Longevity is not something that comes easily in the boat-sharing and club sector. Over the past two decades, the Australian boating industry has seen numerous entrants come and go, many struggling to balance capital intensity, customer expectations and operational complexity. Pacific Boating Club reaching its 20-year milestone today, 20 February 2026, is no small feat and one worthy of acknowledgement.
Phillip Pitt – Managing Director Pacific Boating
Founded in 2006 by Managing Director Phillip Pitt, Pacific Boating has grown into the largest and fastest-growing Australian-owned boating club of its kind, with a strong presence on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater. Wholly Australian owned, the business has built a reputation for professionalism, reliability and consistency, qualities that have underpinned both its longevity and its strong brand recognition in the regions it operates.
Phillip’s journey into the sector was not accidental. With more than 50 years of personal boating experience and a 25-year career in corporate sales, marketing and general management, he recognised early that traditional boat ownership was becoming increasingly out of reach for many would-be boaters.
High capital costs, maintenance, berthing and time commitments were acting as barriers to entry. Pacific Boating was conceived as a practical alternative, one that removed the friction while preserving the experience.
At the heart of the model is a simple proposition: own the memories, not the boat. Members gain access to a fleet of 19 Sea Ray luxury sports cruisers through a flexible monthly membership that includes training, insurance, maintenance and operational support. Walk-on, walk-off boating, overnight stays, multi-day escapes and an easy online booking system are all designed to make time on the water seamless and enjoyable.
What is particularly striking is Phillip’s view of Pacific Boating not as a replacement for boat ownership, but as a conduit into boating.
For many members, the club provides the confidence, skills and experience that ultimately leads them to owning a boat of their own. This philosophy has resonated strongly with visitors at major events such as the Sydney Boat Show, where prospective boaters are often searching for a lower-risk entry point into the lifestyle.
As Pacific Boating marks 20 years, its success appears grounded in clear positioning, disciplined execution and a deep understanding of the boating customer. On behalf of Marine Business News, congratulations to Phillip Pitt and the entire Pacific Boating team on reaching this milestone, and on setting a benchmark for what a sustainable, member-focused boating club can look like in Australia.
Marine Business News sat with Phillip. This is what he had to say.
What first led you to establish Pacific Boating Club back in 2006?
Being around boats all my life I knew of the costs and hassles associated with boat ownership and Sydney was an ideal location for a subscription model boat club.
Sydney has over 5 million people, many living near the water or in apartments without storage space for a boat or trailer. There are many young professionals with disposable income who want experiences but not the hassle of ownership. Young families, active retirees, and professionals are all potential members.
Sydney Harbour is one of the world’s great natural harbours, with countless beaches, bays, and waterways. Boating is deeply embedded in the lifestyle here – sailing, fishing, harbour cruising. There’s demand from people who’d love to get on the water regularly but don’t own boats.
Looking back over 20 years, what have been the key milestones that shaped the business?
Wow, the business looks a lot different in 2026 than it did 20 years ago and there have been a number of key milestones during that time which have ensured the success of the business.
Maintaining access to Pittwater from our first office at The Quays Marina at Church Point
Moving our operation from Cabarita Point, one of our first marina operations, to Rose Bay Marina and then on to the Sydney Boat House marina at Rozelle Bay which gives access to Sydney Harbour from one of the best locations in Sydney
Creating strong relationships with National and State maritime agencies to gain their support to our business
The establishment and strength of our relationship with Sea Ray.
The changes to our fleet. We commenced the business with two 27’ Sundancers and three 32’ Sundancers. Over the 20 years operating the business we have gradually increased our fleet to have 19 boats in 2026. The fleet now consists of five 32’, ten 44’ and four 52’ Sea Ray Sundancers offering our members a great choice.
Maintaining consistency across the fleet exclusively using Sea Ray Sundancers which ensures members are able to move from one boat to another with ease as they are all the same. Simplifies the training process and increases the members confidence when using the fleet.
Another major change is the size of our team. When we launched the business in 2006 there were just 5 employees and we now have over thirty. I am extremely proud of the team and their commitment to ensure our fleet is always presented in the best condition for our members to enjoy.
The development and introduction of our own operating system which effectively runs the business. All areas including staff, fleet, finance and membership management is operated by this system. The booking system allows members to log in and make their bookings as far into the future as they wish.
Many boat-share ventures have struggled, why do you think Pacific Boating has endured and grown?
There are a number of reasons why we have maintained a successful business over the 20 years
Most importantly being aware of what it costs to run this type of business. A boat is an expensive item and when you increase the annual usage of an average boat tenfold the costs also increase and you need to constantly manage this area of the business.
