Fractional boat membership leader returns to Detroit with a new local owner excited to be a part of city’s rebirth.
May 02, 2018 // Franchising.com // Sailing enthusiasts in the Great Lakes Region lost a treasured friend and local business when SailTime Detroit franchise owner Jim Kaza died in September 2016. This May, another Detroit native is relaunching the franchise and paying tribute to his hometown and the sailors ready to return.
SailTime Group LLC, the world’s leading sailing and powerboat membership franchise, recently awarded Dave Conrad the new SailTime Detroit franchise (24400 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI, 48080). Dave and his wife Kristen will host an Open House Event May 19 and 20 at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club as part of the Great Lakes Boating Festival.
SailTime Detroit celebrates its return featuring a new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 Sailing Yacht named “Grand Circus” honoring the historic park in downtown Detroit. Conrad says he’s also waiving the $1,500 initiation fee for any former SailTime Detroit member hoping to relaunch their membership.
“It feels great to bring SailTime back to Detroit and be part of the comeback going on here. This is where I grew up, so I want SailTime Detroit to have a distinct, local feel and welcome back the former members who showed such amazing loyalty to Jim and his business.”
What is SailTime?
With a fee that starts at only $650 dollars a month, SailTime members can conveniently schedule blocks of time online to enjoy a new model sail or powerboat without the commitment or expense of ownership. When finished, they turn the keys over to the SailTime team to clean up and maintain the boat.
Boat owners who own a new sail or powerboat in the SailTime fleet take advantage of revenues to greatly offset the cost of boat ownership.
Conrad grew up on the east side of Detroit where he lived until age 16 when his family moved to Traverse City. At age 20, he headed to the Caribbean to begin a career of more than two decades working in the boating industry. He returned to Michigan in 2008 when he and his wife, Kristen, purchased the Great Lakes Sailing Company, featuring an American Sailing Association sailing school, charter sailing and new boat purchases on the Great Lakes. Over the last decade, they grew the fleet to 27 boats while growing the staff to more than 20 people.
Conrad expects similar success with SailTime Detroit.
“We’re opening on The Nautical Mile which is one of the best places in the country for boating enthusiasm, but we hope to eventually expand to a downtown marina to capitalize on the revitalization going on in the downtown,” he said.
For more information, visit sailtime.com/detroit or call 586-888-9744.
About SailTime
SailTime members share the use of a professionally managed boat through the use of an online scheduling system. A monthly membership fee covers the slip fees, maintenance, insurance and operating costs. These memberships offer an attractive alternative to boat ownership. SailTime also offers a generous Owner Member Program where the owner receives a monthly income, as well as the benefits of membership. Now celebrating its 16th anniversary, the company has more than 30 bases in North America and five bases in Australia. A unique feature of the program is SailTime PLUS, where members can go sailing at base locations around the world for a significantly lower cost than traditional bareboat charter fees. SailTime also has a significant network of sailing schools, via bases that are certified American Sailing Association (ASA) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) affiliates. The instruction provided at these locations has been a key component in providing a pathway for members to achieve their goals and dreams for the sport of sailing.
