Carefree Boat Club of North Idaho has opened a new location near Lake Coeur d'Alene, complementing its established operations on Hayden Lake and Lake Pend Oreille.

Operating at Lakeside Marina, the new location is at 1031 N. Academic Way, along the Spokane River just north of North Idaho College and less than a mile north of the point where Lake Coeur d'Alene flows into the river.

“You get 12 boats on three bodies of water," says co-owner Cara Quien, who launched Carefree Boat Club of North Idaho with her husband, Keith, in August 2021. "The variety alone is just amazing.”

The company also operates at Hayden Lake Marina, 3799 E. Hayden Lake Road, in Hayden, and at Long Bridge Marina, 41 Lakeshore Drive, in Sagle, Idaho, located a few miles south of Sandpoint.

The Quiens operate the boat club under a licensing model with the national Carefree Boat Club organization, which originated 22 years ago in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

An added benefit, says Quien, is that all national and international Carefree Boat Club members share member privileges, even though each location is independently owned and operated by the licensee.

 The central reservation system makes it easy for members to choose and book a reservation at over 140 locations "whether it's Seattle or Virginia or Florida," Quien says. “You can book a boat in Seattle as easily as you can book a boat in Coeur d’Alene."

Currently, Carefree Boat Club of North Idaho serves 95 member families and employs a team of 11 staff members.

The boat club operates a fleet of 12 boats, four of which are new this year, says Quien. Members can choose from a diverse lineup, including pontoon boats, a wake jet boat, a wake surf boat, one sailboat, and a fishing boat equipped for cabin-guided excursions. 

For those interested in fishing, the club provides both the vessel and experienced staff. “It gives the members a chance to relax on the water and enjoy the fishing,” she says. “They can learn all the intricacies of how to operate the vessel, but it’s a little more detailed instruction compared to our ski boats.” 

Club membership includes comprehensive, unlimited training provided to each member. Before hitting the water solo, members complete between one and four hours of instruction and training, which is included in the membership. 

“If they want to learn how to pull a wakeboard, or if they want to learn how to sail, or if they want to learn about fishing, they can train on each body of water and each type of vessel,” Quien says. “It’s all included.” 

Additionally, each member is required to obtain a boater education card, which can be earned through a self-paced online course. 

For an annual fee of $5,620 – either paid up front or in monthly installments of $485 – members can gain access to the entire fleet and amenities. There’s also a one-time joining fee of $4,999, although Quien says she often runs promotions.

Quien says the value of membership becomes clearer when members factor in the high cost of boat slips alone. 

“A slip at Hayden Lake can cost $6,000 a year,” she says. "You book a boat online, park your car at the marina, hop on the boat, and have a good time. At the end of your outing, you high-five the staff, give them the keys, and they take over from there.” 

Members use an online reservation system to reserve boats in half-day slots, choosing from a morning slot, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or an afternoon slot, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. After completing five successful reservations, members can unlock earlier checkouts, as early as 7 a.m., and later returns. “If they want to stay out until 7:30 p.m. or 8 o’clock, they just have to request it,” she says.

In addition to boat reservations, members are also invited to participate in year-round social events, from summer kickoff parties at Hayden Lake Marina to nights at Spokane Indians baseball games.

Quien says the membership base includes a wide mix, from retirees who are tired of the maintenance involved in owning a boat, to busy working parents who want to create childhood memories for their kids.

“There’s so much more to boating,” she says. “You can grab a blanket, a hot cocoa, and put a sweatshirt on and it’s very cathartic to be on the water, even if its 65 degrees.” 

Before pivoting to a membership-based company, the Quiens operated Fun Unlimited, a boat and jet ski rental company, for 13 years.

Although the company's administrative functions operated out of a home office, it's searching for a central physical office location in Post Falls to serve members across all three marinas.

“Our mission and vision is to help families create memories,” she says. “We just happen to do it with boats out on a beautiful lake.” 

Small Bites: 

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, a fast-food franchise based in Texas, is coming to Post Falls. Expected to open in mid-August, the restaurant will be located at 306 N. Spokane, which was formerly occupied by The Filling Station.

Founded in 1941, the restaurant is known for its slow-smoked meats and scratch-made sides.

Dickey’s currently has a location in the Spokane Valley, at 14720 E. Sprague.