Water way

The growth current at Venice-based Freedom Boat Club has been whip strong for a few years, despite the recession.

But President and CEO John Giglio, while not dissatisfied with 25% annual revenue growth, now seeks something that's sometimes proven more elusive for many alternative businesses in a traditional industry. That objective is industry respect. Says Giglio: “We've always been the redheaded stepchild of the boating industry.”

Freedom Boat Club is a combination of 57 franchisee-owned locations, from Austin, Texas, to Warwick, R.I., and 11 corporate-owned stores, including ones in Cape Coral, Sarasota and Venice. The model is to provide members access to an extensive menu of boats, from fishing vessels and flat boats to pontoons and cruisers. Members pay a onetime fee, usually about $5,000, and monthly fees of $149 to $199.