Ahoy ECSC members,
As I mentioned in earlier articles, Dennis Robertson and I are the Harbormasters this year. Dennis takes care of everything on the water and I take care of everything on land. If you have a problem, contact either of us. We work well together and switch up duties as necessary to make sure you get prompt attention. Our job is to be there to help you have a pleasant club experience.
Unfortunately, it also falls to the Harbormaster to enforce policies and general rules regarding the use of club facilities and specifically, boat storage and slip rentals. We as a club have been lax in past years in enforcing the rules. As a result, we have a large number of abandoned boats, which is causing a shortage of storage space for our members.
So, I want to use this month’s article to remind everyone of the general club rules regarding boat storage and club usage. The rules can be found on our web site, but I want to call your attention to a few important ones.
The most important issue is timely placement of membership stickers on your boat and trailer. We use the stickers to identify who is up to date on club dues. Without these stickers, your boat is considered an abandoned boat. If you boat does not have current stickers, you might lose your boat parking spot, or even lose your slip assignment. Most marinas and clubs tow first and ask questions later. We don’t…..yet. So, please do not take putting your stickers on your boat as a trivial matter. Our club is very popular and getting overcrowded. We are going to have to get more serious about the policing of boats to make sure our paid members have room. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way is has to be.
The next issue is slip rental. Please remember that you are leasing the slip from the club for the season. You do not own the slip. If you cannot use your slip and want to recoup some or all of your slip rental fees, then you must contact Dennis Robertson and he will sublease your slip for you. Dennis has a long waiting list for slip changes and open slips. The club has very specific rules for governing seniority and priority for open and subleased slips. It is not fair to those who have been patiently waiting on the list for you to sublease the slip on your own. So, no side deals. No helping a friend jump to the top of the list. We will immediately invalidate any deals and you might end up losing your slip rental privileges. This is the way every marina/club operates and we are no different.
The third issue relates to the 48-hour dock. The 48-hour dock has about ten or twelve spots available for dry sailors and guests. As the name implies, the spots are good for 48 hours. This allows dry sailors to enjoy Wednesday racing or weekends on the water with family and friends. If you need extra time on the 48-hour dock, please contact Dennis Robertson to coordinate your needs. If you need to use the 48-hour dock for an extended period while working on your trailer or other reasons, we understand and will accommodate you. We just ask that you get approval first.
Lastly, it is time to get your boats in the water. The car corral must be empty before Mothers Day to accommodate our first social event of the season. The Mother’s Day brunch is one of our most popular events. So, let’s get out there and get those boats in the water. Once your boat is launched, please feel free to store your trailer (with current stickers on them, of course), at the top of the hill.
Kenny
