Just wondering what peoples opinions are on this?
-
SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!
MooreVOLS
Yacht Clubs vs. Marinas
I've never been a member of a real Yacht Club. I define "real" as a Yacht Club with its own facilites vs. the types of Yacht Clubs I've been a member of, where they more or less borrowed the facilites of particular marina to host their events.
To me the real difference is the level of commitment. If you're unhappy at a Marina, you find another one and move on. If you join a Yacht Club and leave after a short time, you'll be out the initiation fee at least. If you know you're going to stay in the area long enough to amortize the extra up front costs of joining a Yacht Club, it could be pretty much a break even.
Also real Yacht Clubs tend to have a lot more in the way of programs for developing young sailors, so if you have children that could be a major consideration. If I lived closer to Deltaville, there is no doubt I would have joined the Club down there but I decided against it thinking sooner or later the drive down would become more than I could handle, which is exactly what happened.
I'm still pondering the idea of joining a club here closer to home, but haven't really come to any firm decision yet.
To me the real difference is the level of commitment. If you're unhappy at a Marina, you find another one and move on. If you join a Yacht Club and leave after a short time, you'll be out the initiation fee at least. If you know you're going to stay in the area long enough to amortize the extra up front costs of joining a Yacht Club, it could be pretty much a break even.
Also real Yacht Clubs tend to have a lot more in the way of programs for developing young sailors, so if you have children that could be a major consideration. If I lived closer to Deltaville, there is no doubt I would have joined the Club down there but I decided against it thinking sooner or later the drive down would become more than I could handle, which is exactly what happened.
I'm still pondering the idea of joining a club here closer to home, but haven't really come to any firm decision yet.
Horses for courses
When we were travelling, no need to be in a club. Now we are going to be members of the 'weekend warrior set' we have re-joined our old club -
We dont go into the races, but everyone knows everyone - & keep an eye out on your boat. Very friendly and even after a rejoin fee, it is still cheaper by far than a marina.
If you were interested in racing - everything from casual to serious, Lady Skippers to training for kids (young and old).
Easy to forge friendships that last.
Some clubs are quite formal, ours isn't. Some of the more formal ones are too stiffling for us and we are 'anti-snobs'.
Before we left on our last trip and were preparing the boat, We were a little transient within the club. A bloke I haden't met came up to talk, looking at the now heavily laden cruising yacht.
"Where you come from? he asked
" E row." I said
"Oh, where you headed next? he then asked
"F row". It kinda killed the conversation
When we were travelling, no need to be in a club. Now we are going to be members of the 'weekend warrior set' we have re-joined our old club -
We dont go into the races, but everyone knows everyone - & keep an eye out on your boat. Very friendly and even after a rejoin fee, it is still cheaper by far than a marina.
If you were interested in racing - everything from casual to serious, Lady Skippers to training for kids (young and old).
Easy to forge friendships that last.
Some clubs are quite formal, ours isn't. Some of the more formal ones are too stiffling for us and we are 'anti-snobs'.
Before we left on our last trip and were preparing the boat, We were a little transient within the club. A bloke I haden't met came up to talk, looking at the now heavily laden cruising yacht.
"Where you come from? he asked
" E row." I said
"Oh, where you headed next? he then asked
"F row". It kinda killed the conversation
One of the biggest advantages, at least it is in Canada, is the reciprocity to visit other yacht clubs. Clubs with reciprocal privileges, and that includes 95% of the clubs, offer one or two nights free berthing. You can take a long summer cruise and never have to pay for a dock.
Clubs usually also have friendly bars and restaurants, usually with better prices than commercial establishments.
Clubs usually also have friendly bars and restaurants, usually with better prices than commercial establishments.
Depends on what you are looking for. If you just want a place to keep your boat, look to marinas. If you want to interact with other boaters, sail and power, united in a common purpose, a yacht club can be great. My own yacht club states it's purpose for existing is to:
encourage the sport of yachting , to promote the science of seamanship and navigation and to provide and maintain a suitable clubhouse and moorage for the use and recreation of it's members.
For folks who are non-social, a yacht club would be a bad idea. They are, at their heart, social institutions.
encourage the sport of yachting , to promote the science of seamanship and navigation and to provide and maintain a suitable clubhouse and moorage for the use and recreation of it's members.
For folks who are non-social, a yacht club would be a bad idea. They are, at their heart, social institutions.
We belonged to a club in my then home town and then went on a cruise into the Indian Ocean. When we arrived in the Seychelles we went to the yacht club and flashed our club membership card and were afforded full membership to the club for the full duration of our stay at no cost.
