Hi all, I was just wondering what the advantages would be to joining a yacht club, instead of just getting a slip or mooring and calling it good? Ken.
yacht club advantages?
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done both
Yacht club come in all sizes and prices... The advantages are...you are involved in a club that has members of the same interests as you. Most clubs have scheduled boating events and ragattas. Some clubs offer sailing classes, training classes and other related functions such as guest speakers. Some clubs offer docking facilities, showers, fuel and repair services. Also there are social functions, reduced drink prices and balls and banquets that are fun. Our club even gets a discount at West Marine. However, this all comes at a price. Depends on the club, some clubs the docking fees are less than what's locally available and some clubs require you to spend a certain amount every month. Read the rules and visit the club you may be considering and see if it's a place you want to be involved in. Clubs work for some people and not for others. Hope this helps.
Yacht club come in all sizes and prices... The advantages are...you are involved in a club that has members of the same interests as you. Most clubs have scheduled boating events and ragattas. Some clubs offer sailing classes, training classes and other related functions such as guest speakers. Some clubs offer docking facilities, showers, fuel and repair services. Also there are social functions, reduced drink prices and balls and banquets that are fun. Our club even gets a discount at West Marine. However, this all comes at a price. Depends on the club, some clubs the docking fees are less than what's locally available and some clubs require you to spend a certain amount every month. Read the rules and visit the club you may be considering and see if it's a place you want to be involved in. Clubs work for some people and not for others. Hope this helps.
We Joined for Two Reasons
1. Cheap slip fees. Our club has a $50 minumum each month at the clubhouse or bar. Discounting that we pay just about the same as we did keeping our boat at a different marina each month and now have a way nicer place to hang out. 2. Great Junior Program run by absolute world class people.
1. Cheap slip fees. Our club has a $50 minumum each month at the clubhouse or bar. Discounting that we pay just about the same as we did keeping our boat at a different marina each month and now have a way nicer place to hang out. 2. Great Junior Program run by absolute world class people.
sailing squadron
Here in Apollo Beach there is a small sailing squadron that several of my neighbors belong to. Maybe 100 plus slips and a waiting list. Many people that belong to the club also have waterfront homes with their own docks but enjoy hanging with people with similar interests. My advice to you is this.. Go to the club with the attitude of "What do I have to offer this club" instead of " What does this club have to offer me" If you keep a good,upbeat attitude, the club and all it has to offer will be yours. Thank you, Saint John
Here in Apollo Beach there is a small sailing squadron that several of my neighbors belong to. Maybe 100 plus slips and a waiting list. Many people that belong to the club also have waterfront homes with their own docks but enjoy hanging with people with similar interests. My advice to you is this.. Go to the club with the attitude of "What do I have to offer this club" instead of " What does this club have to offer me" If you keep a good,upbeat attitude, the club and all it has to offer will be yours. Thank you, Saint John
There are many:
Guess my reasoning mirrors what Landsend said. The club we belong to is probably a little different than the average. It started life as a condominium marina and then became a yacht club. The club constructed all new buildings including a club house and a shop/office building. Members may own a slip in the marina or not while mooring their boat elsewhere. One of the biggest drivers in decision making tends to be money. The cost to us for ownership of our condo slip is much less than at any of the other public or private marinas and the appreciation in value of the slip more than makes up for the investment cost. Benefits include: 1. A really nice shop (not available at most other marinas), 2. Reciprocal moorage, 3. Major discount on rental of the clubhouse for things like weddings, family reunions, etc., 4. Staying on top of boating news and changes in laws (including crossing the border), 5. And, yes, parties and rendezvous, 6. In order to race in the PHRF races I believe one needs to be a member of a club in addition to PHRF (this may be for only some area races), 7. We get a fair to good discount at the local marine store depending on the kind of item purchased. For example, wiring and connectors (Ancor) and Blue Sea items are discounted really good, watermakers not so good, so it depends. 8. Junior sailing program (see picture) - if you have kids this is really great! Note the blue heron in the forground. A few of the older members are ranked nationally in their class. One young gal who is in college now has her own Catalina 25 - with a red hull and she keeps it up really ship-shape. Well, she also does boat maintenance work in the summers like cleaning, waxing, and varnishing. Our club has a strong push to make it family-friendly. Several years ago we found the members were really aging and there is a push to get younger members involved. For the members who don't have a condo slip and keep there boat here there the primary benefit would be in socializing. For us, though, it works really well. I'd say that the clubs have their own personality. If you decided to go that route try to find one that best fits your needs. As a member you can participate and maybe try to have it be more like what you want if you can get other member to go along. In our situation this was true as there was not always a junior sailing program. There was opposition to it mainly from the powerboaters but sanity prevailed. So changes can be made.
