MARKER 26 BOAT CLUB MEMBERSHIP

The Best Franchise Boat Club Alternative

Get more time on the Gulf for less with affordable membership options, reliable boat availability, and fast access to some of Tampa Bay’s best boating destinations with Marker 26 Boat Club.

Low Member-to-Boat Ratio|Locally Owned|Superior Customer Service|300+ Five-Star Reviews

Are You Tired of Consistent Boat Unavailability?

The Marker 26 Boat Club was created to solve that problem.

Marker 26 Boat Club offers a simpler option for people who want regular access to the water without the cost and work of owning a boat. We keep our membership small, with limited members per boat, so you can get a boat on demand.

Based at Island Harbor Marina in Palm Harbor, our members from Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, and the greater Tampa Bay area have easy access to the Gulf without a long idle out of the channel.

Spend less time waiting for a boat and more time using one!

Ready to get started? Pricing is available on request.

Get Membership Pricing

Why Marker 26 Beats Freedom Boat Club
and Other Franchises

Better Value Than Large Franchise Clubs

Price, availability, and location all matter when choosing a boat club. Here is why Marker 26 delivers more value than large franchise operations.

Pay Much Less for Your Membership

Marker 26 is designed to provide a much more affordable alternative to large franchise clubs. Membership costs less than one quarter of comparable Freedom Boat Club pricing and comes with a much smaller initiation fee.

You should not have to spend thousands more just to enjoy Tampa Bay by boat.

More Gulf time. Less monthly cost.

Marker 26 by the Numbers

365

Days of Boating Access

Zero

Maintenance or cleaning fees

5 min

Idle to open water

300+

Five-star reviews

Member to Boat Ratio

Marker 26 Boat Club

10 Members Per Boat

Large Franchise Clubs

40-60 Members Per Boat

Enjoy Reliable Boat Availability

A membership has little value if the boat you want is never open. Marker 26 solves this by limiting memberships for each boat in its fleet.

Keeping the member-to-boat ratio low protects availability during popular boating periods. Instead of adding as many members as possible, we limit enrollment so existing members can actually enjoy what they are paying for.

Clean pontoon boats on demand!

Start Close to Tampa Bay’s Best Destinations

Marker 26 operates from Island Harbor Marina in Palm Harbor. Members have about a five-minute idle ride before reaching the channel, so less of the day is spent working toward open water.

Honeymoon Island can be reached in about 15 to 20 minutes, while Clearwater Beach is about 20 minutes away.

A great marina location puts the places you want within easy reach.

Destinations from Island Harbor Marina

Honeymoon Island — 15 min Clearwater Beach — 20 min Caladesi Island — 20 min Three Rooker Sandbar — 25 min Anclote Key — 30 min

Membership Options

Weekday

Weekday Membership

Perfect for members with flexible schedules who prefer weekday boating.

7-Day

Seven-Day Membership

Full week access including weekends for members who want maximum flexibility.

Choose a Membership That Matches Your Schedule

Not everyone needs the same amount of boating access. Marker 26 offers weekday memberships for people with flexible schedules as well as seven-day memberships for those who want the freedom to boat throughout the week.

Pick the plan that fits your life, not someone else’s.

Get Help From a Native Crew

Marker 26 is locally owned, and its crew has more than 20 years of experience on Tampa Bay waters. Staff are available to assist with reservations and provide useful local guidance before an outing.

The boats are cleaned and prepared before members arrive, removing the work that comes with private boat ownership.

You arrive ready for the day while Marker 26 handles the rest!

Boats Ready on Arrival

Cleaned, fueled, and inspected before every outing

25+ Combined Years Experience

Native crew with useful knowledge of the waters

USCG-Certified Fleet

Our boats are up to code with the latest safety requirements.

You Have Options

Locals Choose Marker 26

Freedom Boat Club, Carefree Boat Club, and similar franchise operations have been expanding across Tampa Bay. They offer brand recognition. What they cannot offer is a low member-to-boat ratio, a crew that actually knows these waters, or pricing that does not require a large initiation fee before you ever step on a boat.

	Marker 26	Franchise Clubs
Limited Members Per Boat	✓	✗
On-Demand Availability	✓	✗
Small Initiation Fee	✓	✗
Staff Who Know The Local Sandbars	✓	✗
Pets Welcome On Board	✓	✗
No Hidden Fees	✓	✗
No Multi-Year Contracts	✓	✗

The Marker 26 Fleet

Your Boat Is Ready When You Are

As a Marker 26 Boat Club member, you get access to our full fleet of premium pontoons and tritoons. Every boat is inspected, cleaned, and fueled before your arrival.

Tritoon

22′ Harris Tritoon

Up to 10 guests

Pontoon

23′ Godfrey Pontoon

Up to 12 guests

Tritoon

23′ Sweetwater Tritoon

Up to 12 guests

Tritoon

25′ Bennington Tritoon

Up to 16 guests

HOW IT WORKS

How Does a Marker 26 Boat Club
Membership Work?

Four simple steps from your first inquiry to your first day on the water.

Step 1: Choose Your Membership

Decide how often you want access to the fleet. Ask the Marker 26 team about weekday and seven-day membership options to find the plan that fits your schedule.

Step 2: Complete Your Member Setup

The Marker 26 team guides you through the membership process and explains how club access works. New boaters can also receive a beginner orientation.

Step 3: Reserve Your Boat

Members use the online reservation system to select a date, boat, and time. Our low member-to-boat ratio means dependable access without the booking competition common at crowded clubs.

Step 4: Arrive and Enjoy the Gulf

Come to Island Harbor Marina, meet the crew, and get ready for your trip. With the boats prepared and the channel only a short idle ride away, you spend more of the day on the water.

WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY

300+ Five-Star Reviews on Google

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Kurt Trockels 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great place friendly people
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jacob Wade 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The easiest way to get on the water in Pinellas County is Marker 26. Special shout out to Danny who is an incredible asset to the team, making our boating experience seamless every time!

We joined the brand new boat club, and the experience is 10x better than other large boat clubs. Boats are always available, easy to load up and we’re always on the water within minutes. If you’re looking for an affordable, simple boat club to join, Marker 26 is the best local options I found after researching for over 6 months!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Beverly Bokovitz 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Rented a boat looking forward to a nice day with our pontoon boat. Boat had mechanical issues and I was promptly refunded however, no other boats available. So disappointing. Giving 4 stars as Conner was super accommodating and the owner Jackson did respond quickly. We will try again another time!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Hector Castro 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great team, very knowledgeable, and provided perfect recommendations for my son’s birthday boat trip. Would recommend and look forward to our next boat trip..
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Julie Russell 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We didn't have the experience that we were hoping for! However, after speaking to the owner Jack, he did the right thing and provided a partial refund that was fair! If we are in the area again, we may give them another try!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Elizabeth Lowell 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had a great day on the pontoon today with friends. Rental was quick and easy. Will definitely use Marker 26 again!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ashlynn Duffey 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great experience renting with Marker 26! Marina was well maintained and working with Zach and Matt was a pleasure. Will be coming back. :)
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Wendy Sage 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My husband and I rented a pontoon for 2 days.  Jack was easy to communicate with and very responsive.  When we got to the boat, Danny helped us bring our gear from our vehicle on board and answered all of our questions.  The boat was clean and reliable.  This is our second time renting from this trustworthy company and can’t wait to return.  Thank you for a memorable boating trip and making it so seamless!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Eric Corbett 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Marker 26 Boat club is the best family decision we made this year! We heard about it through friends who had just joined as well and decided to give them a shot. They just added a 3rd boat to they're boat club with around only 20 members! Making it easy to book reservations and get out on the water to make memories with our family and friends. The owner Jackson Sterns is great, giving additional training on the water to make sure we were comfortable and confident when taking out any vessel from the fleet. His team Danny and Doug have been amazing to work with as well. Helping out our group with loading/unloading and docking on every return! Highly recommend Marker 26 Boat club 10/10!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Emilio Balreno 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Family and I have rented boats from this place two times and both times were excellent experiences. They all have great service and are very friendly and helpful. The boats are nice and work well. The whole experience was very easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Marker 26 Boat Club

Still have questions? Visit our full FAQ page, call us at (727) 348-5535, or email boating@marker26boatrental.com and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

Where is Marker 26 Boat Club located?

Marker 26 is based at Island Harbor Marina at 123 Orange Street in Palm Harbor, Florida. The location is convenient for boaters from Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, St. Pete, and surrounding Tampa Bay communities.

How does Marker 26 compare with Freedom Boat Club?

Marker 26 focuses on affordable local boating and convenient Gulf access. Membership cost less than about one quarter of comparable Freedom Boat Club pricing. We also have on-demand boats that would take sometimes weeks with Freedom Boat Club and other franchises.

Request Membership Pricing

Limited spots available.

FIND US

Visit Us at Island Harbor Marina

Hours

7 Days a Week, 7am to 7pm

Open every day including weekends and holidays

Address

123 Orange Street N
Palm Harbor, FL 34683

Located at Island Harbor Marina in Ozona

Phone

(727) 348-5535

Call us to ask about availability or routes

Parking

Parking Available at Marina

Or by the grassy area outside the marina. Carpooling is highly recommended for larger groups.

The Best Franchise Boat Club Alternative

Are You Tired of Consistent Boat Unavailability?

The Marker 26 Boat Club was created to solve that problem.