Freedom Boat Club Launches in Hobart Offering Flite E-Foil Access

Freedom Boat Club announced that it will open its first Tasmanian location in 2026 near Hobart’s CBD on the River Derwent, putting members within easy reach of Storm Bay and Bruny Island. The move expands the world’s largest boat club into Tasmania and could reshape how powered foil access and shared-watercraft services are delivered to the local foiling community.

The Hobart franchise is independently owned and operated by Kelvin Markham and Mark Bent. Freedom Boat Club said members will be able to use a mixed fleet tailored to cruising, fishing, and family outings, with examples including Arvor Weekenders, Rayglass Legend 2350, and Sea Ray sport boats. Membership benefits highlighted include unlimited boat usage, personalized training from local captains, dockside service, and reciprocal access to Freedom Boat Club’s global network of 400+ locations.

Brunswick Corporation is the corporate parent of Freedom Boat Club and is also the parent company of Flite, a major e-foil brand. That corporate connection could create an easier path for Flite e-foils or other foiling-friendly gear to appear in club fleets or rental offerings over time. For foilers in Hobart, that means shared access to powered-foil technology might arrive without the capital outlay or storage burdens of private ownership, and members could benefit from structured training and dockside support when e-foils are integrated.

The club’s River Derwent site places members close to classic Tasmanian boating water and foiling playgrounds. Storm Bay and Bruny Island offer broad water and wind conditions that experienced foil surfers value, and being based near the CBD makes it simpler for visitors and locals to get on the water after work or on short windows of favorable swell. Freedom Boat Club framed the expansion as a response to Tasmania’s strong local boating culture and demand for more accessible on-water experiences.

Practically, the announcement matters for riders who want to shortcut ownership headaches. Membership promises hands-on familiarization from local captains, which is valuable for e-foil newcomers who need safe rigging, launch technique, and local-condition briefings. Reciprocal access across 400+ locations also opens the door to borrowing boats or equipment while traveling in Australia and abroad, which can reduce gear acquisition pressure for committed foilers.

Next steps: check with Kelvin Markham and Mark Bent’s Freedom Boat Club Tasmania for exact opening dates, membership tiers, training schedules, and whether Flite e-foils or foiling-ready equipment will be on the initial roster. The Hobart launch signals a shift toward more shared access to powered foils and could put more Tasmanian riders on the water sooner rather than later.