Moorings

[fastjedi]

You should include clubs in your search ... but be prepared for pain and humiliation when introducing yourself. They have developed a wide variety of ways to discourage you when approaching, for example
1. "If you can't see the club house from your front door we apply a £200 joining fee mate"
2. "You can't sail a cruiser from here until you've been a member for 5 years, have you thought about getting a Mirror dinghy?"
3. "The waiting list for a mooring buoy is between 1 week and 10 years sonny. Would you like a membership form?"
4. "You will need to be signed into the bar by three members on 5 occasions before you can apply for membership here"
5. "Hard to say whether we have any moorings available. Once you are a member you can apply to join the waiting list"

And never approach a club when you think all the active members are out on the water racing. You will end up talking to the 90 year old wife of the now deceased founder member.

I'll not name the clubs to save embarrassment! ..... And you will be earning your £1.30 pint by replacing the roof of the club house and fixing the blocked toilet as part of a "working party" Despite being a member of various boat clubs for circa 20 years I prefere to be independant.

 

[andy_wilson]

Joining fee

Easy, we charge that in our Business Club. After the first year you only have to pay the annual fee.

We charge it 'cos lots of other membership organisations do, so best blame whoever first thought of it.

We find if you charge people money, you get commitment. Charge them more, the more determined they are to get good value in return.

We don't do interviews, we only have people along by invitation of existing members, we let them do a quick presentation, ask them some questions and then make our minds up.

If I was running a yacht club, offering valuable resources to members at a HUGE discount off commercial rates, I'd be interested in whether they wanted to be a member of the club, or just a beneficiary of the facilties. Nothing worse than having a yacht club with a load of commuters as members who take up a mooring, a dinghy slot and a car parking space at weekends, then piss off cruising and never help paint the clubhouse or re-deck the pontoon.

 

[gandy]

Re: Joining fee

The one we're planning to join does the complete opposite, and charges a reduced fee for first year.

 

[LeonF]

Come to Gravesend Sailing Club. Plenty of half tide moorings, we are trying to get more deepwater moorings. Enthusiastic sailors, no waiting list, entrance examination or dress code. And plenty of support and advice when those things go wrong. Thames can be a little daunting, but you can sail upriver or down river, plenty of places to go. And a reasonably easy drive from Croydon, and a railway station as well. PM me or log onto www.gravesendsailingclub.co.uk