Needing your advice: joining a club

[JohnnyReb]

Might suggest a modification:
I belonged to a club with terms similar to those referenced. I also experienced the frustration of not getting boats on peak days (mainly weekdends). Many clubs also divide the "day" into morning and afternoon... so it is really "half-day". Lastly, the dock managers had their favorite sailors and would hold a the better maintained boats or select times (Sunday afternoon) for friends.
My Suggestion: See if the club wants to add to the fleet. If so, you can buy the boat and lease it to the fleet in exchange for: dockage, insurance, maintenance, club membership and possibly a monthly lease amount. You also get on the preferred list for use of the boat. I could bump reservations 4 times in one year (excluding 4th of July) with 48 hours notice. I could also reserve "my boat" up to 2 weeks in advance. Ended up selling one of the boats to the club at the end of the lease.
Just a thought
Robb
It is a "partial" ownership plan.

[Valiente]

We have this at our club in several iterations: one is the chance to enrol in the "crew bank" for club racing Monday-Thursday and in the inter-club weekend series; another is to join the Shark-sailing "sub-club" for a nominal fee, which allows one to book sails on one of several restored Sharks (you're expected to keep them "restored"); and finally, decent crew are always welcome on the very nice yachts owned by older couples still five-10 years from swallowing the anchor, but who want an extra hand on a bigger boat in order to make cruising easier.

If you can do the first two types of crewing and are pleasant and willing to work, you'll get a load of free rides. I know a fellow who owns just a beat-up Star, but who has crewed for racers for ages. He does deliveries up and down the Great Lakes and down to the Caribbean...and all without owning more than a Star (admittedly a decent racing class, but not a 40 foot cruiser in any sense!).

[denby]

Merlin,

It sounds like a good idea and reasonable priced.
But I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

[sailingdog]

Completely understandable... after all...one expects them to have some standards.

Originally Posted by denby

Merlin,

It sounds like a good idea and reasonable priced.
But I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

[merlin2375]

Thanks for all of the help and replies! I ended up joining, I wanted to have the opportunity to sail at my leisure as well as expand on my racing experience without having to depend entirely on the kindness of others to take me out.

I will let you guys know how it works out!