Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville joins national safe boating initiative

Submitted by lalmeida on Friday, May 19th, 9:16 am

Jacksonville, Fla., May 4, 2017 – As experts can attest, boating under the influence can be just as dangerous as drinking and driving, which is why Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville is supporting the Sea Tow Foundation’s national initiative to make sure fun boating is also safe boating. Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville and St. Augustine is rolling out their initiative ahead of National Safe Boating Week, which takes place May 20 through 26.

“We are asking all our members to take the pledge to have a designated skipper on board whenever alcohol is involved,” said Lisa Almeida, CEO of Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville. “We want everyone to enjoy their time out on the water but also avoid unnecessary risks.”

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Freedom Boat Club to name newest boat in honor of Dreams Come True

Submitted by lalmeida on Monday, March 27th, 1:53 pm

For the second straight year, Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville will be providing a special day out on the water for Dreams Come True. But this year, the children involved will also participate in a one-of-a-kind ceremony.

Freedom Boat Club will be christening its newest boat in honor of the nonprofit organization.

“We love being able to serve these great kids and honor this organization,” said Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville owner, Lisa Almeida. “We wanted to do something memorable and special.”

On Friday, March 31, Freedom Boat Club’s new 21-foot Key West bow rider will be officially christened “Dreams Come True.” The 2017 model features a 200 horsepower four-stroke Yamaha motor and can accommodate eight people.

“The ceremony will feature sparkling grape juice for the kids to enjoy,” Almeida said.

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Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville names Thompson Director of Dock Operations

Submitted by lalmeida on Tuesday, March 7th, 11:17 am

As every physics student knows, a body at rest tends to stay at rest and a body in motion tends to stay in motion. What Kloe Thompson has also learned is that a body working out on the water tends to want to stay on the water.

That is certainly her story.

Thompson, a college physics student who had planned to pursue a career in teaching, has taken a new tack. The 22-year-old senior at University of North Florida, has recently been promoted to director of dock operations of Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville.

In her new role, Thompson will be responsible for customer care, greeting members as they arrive on the dock, and overseeing the care and maintenance of the club’s fleet of 60 boats. She will be managing a staff of nine at Julington Creek Marina in Jacksonville and Camachee Cove Marina in St. Augustine.

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Jurassic Park Jeep at the Auto Show with Freedom Boat Club

Submitted by lalmeida on Thursday, February 16th, 11:38 am

The old jeep was dirt cheap. Its restoration came at minimum expense. But the result is priceless.

When Daniel Haralambou purchased a rusted, beaten up 1995 Jeep Wrangler in 2015, he was told it was only good for parts. That turned out to be true.

As long as the part is a role in the next Jurassic Park movie.

“I wanted a Jeep I could restore all by myself,” said Haralambou, who works as events director of Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville. “I have never done anything like this before. Once I got started, I thought it would cool to fix it up to look like the Jeep in the original Jurassic Park movie.”

Indeed, Haralambou’s effort is so close to the original that people sitting in the vehicle might expect to feel the ground tremble under the thundering footsteps of a T-Rex.

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Buddy Boy remembered

Submitted by lalmeida on Wednesday, February 8th, 1:23 pm

He was a multimedia star, had a boat named after him, and touched many lives in his all-too-brief time on earth.

Buddy Boy, a one-eyed Golden Retriever with an endearing love for people and insatiable heart for adventure, succumbed to a lingering illness last week at age 8. Riley Burke said, “ I named him Buddy Boy, because he was truly my buddy, and we comforted each other through all of the up and down times”

“It is not going to be the same around here without him,” said Lisa “The Boatanista” Almeida, who became accustomed to Buddy Boy’s joy-filled presence at home and in the office, as well as out on the water. “He was always welcome wherever we went, at schools, hospitals, the chiropractor, nail salon or picking up supplies at West Marine.”

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Jacksonville’s thriving Freedom Boat Club celebrates rank as one of nation’s largest

Submitted by lalmeida on Monday, January 30th, 9:24 pm

JACKSONVILLE – It’s a timeless expression, indicating good fortune or unqualified success: Your boat has come in. In the case of the local affiliate of the Freedom Boat Club, it would be more accurate to say: The fleet has come in.

Freedom Boat Club of Jacksonville, struggling to stay afloat when it was purchased by Lisa Almeida and Kevin Seelig in 2011, had a scant four boats and 40 members at the time. Now, the club has more boats than many nations have in their navies.

This past week, at Freedom Boat Club’s annual 20 group meeting in Sarasota, Florida, Almeida and Seelig were officially notified that they are operating the fourth largest franchise in a network that spans more than 117 cities.

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Freedom Boat Club adds Cruisin’ Tiki to its offerings Floating bar will be for special events

Submitted by lalmeida on Wednesday, August 10th, 4:07 pm

Why in the world would a teetotaler be enthused about purchasing a floating tiki bar? When people all over northeast Florida know you as the Boatanista, perhaps it simply goes with the territory.

“When I first saw the Cruisin Tiki bar on a news video I knew immediately that I had to have one,” said Lisa “The Boatanista” Almeida. “I haven’t seen anything like this in Jacksonville. This will be a fun and hip addition to our local scene.”

Almeida, owner of Freedom Boat Club of Jacksonville, expects to take delivery of her unique new watercraft Thursday (Aug. 11). The octagon-shaped Cruisin Tiki, complete with thatched roof and bar stools, was designed by Fort Lauderdale-based engineer, Greg Darby. The Cruisin Tiki relies on a base of 55-gallon drums to provide stability and maintain a smooth ride.

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