The Perfect Family Boat Day in Jensen Beach with Gulf Stream Boat Club

There’s nothing quite like spending a day on the water with your family, especially when you live somewhere as beautiful as the Treasure Coast. But if you’ve ever owned a boat, or even spent a full day on one with kids, you know there’s a lot more involved than just showing up and cruising around.

That’s why we were so excited to experience Gulf Stream Boat Club, which is opening its new Jensen Beach location on November 1!

We recently took the kids out for a family boating day, and we had SO much fun. We got to drive the boat ourselves, explore our local waterways and enjoy the day at our own pace. The best part? When we returned, their team handled the cleaning.

And honestly, after a full day on the water with kids, that might be the greatest luxury of all.

Whether you’re considering a boat club membership or just dreaming about more family days on the water, here’s how we’d plan the perfect Jensen Beach boat day, complete with coffee, snacks, sandbars and waterfront dining.

8:30 AM: Coffee First, Obviously

I can’t start a boat day without coffee. Well, any day, let’s be honest.

Before heading to the marina, make a stop at Tide and Bean, a new coffee truck on Jensen Beach Boulevard. Grab your favorite coffee to go and get everyone caffeinated before the day’s adventure.

Tide and Bean 📍 1939 NE Jensen Beach Blvd, Jensen Beach, FL

8:45 AM: Grab Ice and Last-Minute Essentials

Next up, Ice! You’ll want to grab a bag of ice for your cooler before getting on the boat, and there’s a Publix conveniently located right near the marina.

We usually bring a cooler packed with drinks, sandwiches, fruit and plenty of snacks for the kids. There’s something about being on a boat that makes everyone hungry approximately 20 minutes after leaving the dock.

This is also your chance to grab anything you forgot, like sunscreen, extra water or that one snack your child suddenly can’t live without.

Publix 📍 1780 NE Jensen Beach Blvd, Jensen Beach, FL

9:00 AM: Arrive at Gulf Stream Boat Club

Now for the fun part!

Gulf Stream Boat Club’s new Jensen Beach location is opening at Four Fish Marina on November 1, giving local families another way to enjoy our beautiful waterways without the responsibilities of owning a boat.

What makes Gulf Stream Boat Club different is its concierge approach to boating.

Instead of having to purchase, store, maintain and clean your own boat, you join the club and get access to its fleet through your membership.

You still get the experience of driving the boat yourself and spending the day however you’d like, but without all the work that typically comes with boat ownership.

For our family, that made a huge difference.

Their team had life jackets available during our outing, but I would recommend confirming ahead of time that they have the appropriate sizes and enough for everyone in your family, especially if you’re bringing younger children.

Once you’re all loaded up, it’s time to head out!

9:30 AM: Cruise the Indian River and Find Your Perfect Spot

One of my favorite things about boating on the Treasure Coast is that you don’t need a complicated itinerary. Sometimes the best days are spent cruising around, enjoying the sunshine and finding a spot where the kids can jump in and play.

Depending on the weather, tides and your boat’s permitted cruising area, you can plan to anchor at a suitable sandbar or stop near a beach for some time in the water.

Bring along a few beach toys or rafts so the kids can float and play once you’re safely anchored.

We love having the freedom to spend as much or as little time at each stop as we want. If the kids are having a blast, we stay a little longer. If everyone’s ready for lunch, we head out.

That’s the beauty of having the boat for the day.

Just be sure to check local boating conditions, follow any anchoring restrictions and choose a location that’s appropriate for your family. Children should wear properly fitted life jackets as required, and an adult should actively supervise them in the water.

12:00 PM: Dock and Dine at a Waterfront Restaurant

Here’s another reason we love boating around Jensen Beach: you can actually pull up to a restaurant by boat!

If you’ve never done a dock-and-dine experience, it means arriving by water, securing your boat at an available dock and heading inside for lunch.

Two waterfront restaurants to consider for your boat day are Conchy Joe’s and Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House.

Both restaurants are worth considering when planning your route. Call ahead to confirm their current boat-docking policies, available dock space and any restrictions before heading over.

And if you’d rather spend the entire day on the water, that’s what the cooler full of sandwiches and snacks is for!

1:30 PM: One More Stop Before Heading Back

After lunch, you can enjoy a little more time cruising the waterways or head back to your favorite swimming spot.

This is the part of the day when the kids are usually completely content being out on the water, and we’re just soaking up the fact that we live somewhere this beautiful.

One thing I’d recommend is keeping an eye on the weather, especially during Florida’s warmer months when afternoon thunderstorms can develop quickly.

You’ll also want to plan your return around your boat club reservation and give yourself plenty of time to get back to the marina.

3:00 PM: Return the Boat and Let the Concierge Team Handle the Rest

This is where Gulf Stream Boat Club really won us over.

If you’ve ever returned from a full day of boating with kids, you know the work isn’t necessarily over when you get back to the dock.

There’s usually unloading, hauling everything to the car, cleaning the boat and getting it ready for the next outing.

But with Gulf Stream Boat Club, their concierge service takes care of the cleaning for you.

When we returned, all we had to do was bag up our garbage and gather our belongings. Their team handled the rest.

They even provided a cart so we could load up our cooler, bags and all the kids’ stuff instead of carrying everything back to the car ourselves.

It’s such a simple detail, but as a parent, I appreciated it SO much.

We got to enjoy our family boat day and leave without having to spend another hour cleaning up afterward.

That convenience is one of the biggest things that stood out to us about the club.

What to Pack for Your Jensen Beach Boat Day

Gulf Stream Boat Club had life jackets available for our outing, so you may not need to bring your own. Just confirm the sizes and quantities with the team before your reservation.

And don’t forget to pack a little extra sunscreen. Between swimming, cruising and enjoying lunch on the water, you’ll probably be outside for most of the day.

Is Gulf Stream Boat Club Worth It for Families?

If your family loves being on the water but doesn’t want the responsibilities that come with owning a boat, Gulf Stream Boat Club is an option worth exploring.

The club offers several membership options, including 25-hour, 50-hour and unlimited boating plans, so families can choose based on how often they expect to get out on the water.

For us, the biggest appeal was having the freedom to enjoy the boat ourselves while someone else handled the maintenance and cleaning.

We could take the kids out, explore our local waterways, stop for lunch and spend quality time together without worrying about all the work waiting for us at the end of the day.

And that concierge service really made the experience feel different.

Between the team handling the boat and providing a cart for our belongings, they made the entire experience easier from start to finish.

Ready to Plan Your Own Family Boat Day?

Gulf Stream Boat Club’s Jensen Beach location is opening November 1 at Four Fish Marina.

If you’ve been looking for a way to get your family out on the water more often, this is a great opportunity to explore what a boat club membership could look like for you.

We had such a fun time with the kids, and I already know we’ll be looking forward to our next day on the water!

Visit Gulf Stream Boat Club  to learn more about its membership options and the new Jensen Beach location.