Guess my reasoning mirrors what Landsend said. The club we belong to is probably a little different than the average. It started life as a condominium marina and then became a yacht club. The club constructed all new buildings including a club house and a shop/office building. Members may own a slip in the marina or not while mooring their boat elsewhere. One of the biggest drivers in decision making tends to be money. The cost to us for ownership of our condo slip is much less than at any of the other public or private marinas and the appreciation in value of the slip more than makes up for the investment cost. Benefits include: 1. A really nice shop (not available at most other marinas), 2. Reciprocal moorage, 3. Major discount on rental of the clubhouse for things like weddings, family reunions, etc., 4. Staying on top of boating news and changes in laws (including crossing the border), 5. And, yes, parties and rendezvous, 6. In order to race in the PHRF races I believe one needs to be a member of a club in addition to PHRF (this may be for only some area races), 7. We get a fair to good discount at the local marine store depending on the kind of item purchased. For example, wiring and connectors (Ancor) and Blue Sea items are discounted really good, watermakers not so good, so it depends. 8. Junior sailing program (see picture) - if you have kids this is really great! Note the blue heron in the forground. A few of the older members are ranked nationally in their class. One young gal who is in college now has her own Catalina 25 - with a red hull and she keeps it up really ship-shape. Well, she also does boat maintenance work in the summers like cleaning, waxing, and varnishing. Our club has a strong push to make it family-friendly. Several years ago we found the members were really aging and there is a push to get younger members involved. For the members who don't have a condo slip and keep there boat here there the primary benefit would be in socializing. For us, though, it works really well. I'd say that the clubs have their own personality. If you decided to go that route try to find one that best fits your needs. As a member you can participate and maybe try to have it be more like what you want if you can get other member to go along. In our situation this was true as there was not always a junior sailing program. There was opposition to it mainly from the powerboaters but sanity prevailed. So changes can be made.
Club membership
I used to trailer-sail (launch every time) until I found a "self-help" club. The club offer low annual fees with no minimum food/bar expense. There are plenty of good restuaurants near by anyway. And besides the ballroom and commercial kitchen is free for the members to use. You'll have to do 30 hours of work per year. I guess you could call this a co-op. The work could be the Officer of the day (OD), organize Friday night BBQ, launch and haul out, power wash the slip in the spring, landscape and gardening etc. Try to find yourself a co-op club, at least talk to a member first. You may like the life style. Hope this helps.
I used to trailer-sail (launch every time) until I found a "self-help" club. The club offer low annual fees with no minimum food/bar expense. There are plenty of good restuaurants near by anyway. And besides the ballroom and commercial kitchen is free for the members to use. You'll have to do 30 hours of work per year. I guess you could call this a co-op. The work could be the Officer of the day (OD), organize Friday night BBQ, launch and haul out, power wash the slip in the spring, landscape and gardening etc. Try to find yourself a co-op club, at least talk to a member first. You may like the life style. Hope this helps.
Snobby?
Snobby clubs: At Racine YC we require people to dress for all meals in the dining room and in the bar - no nudity is allowed. Shorts, T shirts and sandals are considered dressed. On L. Mich I have only found 2 or 3 "snobby clubs. If you race, a club is a must. I am a bit of an anti establishment type, but I have found a great deal of satisfaction in belonging to RYC. The friendships I have formed are more than worth the money to belong. When travelling, by sea or land, it is fun to visit other clubs. highlights for me have been San Diego and Annapolis.
