After years in engineering and sales, Kyle Gassman was ready for a change. With a second child on the way and a desire to get off the road, he and his wife began exploring franchise opportunities that aligned with their lifestyle and values. That search led them to a Freedom Boat Club dock in Florida—and eventually to their own franchise along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.

“We stumbled across the Freedom Boat Club brand while trying to rent a boat,” Gassman says. “I’m a lifetime boater. I owned my first boat when I was 10 growing up in the Midwest and I was instantly intrigued. The more we researched, the more we knew this was the right fit.”

The model is simple: Members pay a one-time entry fee and monthly dues to access a fleet of boats without the burden of ownership. “If you’re not living on the water, the hassle of repairs, storage, and maintenance can be a barrier to actually using a boat,” Gassman explains. “With us, you just show up, hop on, and go.”

In September 2024, the couple purchased the rights to operate Freedom Boat Club in six central NH counties. Their first location opened in May at Weirs Beach, nestled in the protected waters of Weirs Channel next to North Water Marine.

Membership includes unlimited boating and reciprocal access to more than 400 Freedom Boat Club locations worldwide including more than 100 in Florida, plus others in Australia, Spain, and New Zealand.  The entry fee is $7,499 and then $499 per month, with weekday and seasonal memberships available at lower monthly rates and discounts for realtors, teachers, military and first responders. At Weirs Beach, Gassman says he keeps the member-to-boat ratio under 5-to-1, well below the 8-to-1 national standard, to ensure availability even on busy weekends.

“We started with 11 members and three boats (pontoons and fishing boats) and plan to grow to four or five by season’s end,” Gassman says. A team including a dockmaster and licensed captains helps with safety checks, training, and community engagement. Recently, the club hosted a sunset cruise for the Moultonborough Women’s Club.

Gassman credits his time with Kentucky Fried Chicken, where he learned the franchising model, with giving him the tools to launch. “Freedom doesn’t nickel and dime franchisees,” he says. “They offer real support, and we can lean on them for marketing or do it ourselves.”

Though new to the marine industry, Gassman is already looking ahead. “There are 270 bodies of water in our territory. We’re going to protect that territory by growing in the coming years.” For more information, visit freedomboatclub.com

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