weekly on a 50-point checklist and refreshed every few years, so it looks and runs like new. And yes — every boat has a bathroom on board.
The best boating locations on the North Shore
Boston Harbor and the city skyline, Danversport with pool amenities, and Gloucester's historic Cape Ann waterfront. Three home ports, all on the best water the North Shore has to offer.
Three North Shore home ports
Find your home port.
Pick the location closest to you — you'll choose your home port when you book your tour.
Boston
Cruise Boston Harbor with the city skyline on one side and the harbor islands and lighthouses on the other. Bring the dog — this is a member favorite for sunset runs.
Book a TourDanvers
Launch from Danversport into protected North Shore waters, then cool off in the pool amenities back at the dock. An easy, family-friendly home base for a day on the water.
Book a TourGloucester
Boat from America's oldest working seaport out to Cape Ann. Historic waterfront, open ocean, and some of the best cruising and fishing grounds on the coast.
Book a TourThe fleet
Premium boats for every kind of day.
Our fleet is made up of center consoles, dual consoles, and pontoons from Sailfish, SeaFox, Cobia, and Bennington — so there's a right boat for fishing, cruising, tubing with the kids, or sunset cocktails.
Every boat is meticulously maintained, refreshed every few years, and outfitted with the latest navigation and safety equipment. And every boat has a bathroom on board.
- Sailfish
- SeaFox
- Cobia
- Bennington
How it works
Three steps to a day on the water.
- 1
Reserve online in seconds
Hop on the app or website, pick your boat and your day, and you're booked. No phone tag, no paperwork.
- 2
Show up — it's ready
Your boat is fueled, cleaned, and waiting at the dock. Load up the family and the cooler and step aboard.
- 3
Go make memories
Cruise, fish, swim, or just watch the sunset. When you're done, walk away — we handle the rest.
New to boating? No experience needed. Every membership includes unlimited professional on-water training with certified instructors, so you'll be confident at the helm in no time.
From our members
Families who found their place on the water.
“Karen and Eric are great about communicating everything! The fact that it's a family-owned business adds a personal touch. They truly care about their members' experiences, and it shows in the level of service they provide.”
“Carefree Boat Club is totally awesome. All the staff and everybody involved are right on point. I try to get on a boat every week and have never been turned down.”
“This is our 9th year at the Carefree Boat Club at Danversport. We just make a reservation online and show up at the dock. The boats are always clean and ready to go. Eric and Karen are terrific people — they run the club like family.”
“We love the experience of boating without having to own a boat! We're always able to get a reservation and have many choices — sometimes we pontoon, sometimes we fish, some days we just tube with our kids. There's a pool to cool off in too.”
“The boats are new and top-notch. Each is outfitted with the latest navigational and safety equipment — center consoles, dual consoles, and pontoon boats for those who want to fish, tour and explore, or do water sports.”
“Beautiful views of the Boston skyline, lighthouses galore, and you can bring your canine friends too. If there were six stars, I'd use them all.”
Meet the owners
Karen & Eric Chase — your hosts on the water.
Carefree Boat Club has been family owned and operated by Karen and Eric Chase since 2015. When you're a member here, you're not an account number — you talk directly to Karen and Eric, and they run the club the way they'd want to be treated.
They'll personally help you get comfortable on the water, learn the boats, and make the most of every season. Come meet them in person — the best way to get to know the club is a tour.
Before you book
Questions families ask us.
You get all the boating with none of the ownership hassle: no maintenance, insurance, storage, winterizing, or mooring to manage. We handle it all — you just reserve, show up, and go.
No. Every membership includes unlimited professional on-water training with certified instructors, so new boaters get comfortable and confident fast.
We keep the lowest member-to-boat ratio in the industry, so members get on the water when they want. Reserve online and go — most members are never turned down.
Unlimited access to our fleet plus maintenance, cleaning, insurance, taxes, mooring, winterization, storage, and fuel. Everything but the memories is handled.
Three North Shore home ports: Boston (East Boston), Danvers, and Gloucester. You'll pick your home port when you book a tour.
Absolutely. Families cruise, fish, swim, and tube together, and some locations include pool amenities. Kids and dogs are always welcome.
You'll see the boats, meet Karen and Eric, tour your home port, and get all your questions answered. It's free, and there's no obligation.
Your best summers are spent on the water.
Book a free tour, meet Karen and Eric, and see why North Shore families call this home. No obligation — just come see the boats.
- See the boats and your home port in person
- Meet Karen & Eric — the family who owns the club
- No pressure, no obligation — just come look