Families celebrate holidays by boat in SWFL

Freedom Boat Club says they've seen a surge of families seeking solace and safety at 19 of their local marinas across Southwest Florida.

MANY PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDAHAVE MADE THEIR WAY TO THE WATERTO ENJOY OUTDOORS AS THEPANDEMIC CONTINUES... THISMORNING, OUR NOELANI MATHEWSTALKS WITH A LOCAL BOAT CLUBABOUT HOW THE HOLIDAY SEASON ISONLY GETTING BUISE08IN THE AGE OF COVID-19, MANY INSOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE FINDINGTHEMSELVES..

WELL, "IN THE SAMEBOAT", SO TO SPEAK.[Notes: NICK GOSSELIN / FREEDOMBOAT CLUB AT :08 ]"When they were looking at theboat club before, they said wereally love the concept butdon’t know if we really have thetime.

Well, unfortunately, withcovid really putting a pause onsummer camps and vacations andtravel, we’ve seen a lot offamilies joining us."FREEDOM BOAT CLUB SAYS THEY’VESEEN A SURGE OF FAMILIES SEEKINGSOLACE AND SAFETY ON THE OPENWATER..

AT 19 OF THEIR LOCALMARINAS.THEIR MEMBERS PAY AN ANNUAL FEETO ACCESS A VARIETY OF BOATS,SERVICES, AND UNLIMITEDTRAINING.[Notes: GOSSELIN ]"You can pick the vessel thatmakes sense for your experienceIf you’re center console, you’relikely going off shore and goingfishing.

If you’re grabbing apontoon, you’re getting yourimmediate family together andtake that living room on thewater out.."NICK GOSSELIN WITH THE CLUBSAYSWITH MORE THAN 300 BOATING DAYSA YEAR IN FLORIDA,RECREATIONAL BOAT OUTINGS HAVEBEEN NON-STOP DUE TO COVID.SO, WHILE THEY ARE CLOSED ON THEDAY OF CHRISTMAS,BOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS EVE ISALMOST FULL.[Notes: GOSSELIN ]"The marina operation center hasdone a terrific job of keeping afleet of, here in southwestflorida, over 600 boatsoperating so our members can getout on the water as much aspossible."GOSSELIN SAYS THEY’VE ADDED NEWCOVID SAFETY PROCEDURES, LIKELIMITING THE AMOUNT OF CONTACTBETWEEN MEMBERS AND STAFF.HE SAYS THE FRESH AIR IS A NICEBONUS, TOO.[Notes: GOSSELIN ]"Seeing people coming back tothe docks after a day out on thewater.

It’s just exactly whatthey needed.

You can just see iton their faces, even through themasks.WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR B