Nauti Girls

Raleigh is experiencing a wave of women boaters.

For Raleighite and self-proclaimed “water baby” Amber Thayer, there’s no place she’d rather be than diving in a lake or splashing in the ocean. “Water is my happy place,” says the former swim instructor, who also served in the Navy for 10 years. “Always has been.”

So when the pandemic hit and she needed an outlet, Thayer channeled her inner Moana and answered the water’s call. At first she debated getting a kayak, but didn’t want to have to lug it around. “Then I found Freedom Boat Club online,” she shares. “I went and talked to them and discovered they would give me all the training—[and] I don’t have to do the maintenance. I was like, ‘This sounds like a win-win.’”  

Today more women are following Thayer’s lead and turning to clubs like Freedom—which boasts locations at Falls Lake and Jordan Lake—that empower them to pursue boating as a hobby by offering robust training programs, women-only social groups and outings, and an easy booking system with access to a wide variety of boats. Globally, Freedom has more than 90,000 members and 35% of its members are women—a percentage that is much higher than the industry average of female boat owners.

“As a father to a young girl, it’s incredible and empowering to see so many women take the helm with Freedom Boat Club,” says Max Curtis, general manager of Freedom Boat Club of Raleigh. “Boating previously had a perception of being a male-dominated hobby, and over the past few years, we have seen a significant increase in women captaining our boats and finding their confidence on the water.”

Thayer concurs: “I do see more and more women doing it. It’s an empowering thing, not to be afraid. I think Freedom does a really good job of being that lifeline.”

Since joining the club in 2020, Thayer has received one-on-one training from Freedom’s licensed captains to learn how to safely navigate our local lakes, and has even traveled to the coast for additional, more intensive training on the ocean. Now, whether she’s solo or has friends or her boyfriend in tow, Thayer feels equipped for success on the water. 

At Falls Lake, you can typically spot her driving a tritoon. “We’ll ride way out to the dam, as far out as I can, and then we normally find a little offshoot,” she says of her perfect boat day. “I’ll drop anchor, and we’ll just swim and listen to music and just enjoy being in nature.”

And, of course, no aquatic adventure is complete without her furry co-captain. “My favorite thing is the fact [Freedom Boat Club] lets me bring my dog,” says Thayer. 

When asked what advice she’d give to other local women thinking about taking the plunge into boating, Thayer simply responds, “Just do it.” Besides being convenient and hassle-free, “they will help you,” she continues. “I think the hardest part is finding the courage to just try.” So, ~water~ you waiting for?
freedomboatclub.com  

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