We have prioritised our members experience by maintaining a strong focus on customer service, the quality of our fleet and ensuring our members continue to experience a clean working boat.
We have developed, and deliver to all members, a comprehensive training program to ensure they are confident and competent to take the boats out and enjoy every cruise. This assists in membership retention and eliminates churn.
How does the Pacific Boating model differ from other boat clubs or shared-ownership schemes in the market?
The main differences include lower upfront costs as a Pacific Boating membership has lower upfront costs than other boating clubs and a shared ownership scheme requires you to invest a considerable amount to purchase your share.
Pacific Boating exclusively fleet Sea Ray Sundancer sports cruisers that range from 32 to 52 feet in length on Pittwater and Sydney harbour which allows members to freely move from one boat to another across both waterways.
Members have the flexibility to enjoy day cruising or extended cruising over two or three days at a time.
You’ve described Pacific Boating as a conduit into boating, can you unpack what you mean by that?
You could look at Pacific Boating functioning as an extended test drive for the boating lifestyle. Members can experience boating for 24+ days per year with a minimal 12 month commitment. During this time they can try different the different boats in our fleet to understand what they actually need and learn what type of boating they enjoy. Whether it be harbour cruising, fishing or overnight stays.
This helps people make much more informed decisions about whether to eventually buy a boat, what type to buy, and whether they will actually use a boat enough to justify ownership. Many realise they don’t and stay on as members indefinitely with some people remaining members for 5-10+ years. Two of the first people to join in 2006 remain members today, 20 years on.
Have you seen members progress from the club into boat ownership, and how do you view that transition?
Over the years we have seen people end their membership after a number of years to purchase their own boat and some have even purchased boats from us as we replace them in our fleet. This is great to see as we know we have introduced people into the boating lifestyle.
We have also experienced members leave to purchase their own boat only to see them come back to a membership a few years on when they are over all the hassles and costs associated with ownership
You’ve had strong engagement at events like the Sydney Boat Show, what feedback stands out from those conversations?
We have been involved in the Sydney International Boat Show every year since 2006. Over the years we have spoken to many people with varying levels of experience in boating. The comments that stand out the most are
Wow… I never thought it would be possible for me to experience this type of boating. There must be a catch.
People approaching retirement who were interested in alternative ways to fill their leisure time
Business owners looking at a membership to entertain their clients as an alternative to corporate boxes at sporting events
Young families seeing the benefits of a membership to spend quality time together on the water.
What do you believe are the key drivers behind Pacific Boating’s strong brand recognition in Sydney and Pittwater?
We have looked at every opportunity to gain brand awareness over the years and have extensively advertised on television, radio, billboards, buses, national and local papers and magazines. Together with these traditional advertising areas we have recently concentrated our campaigns on the digital space on google, facebook, insta, linked-in, youtube and tik tok.
We also actively increase our data base by attending trade shows across the city.
How important has team, training and operational discipline been to maintaining member satisfaction?
We rate this as one of the main reasons for the success of the company with a number of the team being with the company for 8 years or more. The consistency of the service being offered to our members by the team add to the members confidence in the business and the operation of the fleet.
Members consistently praise our staff as “friendly,” “professional,” “helpful,” “nothing is too much trouble,” and “always willing to assist.” The company explicitly states their “success is based on delivering great customer service.”
What role does technology, such as online booking and fleet management, play in delivering a seamless experience?
Technology has played a huge role in the running of the business. In 2017 we developed our customised Business Operating system (The Bridge) that manages all areas of our business including Financial, Membership, Boat Management, HR and Contractors.
Members gain secure access to The Bridge to manage all areas of their membership. This includes their online bookings, payments, training and communication to ensure they are in full control of their membership at all times.
Our operational staff are able to use The Bridge to schedule all boat cleaning, servicing, antifouling, regulatory requirements and general maintenance required to ensure the fleet is fully operational at all times.
What challenges does the boating club model still face in Australia?
Beside the increased costs of running the business the major challenges being faced by Pacific Boating include the availability of berths at marinas, changes to the regulations and the volatility of the economy.
Looking ahead, where do you see Pacific Boating positioned over the next five to ten years?
We are excited for the future as Pacific Boating will continue to strengthen it’s membership offering by looking at ways to increase the service and benefits offered to our membership. As we have in the past we will continue to look for additional/different vessels to add to the fleet to ensure we keep up with the changing trends in boating.
For more information about the Pacific Boating Club, visit their website HERE
