Jet Pack

OMING TO Ocean City, the average vacationer rents a considerable number of accessories for their summer stay. Homes, bikes, beach chairs, umbrellas, and linens are some of the first things that come to mind. You can rent a kayak, wave runner, jet ski, and paddleboard too. OC's back bay businesses offer rental charters where they will take you on a kayak, tubing, boating or parasailing excursion for a few hours. For the longest time, though, solo power boat ventures weren't a part of this list.

The Jet Drive Exchange on 3rd and Bay is changing the scene by getting power boat rentals into the fun unfolding on the water. The Exchange is a boat and jet ski club in its third year of operation that enables and allows its members to take motorized vessels out on their own. Through lease-like agreements, club members arrive at the dock where a boat of their choice is ready for free range of exploration and playing in the waters surrounding the island.

“Down in Florida almost every city has a ‘boat club’ of sorts,” said owner TJ Heist. “They are huge. This club aspect is like you own the boat. Members join, and then have unlimited access to boats and skis throughout the season. You show up, boats are in the water gassed, clean and ready to go. There is no cost or fee every time they want to go out. Members do not have to worry about all of the headaches about docking it or trailering it. It is the perks of ownership without the headache or expense.”

The Jet Drive Exchange’s leases operate through yearly memberships, which allow customers looking to take out jet skis, powerboats, or any customized combination they prefer. Each membership contains a one time only activation fee, but after that a member has unlimited access to powered vessels in their package.

“It is the perks of ownership without the headache or expense.”

- TJ Heist

“There are different packages so people can join and pick the equipment they want to use,” said Heist. “It is something for everyone price point-wise and equipment-wise depending on what you are looking for.”

Unlike the Florida memberships however, Heist’s boat club operates only on a summer season basis. The first club to the South Jersey area, they have structured their business around this factor, with their prices reflecting the limited season for South Jersey boating.

“There are other clubs popping up all over,” said Heist. “The other clubs price it as if you are using it for a year and charge you monthly – which is great when you are using it all year long. But when you are in South Jersey and using it only during the summertime, that is a bit absurd. We price ours a little less expensive knowing that you are only using it for the summer season and not in the winter. Why pay for something you are not going to use in the winter?”

Memberships also do not require certain residential requirements like other associations or clubs. Anyone who regularly travels to Ocean City or visits the Jet Drive Exchange enough for it to be worth their time, local and visitor alike, is encouraged by Heist to join.

“Anyone can join that wants to,” said Heist. “We have a handful of people that live down here year round and a handful of people that live down here in just the summer. We have people who come day tripping and know that each time they come to Ocean City they will want to use a boat so they join and have access to it. It is a mixed bag of people joining the program.”

Membership dues don't just cover lease and maintenance costs. Included in all packages is the education needed to be certified to operate any of the boats on Heist’s docks. The Jet Drive Exchange spends time educating and certifying members before they ever step foot on the dock. Heist ensures that all of Jet Drive Exchange members know what they are doing when they launch onto the bay, whether it be their first time or having spent a lifetime on the water.

“All the members have to be certified with a boating safety certificate to operate a boat in New Jersey,” said Heist. “It is a one to two day course with a little exam at the end. You walk out with the certificate in hand and get mailed the physical card a few weeks later. We also do a checkout training orientation before going out with the equipment for the first time. It is a pretty painless process. We take them through our equipment – how it operates, the ins and outs. You can never have too much experience.”

Although the Exchange staff do not follow members on their ventures, they are always available to give advice to any boaters on their docks.

“We are constantly available as a resource for members free of charge if they want to know a new channel to explore,” said Heist.

A lifelong waterman around Ocean City, Heist

operates the Exchange with a Coast Guard Captain’s

license. He also was on the sailing team at Washington College. He knows his way around the water on pretty much any vessel, but he admits that even he does not know everything.

“I have been boating for I do not know how many years and I am still learning.”

In addition to becoming a better waterman, Heist hopes that this business can expand as time goes on. Owner of the Totally Tubular Aqua Park just a few doors down and another Jet Drive Exchange in Sea Isle City, Heist sees the bay expanding as a venture area where hopefully more activity will unfold as time goes on.

“We are reinvesting in this bayside business district,” said Heist. “We are constantly expanding. This year we added four more boats and two more skis so far. I enjoy doing what I do. It's fun to provide a service people enjoy and want to do year after year.”