Yacht Clubs--good idea or bad?

We have our own neighborhood dock and used to keep our 280 on its mooring behind the house. When we first moved in all our neighbors were roughly the same age and neighborhood social events revolved around the dock in the summer. The local yacht club is like most of the yacht clubs north of Boston, all moorings. So besides the so so restaurant, the only things the yacht club offered of value were parking, and a launch service. For us it really wasn’t worth the effort and expense. The interesting thing is that many of our boating friends belong to the yacht club, and yet we hardly ever socialized at the yacht club. Not that guests were ostracized, or discouraged, but that everyone always seemed to end up at our dock, and usually later at one of our houses than the yacht club after boating.

For a variety of reasons, but mainly because the river where we moored filled in to the point it was too shallow for most of the tide cycle, we moved to a marina. We ended up with a group of great dock neighbors and find we keep in touch in the off season. The slip is more expensive than the mooring, but we would never go back to a mooring. As for having our own dock, we like the bump it gives our property values, but it is becoming more of a headache then it’s worth with increasing environmental requirements and sadly the envious attitude of the “I can’t have a dock, so why should you” folks.

So I guess the value of a yacht club is what you get out of it. It does not make economic sense, but nothing about pleasure boating makes economic sense. Our experience is that belonging to a yacht club is not necessary to enjoy boating and finding all of the benefits of club membership can be duplicated.
 
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I've been in working clubs as well as so called clubs that you don't work. At the end of the day depending on what value you put on your time there are many private Marinas that are a much better deal. But if you like to wear a uniform and play Navy or belong to a clique, or cut grass, you'll love it.
 
We belong to a very family oriented Yacht Club. When we joined it completely changed our boating life. At our prior marina, we would go, use the boat, and go home. Now we have a "boating life", made some great friends, started cruising to great destinations. Our club is a working club where members are required to put 30 hrs. of work in per season, whether its bartending, helping on the grounds, docks, hosting or helping with parties etc. Working together brings a sense of family and ownership to the experience. I would highly recommend this type of club to anyone.
 
We belong to a very family oriented Yacht Club. When we joined it completely changed our boating life. At our prior marina, we would go, use the boat, and go home. Now we have a "boating life", made some great friends, started cruising to great destinations. Our club is a working club where members are required to put 30 hrs. of work in per season, whether its bartending, helping on the grounds, docks, hosting or helping with parties etc. Working together brings a sense of family and ownership to the experience. I would highly recommend this type of club to anyone.

I find that I have little enough time to go boating now. Family commitments, work, kid's sports and activities, home projects, etc, vastly shrink available time. The last thing I want to do is spend my remaining time working at a yacht club. I get the community building aspect, but it's just not in my wheelhouse. I'd rather pay to have it done and be on the boat. Maybe my desires will change in the future.
 
I find that I have little enough time to go boating now. Family commitments, work, kid's sports and activities, home projects, etc, vastly shrink available time. The last thing I want to do is spend my remaining time working at a yacht club. I get the community building aspect, but it's just not in my wheelhouse. I'd rather pay to have it done and be on the boat. Maybe my desires will change in the future.
25 years ago we had our first boat in the same marina we are in now. The yacht club was there then and I remember thinking no way in hell would I join some pompous yacht club. Fast forward 25 years and perspective changed and now we not only are members, we are actively involved in committee work. Never say never
 

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