Worry-FreeBoating

A big help for a ‘Big Day’

For the last seven years, Freedom Boat Club has sponsored “Big Day at the Lake” – an annual event that matches Lake Norman boaters with “Bigs & Littles” who participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. The goal of the event is three-fold: a day of fun on Lake Norman, a chance to recruit program mentors (Bigs) for program participants (Littles) and to raise money for the organization’s mentoring program.

The Big Day event regularly includes 60-75 Lake Norman boat hosts and serves nearly 100 Bigs and Littles for the day. Freedom Boat Club not only financially supports this event with corporate sponsorship dollars, but also encourages its members to participate. Nearly 40% of the event’s “boat hosts” are Freedom Boat Club members.

10 Years Of Fun On The Lake

by Lori Helms photography courtesy Freedom Boat Club

“This was supposed to be just a summer job,” says Jeff Weir, chuckling as he reflects on the last 10 years. Man, was he wrong.

That’s how long ago Weir agreed to help his father, Perry, establish Freedom Boat Club in Cornelius at the WaterStreet Seaport. His father’s goal was to offer easy access to a variety of watercraft without the burden and responsibility of actually owning the equipment outright. Purchasing a membership with the fledgling business meant none of the headaches of boat ownership – payments, insurance, storage, cleaning and maintenance costs – and all of the fun of a worry-free day on the lake with top-of-the-line equipment.

Five years in, and Freedom Boat Club was not only surviving but thriving ... and multiplying. The Weirs then opened a location on Lake Wylie, after which the club began to quickly expand to other spots throughout 2017 and 2018. Next came a North Harbor Club location in Davidson, then a Westport location on the other side of the lake. Weir says last year was their first year at Skipper’s Landing in the Mooresville/Troutman area off Perth Road, and there is yet another location in the works now.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Freedom Boat Club Lake Norman is renewing its commitment to give back even more. They will continue to focus on supporting BBBS and Big Day at the Lake, and will add support of local law enforcement on boating safety initiatives.

All told, across all locations, Weir says they have about 100 boats in their fleet and those boat types run the gamut. Their largest and most popular are the double-decker pontoon boats with a slide.

“We were the first club on the lake to offer those,” Weir says. Also in the fleet are name brand vessels such as Bennington and Harris pontoons, Brunswicks, Sea Rays and Malibu surf boats. And as part of the sizeable Brunswick network of boat clubs, Freedom Boat Club members have reciprocal privileges with about 400 clubs worldwide. Locally, there are about 100 boats for the club’s approximately 1,000 members.

Ten years on, and Weir’s father has finally realized his full-time retirement dreams. Now Weir and his son, Zach (the club’s head of operations), and daughters Brianna, Olivia and Ava, have truly made this a three-generation family effort.

Live Under the Oaks ft. Queen City Siren, 6-8p

Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC

Live at 11 ft. The Unknown Artist Band, 5:30p - 9p (Ballantyne’s Backyard)

Trapt performing at Angry Troll Brewing, Elkin NC. Doors 7:30p, Tickets available through Eventbrite https://fb.me/e/150A1NENo

LangTree Live ft. Justin Mintun and Goodfoot Down, 6:30 - 9p

LangTree Lake Norman / Mooresville, NC

2nd Fri Street Fest ft. Kids in America, 6p - 10p, Oak Street Mill Cornelius

Live Under the Oaks ft. Dani Kerr, 6 - 8p

Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC

2nd Saturday Street Fest

Statesville, ft. Friends Band (opener) & Rockie Lynne (headliner), 2p - 7p, Downtown Statesville

Mid-Summer BBQ Bash ft. James Tucker (band), 6p - 9p

GhostFace Beer Lab (downtown Mooresville)

LangTree Live ft. Black Glass, 6:30 - 9p

LangTree Lake Norman / Mooresville, NC

Live Under the Oaks ft. Friends Band, 6 - 8p

Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC

Rock The Lot ft. John Sullivan and Friends 4 - 7p,

GhostFace Beer Lab (Super Sunday Funday)

LangTree Live ft. Love Tribe, 6:30 - 9p

LangTree Lake Norman / Mooresville, NC

Live Under the Oaks ft. Classically Rockin, 6 - 8p

Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC

LangTree Live ft. Pluto for Planet, 6:30 - 9p

LangTree Lake Norman / Mooresville, NC

Live at 11 ft. N-SPIRE, 5:30p - 9p

Ballantyne’s Backyard

Live Under the Oaks

Birkdale, ft. Grievous Angels, 6 - 8p

Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC