What do you look for in a yacht club
- Thread starter BandB
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
ancora
Guru
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2007
- Messages
- 4,042
That the club has it's own marina is #1 on my list.
Beaverlake
Senior Member
1. Club focus (clubby, events, cruising, power, sail, etc)
2. Club “personality” - will we “fit”
3. Dues
4. Reciprocals
5. Out stations
In the late 1990s we belonged to Yarrow Bay Yacht Club here in the Seattle area. No clubhouse or marina, virtually no reciprocals, fat cash balance, monthly cruises most of the year, party hardy (but safe boat operators). We currently do not belong to a club.
2. Club “personality” - will we “fit”
3. Dues
4. Reciprocals
5. Out stations
In the late 1990s we belonged to Yarrow Bay Yacht Club here in the Seattle area. No clubhouse or marina, virtually no reciprocals, fat cash balance, monthly cruises most of the year, party hardy (but safe boat operators). We currently do not belong to a club.
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- Joined
- Nov 8, 2012
- Messages
- 2,325
- Location
- Port Orchard, WA
- Vessel Name
- Sandpiper
- Vessel Make
- Bluewater 40 Pilothouse Trawler
A laid back club. Casual clothing at most events.
A club with it's own marina that offer below market moorage rates.
Boathouses available for purchase.
Active, knowledgeable, friendly members.
A clubhouse.
Monthly cruises.
Reciprocals
Social activities. Including Christmas and New Years Eve functions.
Workshop
Dry grid or some form of haul out facilities.
Summer group cruise.
Group discount at marine supply store.
No restaurant or bar requiring monthly assessments to fund them..
We belong to one club (30 years) for friends, social events and cruising..
We belong to another club for moorage, boathouse, grid and shop.
A club with it's own marina that offer below market moorage rates.
Boathouses available for purchase.
Active, knowledgeable, friendly members.
A clubhouse.
Monthly cruises.
Reciprocals
Social activities. Including Christmas and New Years Eve functions.
Workshop
Dry grid or some form of haul out facilities.
Summer group cruise.
Group discount at marine supply store.
No restaurant or bar requiring monthly assessments to fund them..
We belong to one club (30 years) for friends, social events and cruising..
We belong to another club for moorage, boathouse, grid and shop.
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menzies
Guru
caltexflanc
Guru
Reciprocals.
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2012
- Messages
- 2,325
- Location
- Port Orchard, WA
- Vessel Name
- Sandpiper
- Vessel Make
- Bluewater 40 Pilothouse Trawler
You might want to consider joining a country club!
Don't golf.
And I got everything on my list by joining two clubs.
I edited my previous post to describe that.
1. Big, officious hats with lots of oak leaf clusters.
2. A lot of goofy flags with pictures of drinks and outlines of bodies on them.
3. A rigid chain of command with lots of officers and a big-shot commodore.
4. A huge rule book which covers every possible offence including the color of the door mat on the dock where visitors must leave their shoes before boarding.
5. A closed nominating process to keep out any undesirables.
6. A tiki bar serving overpriced drinks with umbrellas in them.
7. Staff in matching uniforms with the club burgee embroidered on.
8. Golf carts with chauffeurs to bring you from your car to the boat.
9. Huge fees collected from any contractors doing work on your boat.
10. At least one "wake Nazi" who screams at everyone going by on VHF 16.
2. A lot of goofy flags with pictures of drinks and outlines of bodies on them.
3. A rigid chain of command with lots of officers and a big-shot commodore.
4. A huge rule book which covers every possible offence including the color of the door mat on the dock where visitors must leave their shoes before boarding.
5. A closed nominating process to keep out any undesirables.
6. A tiki bar serving overpriced drinks with umbrellas in them.
7. Staff in matching uniforms with the club burgee embroidered on.
8. Golf carts with chauffeurs to bring you from your car to the boat.
9. Huge fees collected from any contractors doing work on your boat.
10. At least one "wake Nazi" who screams at everyone going by on VHF 16.
menzies
Guru
Stop that you waker!
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Wifey B:
1. Nice tennis courts.
2. Nice docks
3. Reciprocal agreements
4. Somewhere we can be proud to be a member. Even though we have no kids we want a club with kids activities like sailing. We want a club that is friendly and open to others including transients. We don't want to deal with in-fighting or politics.
5. A club where we can get by with very limited participation. We don't attend meetings and don't participate in holiday gatherings and such. We're not in town most of the time but, even if we were, wouldn't. We like to quietly go our way. We are not looking to be active in club events and activities.
6. Ability to bring guests with us.
7. Manageable obligations. We don't mind dining minimums as long as they're spread over reasonable periods and can be accomplished different ways.
1. Nice tennis courts.
2. Nice docks
3. Reciprocal agreements
4. Somewhere we can be proud to be a member. Even though we have no kids we want a club with kids activities like sailing. We want a club that is friendly and open to others including transients. We don't want to deal with in-fighting or politics.