Snobby clubs: At Racine YC we require people to dress for all meals in the dining room and in the bar - no nudity is allowed. Shorts, T shirts and sandals are considered dressed. On L. Mich I have only found 2 or 3 "snobby clubs. If you race, a club is a must. I am a bit of an anti establishment type, but I have found a great deal of satisfaction in belonging to RYC. The friendships I have formed are more than worth the money to belong. When travelling, by sea or land, it is fun to visit other clubs. highlights for me have been San Diego and Annapolis.
More sailboats as neighbours
Around Toronto it seems that sailboats are in the majority at most YCs (it appears to be the reverse at local marinas), so you are with your own kind. My club only accepts keelboats so there are never any power vs sail issues. Self-help clubs are also popular, which really keeps down the cost. My YC annual costs are about 1/3 of what it would cost to be in the marina next door. My experience has been that YCs are half about sailing and half about socializing, so if you are an outgoing social type you'll fit right in and find it a great place. Kevin
Around Toronto it seems that sailboats are in the majority at most YCs (it appears to be the reverse at local marinas), so you are with your own kind. My club only accepts keelboats so there are never any power vs sail issues. Self-help clubs are also popular, which really keeps down the cost. My YC annual costs are about 1/3 of what it would cost to be in the marina next door. My experience has been that YCs are half about sailing and half about socializing, so if you are an outgoing social type you'll fit right in and find it a great place. Kevin
Hypocrites and Snobs
Sandwich Yacht Club has been joined with Kingman Marina for the new Kingman Yacht club, they attached their dues to everyone who's renting a mooring for the season, because their exclusiveness has failed to generate enough revenue so now the rest of us will pay for these snobs to hang out, build a new club house, and they will "allow" us "limited" access to their club house and a "social" membership whether we like it or not. It's BS, I've never had an opinion of YC's now I hate this one, my feelings are if you want to keep certain "types" out of your circle, fine but don't ask us "plebians" to pay your tab!
Sandwich Yacht Club has been joined with Kingman Marina for the new Kingman Yacht club, they attached their dues to everyone who's renting a mooring for the season, because their exclusiveness has failed to generate enough revenue so now the rest of us will pay for these snobs to hang out, build a new club house, and they will "allow" us "limited" access to their club house and a "social" membership whether we like it or not. It's BS, I've never had an opinion of YC's now I hate this one, my feelings are if you want to keep certain "types" out of your circle, fine but don't ask us "plebians" to pay your tab!
Kendall, my wife and I joined the Mukilteo...
yachr club three years ago and really enjoy most everything that it offers. Annual dues are $100 and they have reciprocal agreements with about 60 marinas in this region. Each year I recoup about twice my dues in moorage savings. Most overnight docking fees for our boat around these parts is $50-$60 plus electricity. Each month our club has a potluck dinner meeting. They bring in guest speakers of interest and organize at least one or more cruises a month to different places. Two thirds of our club members have power boats and the rest have sailboats. We're a very laid-back group of about 130 made up mostly of couples. We share our skills amongst the members. One fellow is a diver who installs zincs for free. I do cabinet work, others do electronics, etc. We pitch in and help where we are needed. Terry
yachr club three years ago and really enjoy most everything that it offers. Annual dues are $100 and they have reciprocal agreements with about 60 marinas in this region. Each year I recoup about twice my dues in moorage savings. Most overnight docking fees for our boat around these parts is $50-$60 plus electricity. Each month our club has a potluck dinner meeting. They bring in guest speakers of interest and organize at least one or more cruises a month to different places. Two thirds of our club members have power boats and the rest have sailboats. We're a very laid-back group of about 130 made up mostly of couples. We share our skills amongst the members. One fellow is a diver who installs zincs for free. I do cabinet work, others do electronics, etc. We pitch in and help where we are needed. Terry
Not a Member but I sail with them
If I owned a boat, I would join a sailing association. For the last 7 years, I have sailed on the boats of the Herrington Harbour Sailing Association (www.hhsa.org) in Deale/Fairhaven, Maryland. I have gained a lot more than I have given during this time. I wanted to keep sailing after I sold my H26. HHSA has a racing program that is very good and getting better. I spoke with the Commodore (archaic but fun title) and he gave me the name of a skipper looking for crew. Since then, I've gone through 2 skippers so far and during that time I've sailed, raced, swam, ate, drank, partied, and learned all over the Chesapeake Bay. The club isn't only about racing. They have a very active Social side that regularly cruises to different destinations on the bay. The cruises often have themes that are lots of fun. Many people look at sailing as a way to get away from it all. That's fine of course. I enjoy the company of sailors and other water folks. They are interesting and a little more alive that a lot of people you meet. Not all clubs are like this but this one little crew on the Chesapeake Bay makes sailing clubs look good to me. Markdb
If I owned a boat, I would join a sailing association. For the last 7 years, I have sailed on the boats of the Herrington Harbour Sailing Association (www.hhsa.org) in Deale/Fairhaven, Maryland. I have gained a lot more than I have given during this time. I wanted to keep sailing after I sold my H26. HHSA has a racing program that is very good and getting better. I spoke with the Commodore (archaic but fun title) and he gave me the name of a skipper looking for crew. Since then, I've gone through 2 skippers so far and during that time I've sailed, raced, swam, ate, drank, partied, and learned all over the Chesapeake Bay. The club isn't only about racing. They have a very active Social side that regularly cruises to different destinations on the bay. The cruises often have themes that are lots of fun. Many people look at sailing as a way to get away from it all. That's fine of course. I enjoy the company of sailors and other water folks. They are interesting and a little more alive that a lot of people you meet. Not all clubs are like this but this one little crew on the Chesapeake Bay makes sailing clubs look good to me. Markdb
The Best People I Have Ever Met
Joined a yacht club 3 years ago. The people here in Toronto or for that matter any yacht club will become your best friends ever. I have never had so much enjoyment as that with people from my club. We travel all over Lake Ontario to visit other clubs and the people at these clubs become instant friends. Join a club!
Joined a yacht club 3 years ago. The people here in Toronto or for that matter any yacht club will become your best friends ever. I have never had so much enjoyment as that with people from my club. We travel all over Lake Ontario to visit other clubs and the people at these clubs become instant friends. Join a club!
thanks all!
Plenty of information and tons to consider, I'll check out a few of the local clubs and see if I'll fit, I'm not overly social, but still work and play well with others (according to my old teachers anyway) and I'm always willing to throw a hand in when needed, so I think I can find one that 'likes' me for some reason this post was popping up at the bottom of my screen, not moving up with added posts as they normally do, so I hadn't noticed any replies Thanks again Ken.
Plenty of information and tons to consider, I'll check out a few of the local clubs and see if I'll fit, I'm not overly social, but still work and play well with others (according to my old teachers anyway) and I'm always willing to throw a hand in when needed, so I think I can find one that 'likes' me for some reason this post was popping up at the bottom of my screen, not moving up with added posts as they normally do, so I hadn't noticed any replies Thanks again Ken.
Ken - and talk to more than one person
It's kinda like a blindfolded person trying to describe an elephant by touching only one part - they don't get the whole picture. See if you can walk the dock and talk to people. Typically someone needs to 'sponsor' a new member but usually that's no big deal. In our club the sponsor is supposed to guide the new member through the first year, sort of like a 'big brother' or mentor, and help the new person learn the ropes or the ins-and-outs of the club. All the clubs will have their quirks. When we joined our club the commodore who inducted the new members really stressed being active in the activities. On the other hand, her husband seemed to have a slightly different view and didn't take things so seriously. Unfortunately they're no longer married and I haven't seen the ex-wife around for some time. Don't be intimidated. Remember, they want your money (dues) and your labor (to support activities). However, it needs to be a two-way street as they say. To chime in with what an earlier poster said about socializing at the other clubs, as a for instance, it happened that we were visiting a club on Wednesday and they were having their mid-week races. Turned out several people needed crew so I volunteered to be on a boat and had a great time - including beers and eats in the bar afterward. It was a really great evening. This is one of the fun parts of cruising. Boy does this bring back memories. In fact, I remember flying the chute (the only other guy who was crew sailed with the skipper a few times before). Turned out he clipped the spinaker halyard on one of the clews! Oooops. Did it ever look funny. But we flew it anyway and surprisingly came in third out of about a dozen boats in our class, nearly all of which were newer and better crewed. Also, with regard to reciprocals, if you're going cruising during the peak season don't expect to find reciprocal slips everywhere, especially if you're a sailboater cuz you get there last, but this depends on the area of course. Good luck in your decision.
