Timeshare concept Hits Water Here New business Aims To Cut The Cost Of Boating

You've heard of a timeshare condominium. How about a timeshare of a boat?

The trend has been taking off in East Coast vacation havens such as Miami, Cape Cod and Virginia Beach, even in other countries such as Great Britain. Now, one local business hopes Rochester's proximity to Lake Ontario will bode well for the concept here.

The Fleet Boat Club so far is offering timeshares in two power boats — a 21-foot Monterey open bow and a 23-foot Chris-Craft cuddy cabin. A sailboat will be added this summer.

Ken Dens, a boat owner for 17 years, opened the business last month at Southpoint Marina on Irondequoit Bay in Penfield.

Dens said he brought the concept to Rochester because there is "not one right boat."

"Different boats are needed for different things," Dens said. "Sailing, fishing, and other activities require different kinds of boats."

Memberships range from $2,800 to $3,650 a year and can be bought for one, three or five years. Weekday-only timeshare memberships start at $1,800.

The idea is that a timeshare offers more flexibility and guaranteed time than renting a boat — and is more cost-effective than a loan for a $20,000 to $30,000 boat plus the cost of renting a slip.

"Owning a boat is a fairly expensive proposition," Dens said. "It can cost up to $8,000 a year for five years."

But Dave Willis, general manager of Bryce Marine in Greece, said that timeshare boating companies often show inflated costs for owning a boat.

"From a business perspective, timeshare boating is more logical in a year-round market," Willis said. "It will be much more difficult in Rochester because this is a seasonal market."

Kyle Schmackpfeffer, who recently sold his boat, which cost $6,000 a year to maintain, thinks timeshare boating is worth a try. He said he enjoys the Monterey because of its powerful V-8 engine and the spacious cockpit.

"It's great not having to take care of a boat," Schmackpfeffer said. "Before I had to hook my boat up to the truck. Now I just drive down to the marina and go."

Members of the Fleet Boat Club must be at least 25 years old and have a New York state boater safety certificate. If business takes off, the timeshare club plans to add locations on Canandaigua Lake and Sodus Bay.