Deano Cantrell of Freedom Boat Club - Still Making Waves, From Oconee to Sinclair artwork
Lure of the Lake

Deano Cantrell of Freedom Boat Club - Still Making Waves, From Oconee to Sinclair

  • 33:30
  • May 29th 2026

It’s funny how fast time moves.


Four years ago, almost to the day, I sat down to record the very first episode of Lure of the Lake. At the time, I didn’t know if anyone would listen, whether I’d figure out what I was doing… or whether I was just a guy with a microphone and a high confidence level!


Fittingly, my very first guest was Deano Cantrell from Freedom Boat Club of Lake Oconee.

Well, four years later, both the podcast and Freedom Boat Club have grown significantly!


Since that first episode, we’ve watched Lake Country continue to grow, boating explode in popularity, and Freedom Boat Club become a huge part of the lake lifestyle for so many people here at Oconee. And now, Deano is preparing for another big chapter — expanding operations into Lake Sinclair.


So today’s episode is part reunion, part celebration, and part look ahead at what’s next.

We’ll talk about how boating has changed over the last few years, crazy things that happen around docks when you hand people the keys to a boat, why the boat club concept keeps growing, and what the boat club’s expansion into Sinclair means for local boaters!


And along the way, we may also reflect on how things have changed and evolved around here. One thing’s for sure, Deano and I have become and remain close friends and we both look forward to the next 4 years!


So whether you’re a longtime listener, a boating enthusiast, or just someone who loves hearing how local businesses evolve and grow, this is going to be a fun one!


Guest: Deano Cantrell

Website: https://info.freedomboatclub.com/dp/LakeOconee


Sponsors:

Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance

https://mydowntownagency.com/


Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit

https://loffc.net/


Second Chance Boutique

https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

Lure of the Lake

Lake Oconee, Georgia, located halfway between Augusta and Atlanta, is a man-made paradise with incredible beauty that makes it a great vacation destination for people of all ages. More than that, though, it's a community for those that are looking for a peaceful life filled with nature and beauty.

I, myself, am a member of that community. I moved to Reynolds in 2020 and started to hear the incredible stories of its residents. Join me, now, as we take a plunge into some fascinating stories of the many well-lived lives of our community and learn why they were Lured to the Lake.