Other visiting boats were charged a considerable amount of money for using the same facilities.
Right now we are members of a club in Auckland and have the use of clubs all around the country.
Reciprocity is a wonderful thing.
Other visiting boats were charged a considerable amount of money for using the same facilities.
Right now we are members of a club in Auckland and have the use of clubs all around the country.
Reciprocity is a wonderful thing.
My local yacht club was $400 to join and about $80/month to keep your boat in the water. No electricity/water/anything. Yacht club consisted of an old building that had a BBQ in it. And there were apparently some old Sunfish available for kids. Nothing had been upkept in what looks like years. No one could explain what my $400 initiation fee went towards, nor my monthly fee.
I found a marina/landing that is more convenient and is $60/month. No initiation fee, etc.
I found a marina/landing that is more convenient and is $60/month. No initiation fee, etc.
Yacht Club
I've been a member for a little over 10 years and love it. We're very down to earth and everyday as far as who we are and what we do. Our rates are reasonable and we all like it that way.
As far as a social place, you bet. Some of my best friends are members and we socialize almost every weekend. I wonder if you can truly make friends with the other boaters in marinas. And, no we aren't just for socializing as at least some of us go sailing regularily all year long. Of course there are a few that almost never visit their boat. The down side of our club, some would say, it that it takes a lot of maintenance and we, the members, do 99 percent of it. In fact some members refer to our club as the Walla Walla Work Club.
Join a club. Be a part of something and take part in the activities.
I've been a member for a little over 10 years and love it. We're very down to earth and everyday as far as who we are and what we do. Our rates are reasonable and we all like it that way.
As far as a social place, you bet. Some of my best friends are members and we socialize almost every weekend. I wonder if you can truly make friends with the other boaters in marinas. And, no we aren't just for socializing as at least some of us go sailing regularily all year long. Of course there are a few that almost never visit their boat. The down side of our club, some would say, it that it takes a lot of maintenance and we, the members, do 99 percent of it. In fact some members refer to our club as the Walla Walla Work Club.
Join a club. Be a part of something and take part in the activities.
I belong to a YC and it's part of the whole organization on the Delaware River and head of Chesapeake Bay. Delaware River Yachtsmen's League it's a great safety net. places to stop by for a drink, tie up for the night. parties, picnics, outings.. dances.
Radio guy, where in the known world are you docked for $60 a month?
Radio guy, where in the known world are you docked for $60 a month?
Some cases, YC's own a building, but not the marina ie storage/mooring part of the equation. One I belong to, just finished building a 12K sw ft building, half is club use, the other is rented out. Built on Port property. This is more of social/cruising club. Typically monthly dinner, potluck, monthly cruise options......unfortunetly, no racing. Initiation is $400, dues $350 a year.
Another is a race club, they claim to have cruise(s) and meeting(s)......reality is, approx 30 races per year, one cruise of significant folks, another with 4-6 boats, another that i usually canceled due to one maybe two boats......a change of watch, and awards dinner. $75 initiation, $65 dues per year.
A friend of mine, belongs to another YC< that has facilities, ie mooring, his dues are expensive, about $2000 yr. BUT, frankly, his boat is now 45-60 min closer to home, ie 10 min away, the dues cost is about half the difference between the way lower cost, about 150 a month for moorage vs 600 at a public port facility. So it pays to belong to the closer YC. He also belongs to the more expensive of the two at the local port/[ublic marina I stay at, as his spouse was a commodore here at one time. He like I, find the clubs that are more social, if the members figure out you are a contractor, or other self employed biz owner, you can many times get jobs, sales etc from members. or advertise in yearly rosters, monthly bulletins.
Frankly, the cheaper of the two I belong too, I am not sure why the cruisers/weekenders belong, other than reciprocal agreements. Even some of those, do not cruise enough if at all to pay for the $65 a year frankly! I even pointed this out the other day at a board meeting to our current commodore! He does not race, does not cruise, day sail only.......he gets a $30 burgee once, and that is it!
As far as moorage, as pointed out, you need to look at the comparisons, as my friend Doug did. or the reciprocal as others and myself have pointed out. Depending upon where you are going, you just need to belong to a club, in which case, if on a world cruise, join the $65 a year one, if you want moorage, a place to go and be at, join the more expensive ones.
There is not a right or wrong per say, you make up the, "does the YC membership pay for itself or not" factor of the comparison.
marty
Another is a race club, they claim to have cruise(s) and meeting(s)......reality is, approx 30 races per year, one cruise of significant folks, another with 4-6 boats, another that i usually canceled due to one maybe two boats......a change of watch, and awards dinner. $75 initiation, $65 dues per year.
A friend of mine, belongs to another YC< that has facilities, ie mooring, his dues are expensive, about $2000 yr. BUT, frankly, his boat is now 45-60 min closer to home, ie 10 min away, the dues cost is about half the difference between the way lower cost, about 150 a month for moorage vs 600 at a public port facility. So it pays to belong to the closer YC. He also belongs to the more expensive of the two at the local port/[ublic marina I stay at, as his spouse was a commodore here at one time. He like I, find the clubs that are more social, if the members figure out you are a contractor, or other self employed biz owner, you can many times get jobs, sales etc from members. or advertise in yearly rosters, monthly bulletins.
Frankly, the cheaper of the two I belong too, I am not sure why the cruisers/weekenders belong, other than reciprocal agreements. Even some of those, do not cruise enough if at all to pay for the $65 a year frankly! I even pointed this out the other day at a board meeting to our current commodore! He does not race, does not cruise, day sail only.......he gets a $30 burgee once, and that is it!
As far as moorage, as pointed out, you need to look at the comparisons, as my friend Doug did. or the reciprocal as others and myself have pointed out. Depending upon where you are going, you just need to belong to a club, in which case, if on a world cruise, join the $65 a year one, if you want moorage, a place to go and be at, join the more expensive ones.
There is not a right or wrong per say, you make up the, "does the YC membership pay for itself or not" factor of the comparison.
marty
"I do not care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members." Groucho Marx, Quoted in Look Magazine, March 28, 1950.
you do make friends (if you choose to) at marinas as well, but the big diff ive found is how many organized events there are (lots v none) so if you like to race you may wanna go the other route. heck, ive even made friends with powerboaters....LUKE FEEL THE POWER OF THE DARK SIDE
you do make friends (if you choose to) at marinas as well, but the big diff ive found is how many organized events there are (lots v none) so if you like to race you may wanna go the other route. heck, ive even made friends with powerboaters....LUKE FEEL THE POWER OF THE DARK SIDE
I think the main advantage of joining a yacht club, as least on the east coast, is the larger proportion of sailors to powerboaters versus a marina. You get to meet more people who sail.
We belong to the oldest yacht club on the Chesapeake (103- Maryland Yacht Club. It has a well protected basin, (115 slips) new piers and finger which go out 35 plus feet. aprivate restaurant and pool and a great view of the Patasco and the Chesapeake Bay.b It is a laid back place. We have a few who decide to go the uniform route (they take care of the finances and formal stuff at the club) and become the Commadore and such, but most of us never would even think of doing that. It is not a stuiffy place at all.
Disadvantages; hard to find some unless you want to bea Commadore and get into the politics
Advantages:
Cheaper slip rates- $39/ ft- I have an oversized slip 60X18 for about $2350,
40 foot slips in nearby Annapolis go for close to $4000 per year. We can leave our boats in all year. Memebership is $1000 and the food/ lquior chit is $1000 but we spend that in the restaurant in the course of a year. nAme brand drinks $3.00...Beers $1
Commraderie: If you want to make friends..meet other sailors...have friends for the Admiral...they are there...if you want to be by yourself...no problem
We have organized minivous every few weeks where you can sail...raft up or anchor...get together for cocktails...tell tall stories...drink Painkillers or Sark and Stormys and have fun. We have races, on Wednesdays if you want to participate in the creek. Other sailboats with knowledgable sailors who you can good info from or even just a helping hand to put a windlass, in or fix your boat. Same neighbors who will watch your boat and call you when they see something amiss. A few liveaboards who watch the place by their preasecnce of just living there. gated security so no one wanders on your boat or pier.
Fuel dock and pump out at discounted rates. Pump out will also come to your boat at the slip.
Covered Pavillion with picnic tables fopr 150 with BBQ pits
Social: you cab do what you want We have Crab feasts, hoe downs, New Years Ecve, Parties for the kids, Friday night music, happy hour, Football sundays on the big screen.
My wife and I are usually there because of this every friday night fromk work for the weekend. Go out sailing and anchor somewhere on saturday...come back Sunday and have dinner. The club means we use our boat more. During the sailing season we usually dont use the club much. Its in the off season we do where we get together with our sailing friends.
Reciprocity: with any club on the Cchesap[eake we stay for 1 or less per foot. It even was honored by some of the clubs on the LI Sound where we cruise every summer.