5. A club where we can get by with very limited participation. We don't attend meetings and don't participate in holiday gatherings and such. We're not in town most of the time but, even if we were, wouldn't. We like to quietly go our way. We are not looking to be active in club events and activities.
6. Ability to bring guests with us.
7. Manageable obligations. We don't mind dining minimums as long as they're spread over reasonable periods and can be accomplished different ways.
menzies
Guru
Wifey B:
1. Nice tennis courts.
2. Nice docks
3. Reciprocal agreements
4. Somewhere we can be proud to be a member. Even though we have no kids we want a club with kids activities like sailing. We want a club that is friendly and open to others including transients. We don't want to deal with in-fighting or politics.
5. A club where we can get by with very limited participation. We don't attend meetings and don't participate in holiday gatherings and such. We're not in town most of the time but, even if we were, wouldn't. We like to quietly go our way. We are not looking to be active in club events and activities.
6. Ability to bring guests with us.
7. Manageable obligations. We don't mind dining minimums as long as they're spread over reasonable periods and can be accomplished different ways.
You mean to say "I" rather that "we," right?
menzies
Guru
Wifey B: No.
Interesting. My wife always speaks for herself.
Wifey B: You mean she'd say, "I have a lovely house" rather than "We have?" We would select a yacht club together so our views would be shared. Now, when I speak of my height or my dress or things like that it is "I."
Interesting topic as there is no "I" in "Team" and good team players use "we" and credit others. If I was expressing a view he didn't share, I'd definitely use "I". Oh, and "We" belong to the yacht club together. Bo'fus.
menzies
Guru
Wifey B: You mean she'd say, "I have a lovely house" rather than "We have?" We would select a yacht club together so our views would be shared. Now, when I speak of my height or my dress or things like that it is "I."
Interesting topic as there is no "I" in "Team" and good team players use "we" and credit others. If I was expressing a view he didn't share, I'd definitely use "I". Oh, and "We" belong to the yacht club together. Bo'fus.
Not that complicated.
She has her own voice on the platforms she chooses to be on. Whether discussing yacht clubs or dresses she chose to wear.
I have mine.
Simple really.
RT Firefly
Enigma
Children. It's getting late. Bedtime...
menzies
Guru
ctjstr
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2017
- Messages
- 399
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- "Convergence"
- Vessel Make
- Camano Troll
Lets see:
A club with it's own marina that offer below market moorage rates.
Boathouses available for purchase.
Active, knowledgeable, friendly members.
Monthly cruises.
A laid back club. Casual clothing at most events.
A clubhouse.
Reciprocals
Dry grid or some form of haul out facilities.
Group discount at marine supply store.
No restaurant or bar requiring monthly assessments to fund them..
A club with it's own marina that offer below market moorage rates.
Boathouses available for purchase.
Active, knowledgeable, friendly members.
Monthly cruises.
A laid back club. Casual clothing at most events.
A clubhouse.
Reciprocals
Dry grid or some form of haul out facilities.
Group discount at marine supply store.
No restaurant or bar requiring monthly assessments to fund them..
ssobol
Guru
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2015
- Messages
- 1,231
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Sobelle
- Vessel Make
- C-Dory 22 Cruiser
But there is a "me".
markpierce
Master and Commander
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2010
- Messages
- 12,557
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Carquinez Coot
- Vessel Make
- penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
My interactions with yacht clubs:
My father raced and joined in the 1960s the Metropolitan Yacht Club and later Richmond Yacht Club (club membership was required to race), but I have no memory of any social interaction. Have a couple of trophies recognizing winnings.
The builder of my current boat is a member and former officer with the Richmond Yacht Club, and after hoisting my boat's mast at the Richmond Yacht Club's hoist upon its delivery in the Bay Area, hosted us to a dinner at their clubhouse. Nice.
A couple of years ago the Benicia Yacht Club hosted us and others to participate in a trivia session.
Have no strong interest in joining a club because I'm not a joiner since don't have a high need for more social interaction.
My father raced and joined in the 1960s the Metropolitan Yacht Club and later Richmond Yacht Club (club membership was required to race), but I have no memory of any social interaction. Have a couple of trophies recognizing winnings.
The builder of my current boat is a member and former officer with the Richmond Yacht Club, and after hoisting my boat's mast at the Richmond Yacht Club's hoist upon its delivery in the Bay Area, hosted us to a dinner at their clubhouse. Nice.
A couple of years ago the Benicia Yacht Club hosted us and others to participate in a trivia session.
Have no strong interest in joining a club because I'm not a joiner since don't have a high need for more social interaction.
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PM
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2012
- Messages
- 3,145
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Best Alternative
- Vessel Make
- 36 Albin Aft Cabin
It's an interesting thread, not for me though. I keep my boat at a common, privately owned marina. I have stayed at several. Some for a season or two, some for far longer. I think I'll start a thread just like this one but about Marinas not yacht clubs.
pete
pete
O C Diver
Guru
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2010
- Messages
- 13,320
- Location
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Vessel Name
- End Of The Line
- Vessel Make
- Trinka 10 Dinghy
Nice protected docks.
No requirement to participate other than financially.
Security for the marina.
While it may sound like I'd be happier in a marina, I really want to be able to pick and choose what functions I participate in. Not interested in community work detail to reduce cost.
Ted
No requirement to participate other than financially.
Security for the marina.
While it may sound like I'd be happier in a marina, I really want to be able to pick and choose what functions I participate in. Not interested in community work detail to reduce cost.
Ted
4mo
Veteran Member
1. Outstations
That is all.
That is why we quit the Seattle Yacht Club when my dues went up when I turned 35, even though we just bought a boat. We never went to the clubhouse and didn't attend events. The outstations were great and we would love to go to them, but we would go to about 5 a year, which was about $840/night.
After starting as a Jr. Member in the sailing school and 22 years as a member I turned in my resignation a few years ago and mostly haven't regretted it.
We wish we had more boating friends, but we weren't meeting many people there anyways because we're so busy raising our 4 and 7 year old girls.
That is all.
That is why we quit the Seattle Yacht Club when my dues went up when I turned 35, even though we just bought a boat. We never went to the clubhouse and didn't attend events. The outstations were great and we would love to go to them, but we would go to about 5 a year, which was about $840/night.
After starting as a Jr. Member in the sailing school and 22 years as a member I turned in my resignation a few years ago and mostly haven't regretted it.
We wish we had more boating friends, but we weren't meeting many people there anyways because we're so busy raising our 4 and 7 year old girls.
twistedtree
Guru
Perfect. Where do I sign up? Sounds like the club I mistakingly joined a number of years ago
MYTraveler
Guru
1. Great facilities -- enough slips so that the wait list time is manageable, good docks, bar, restaurant, swimming pool,
2. Equity Ownership structure -- as opposed to the club being someone's business. One of our most prominent local clubs is not owned by its members, which has three adverse consequences: i) management of the club is constrained by ownership's authority, ii) members don't have the same pride of ownership that actual ownership brings, with one of the consequences being more turnover of membership / fewer long-term members, and iii) in an equity club, a member can effectively "own" his slip, as I do mine -- like all members, I pay rent to the club for my slip (but that is like paying myself, since I am a club owner), but I can take my boat for an extended cruise or stay elsewhere, not pay any rent while I am gone, but have my exact same slip whenever I want to return.
3. Compatible membership --
4. Great junior sailing program. Although I didn't join our club with any thought of my kid's participation in junior sailing (at the time, they were 2, 4 and 6 years old), the did all start sailing at age 8 and it really help build their character in many dimensions -- self reliance, team work, competitiveness, etc. All three went on to win national junior sailing titles, and then to be college team sailors (two of them varsity sailors at division 1 schools).
2. Equity Ownership structure -- as opposed to the club being someone's business. One of our most prominent local clubs is not owned by its members, which has three adverse consequences: i) management of the club is constrained by ownership's authority, ii) members don't have the same pride of ownership that actual ownership brings, with one of the consequences being more turnover of membership / fewer long-term members, and iii) in an equity club, a member can effectively "own" his slip, as I do mine -- like all members, I pay rent to the club for my slip (but that is like paying myself, since I am a club owner), but I can take my boat for an extended cruise or stay elsewhere, not pay any rent while I am gone, but have my exact same slip whenever I want to return.
3. Compatible membership --
4. Great junior sailing program. Although I didn't join our club with any thought of my kid's participation in junior sailing (at the time, they were 2, 4 and 6 years old), the did all start sailing at age 8 and it really help build their character in many dimensions -- self reliance, team work, competitiveness, etc. All three went on to win national junior sailing titles, and then to be college team sailors (two of them varsity sailors at division 1 schools).
1. Members who are like me. Not snooty, no white slacks and blue blazers, people I'd like to swap lies with over a cold one.
2. Moorage that's in good condition. Plenty of slips, boat houses for those who want them, all in protected waters.
3. A nice facility for events, but not with a full time kitchen and staff or a full time bar.
4. Reasonable initiation fees and dues
5. Lack of politics, back stabbing, cliques, etc. (Maybe this should have been #1)
2. Moorage that's in good condition. Plenty of slips, boat houses for those who want them, all in protected waters.
3. A nice facility for events, but not with a full time kitchen and staff or a full time bar.
4. Reasonable initiation fees and dues
5. Lack of politics, back stabbing, cliques, etc. (Maybe this should have been #1)
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