It's kinda like a blindfolded person trying to describe an elephant by touching only one part - they don't get the whole picture. See if you can walk the dock and talk to people. Typically someone needs to 'sponsor' a new member but usually that's no big deal. In our club the sponsor is supposed to guide the new member through the first year, sort of like a 'big brother' or mentor, and help the new person learn the ropes or the ins-and-outs of the club. All the clubs will have their quirks. When we joined our club the commodore who inducted the new members really stressed being active in the activities. On the other hand, her husband seemed to have a slightly different view and didn't take things so seriously. Unfortunately they're no longer married and I haven't seen the ex-wife around for some time. Don't be intimidated. Remember, they want your money (dues) and your labor (to support activities). However, it needs to be a two-way street as they say. To chime in with what an earlier poster said about socializing at the other clubs, as a for instance, it happened that we were visiting a club on Wednesday and they were having their mid-week races. Turned out several people needed crew so I volunteered to be on a boat and had a great time - including beers and eats in the bar afterward. It was a really great evening. This is one of the fun parts of cruising. Boy does this bring back memories. In fact, I remember flying the chute (the only other guy who was crew sailed with the skipper a few times before). Turned out he clipped the spinaker halyard on one of the clews! Oooops. Did it ever look funny. But we flew it anyway and surprisingly came in third out of about a dozen boats in our class, nearly all of which were newer and better crewed. Also, with regard to reciprocals, if you're going cruising during the peak season don't expect to find reciprocal slips everywhere, especially if you're a sailboater cuz you get there last, but this depends on the area of course. Good luck in your decision.
just like a neighborhood
Just like a move to a new neighborhood, a yacht club has its similar advantages. (Now if you like to live in the country, and don't associate with your neighbours, then perhaps a yacht club is not for you) For me, I checked out the yacht club the summer prior by making a few visits at various times of the day, evening and weekend, then spent a day sailing and hanging out. I found the people, low key, warm, freindly, inviting and relatively non-intrusive. I joined this year, in the middle of the season, and basically had all my research confirmed. I also had some pleasant surprises that I did not know about, like the use of the kitchen, power washer, workshop, freezers... the list went on! $200 for slip and launch fees for the year, including winter storage, and $60 social fees for use of the clubhouse.
Just like a move to a new neighborhood, a yacht club has its similar advantages. (Now if you like to live in the country, and don't associate with your neighbours, then perhaps a yacht club is not for you) For me, I checked out the yacht club the summer prior by making a few visits at various times of the day, evening and weekend, then spent a day sailing and hanging out. I found the people, low key, warm, freindly, inviting and relatively non-intrusive. I joined this year, in the middle of the season, and basically had all my research confirmed. I also had some pleasant surprises that I did not know about, like the use of the kitchen, power washer, workshop, freezers... the list went on! $200 for slip and launch fees for the year, including winter storage, and $60 social fees for use of the clubhouse.
What planet?
Where on earth Roger does one find a slip for $200 a season? What is the name of this yacht club? The price down the cape for a seasonal slip (hyannis) is $220 per foot, that is, a 33 foot boat would be $7326 just for the summer. Our mooring rates at Kingman marine in Cataumet have gone up 40% since last year to pay for the new yacht club, it stands now at $2300.
Where on earth Roger does one find a slip for $200 a season? What is the name of this yacht club? The price down the cape for a seasonal slip (hyannis) is $220 per foot, that is, a 33 foot boat would be $7326 just for the summer. Our mooring rates at Kingman marine in Cataumet have gone up 40% since last year to pay for the new yacht club, it stands now at $2300.
I am on the other coast but
my moorage is about $1k per year for a nice 63 foot slip. Two hours to either the San Juans or the Canadian Gulf islands if you go north. You have to own a house or a lot here though and there is a waiting list and the lots are getting scarce, too.
my moorage is about $1k per year for a nice 63 foot slip. Two hours to either the San Juans or the Canadian Gulf islands if you go north. You have to own a house or a lot here though and there is a waiting list and the lots are getting scarce, too.
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