It is not a stuffy club with a bunch a bluer blazers. It has families (some) but most a lot of good interested boaters (we are half power). We all volunteer for beutification day and to work at our yearly celebration, but it is not required anyone work at all at the club a certain amount of hours.
Whats not to like.. And it keeps the admiral happy!!! And that is number 1 to using and having a happy boat
Dave
Disadvantages; hard to find some unless you want to bea Commadore and get into the politics
Advantages:
Cheaper slip rates- $39/ ft- I have an oversized slip 60X18 for about $2350,
40 foot slips in nearby Annapolis go for close to $4000 per year. We can leave our boats in all year. Memebership is $1000 and the food/ lquior chit is $1000 but we spend that in the restaurant in the course of a year. nAme brand drinks $3.00...Beers $1
Commraderie: If you want to make friends..meet other sailors...have friends for the Admiral...they are there...if you want to be by yourself...no problem
We have organized minivous every few weeks where you can sail...raft up or anchor...get together for cocktails...tell tall stories...drink Painkillers or Sark and Stormys and have fun. We have races, on Wednesdays if you want to participate in the creek. Other sailboats with knowledgable sailors who you can good info from or even just a helping hand to put a windlass, in or fix your boat. Same neighbors who will watch your boat and call you when they see something amiss. A few liveaboards who watch the place by their preasecnce of just living there. gated security so no one wanders on your boat or pier.
Fuel dock and pump out at discounted rates. Pump out will also come to your boat at the slip.
Covered Pavillion with picnic tables fopr 150 with BBQ pits
Social: you cab do what you want We have Crab feasts, hoe downs, New Years Ecve, Parties for the kids, Friday night music, happy hour, Football sundays on the big screen.
My wife and I are usually there because of this every friday night fromk work for the weekend. Go out sailing and anchor somewhere on saturday...come back Sunday and have dinner. The club means we use our boat more. During the sailing season we usually dont use the club much. Its in the off season we do where we get together with our sailing friends.
Reciprocity: with any club on the Cchesap[eake we stay for 1 or less per foot. It even was honored by some of the clubs on the LI Sound where we cruise every summer.
It is not a stuffy club with a bunch a bluer blazers. It has families (some) but most a lot of good interested boaters (we are half power). We all volunteer for beutification day and to work at our yearly celebration, but it is not required anyone work at all at the club a certain amount of hours.
Whats not to like.. And it keeps the admiral happy!!! And that is number 1 to using and having a happy boat
Dave
Wwyc
The Walla Walla Work ClubD) charges $800 per year dues, moorage of $55 per year for up to 20 foot boat and $5 per foot over 20, and $400 maintenance fee per year which you can work off at $20 per hour. Now where else can you get such camaraderie for that low of a cost?
The Walla Walla Work Club
D) charges $800 per year dues, moorage of $55 per year for up to 20 foot boat and $5 per foot over 20, and $400 maintenance fee per year which you can work off at $20 per hour. Now where else can you get such camaraderie for that low of a cost?
We really enjoy our Yacht Club but mostly belong for the facilities and programs. Rumor has it she is the second oldest Yacht Club in the US founded in 1869. The facilities are beautiful and the junior sailing program is really second to none.
Sure there are a few "stuffies" but they are easy to ignore. Most every one is die hard sailor or a past sailor who has swallowed the hook and gone to a trawler. It is very kid and dog friendly and we have an event list that you can't keep up with.
We attend only what we feel like and don't get any grief either way. We have turned out some amazing young sailors too. My neighbors daughter just took 4th in the US Sailing winter 420 nationals. Yes a female beat a HUGE fleet of males. She's one hell of a good sailor and honed her skills right here at PYC...
Oh and we eat dinner there a few nights a week cause it is just down the street. Eating on the deck after an evening sail and watching the sun set on the anchorage is just amazing.. Worth every penny...
Sure there are a few "stuffies" but they are easy to ignore. Most every one is die hard sailor or a past sailor who has swallowed the hook and gone to a trawler. It is very kid and dog friendly and we have an event list that you can't keep up with.
We attend only what we feel like and don't get any grief either way. We have turned out some amazing young sailors too. My neighbors daughter just took 4th in the US Sailing winter 420 nationals. Yes a female beat a HUGE fleet of males. She's one hell of a good sailor and honed her skills right here at PYC...
Oh and we eat dinner there a few nights a week cause it is just down the street. Eating on the deck after an evening sail and watching the sun set on the anchorage is just amazing.. Worth every penny...
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
