Join the club

Benefits of membership

All Highland Yacht Club members enjoy affordable boating with:

  • Summer boat dockage including hydro and water at every dock

  • Winter boat storage

  • Use of clubhouse, BBQ’s, workshop, pump out, mast crane & storage

  • Racing and cruising programs

  • Reciprocal privileges at other clubs and marinas around Lake Ontario and into the Thousand Islands (including USA)

  • Being part of a boating community

Membership application process

 

  • Let us know about you and your boat by filling out the online application. A member of the membership committee will get in touch to go over your application and set up the meet and greet.

  • This is kind of like an interview for us and for you. Members of our membership committee will set up a date and time that works for everyone to get together. This is for us to get to know you better but also for us to familiarize you with our club and answer any questions you may have. This can be done in person at the club (preferred option) or virtually.

  • Once your application is approved and accepted and the interview completed, if we seem like a good fit, you’ll be offered membership. At this point you will need to submit the initiation fee as outlined below. You’ll be assigned a dock and receive your access keys and HYC burgee.

Annual Membership Fees

We keep our fees low so you can spend money on your boat, not your dock. We separate our fees into three categories: Initiation fee, Annual dues, and launch and haulout. As a self-help club we also rely upon the contributions of our members, so there is a minimum number of work hours that each member needs to contribute.

 

This is a breakdown of the fees and dues you can expect to pay. Along with member workhours. We have a club bar but there is no minimum spend bill as you will find at some other clubs.

Nothing hidden. No surprises.

  • When joining the club there is a one time initiation fee of $4,000. If you leave the club in good standing, $1090 of it will be returned to you when a new member takes your place.

  • Every member is responsible for paying their share of the clubs annual expenses. The clubs annual expenses are divided evenly amongst the membership so it fluctuates year to year but is generally around $1000. This includes all the amenities at the club like:

    • Docking

    • 30 amp shore power

    • Water

    • Use of the clubhouse including the kitchen and bathrooms

    • Use of the garage

    • Use of the dinghy and kayak racks

    • Septic pump out

    • Use of the mast crane

    • Cradle storage

    • Reciprocal priviliges at other clubs

  • Since we have some members with trailers who haul out and launch on their own, we keep the launch and haul out crane fees separate so that you only pay for what you use. Time keepers track each members usage time and they are billed accordingly.

  • As a self help club, all members are required to contribute a minimum number of hours to the operation and improvement of the club. The number of hours is set annually but is generally around 20-24 hours/year/member. This can be done by working on a committee, contributing your skills to clubhouse/property maintenance, food prep for events, IT and web development or many other oportunities. Additionally all members take turns throughout the year functioning as the “Officer of the Day”.

FAQs

  • The maximum size that can potentially be accommodated at the docks is 42ft, however there are many more factors to be considered. All applications are reviewed by the Harbourmaster to determine that there is sufficiant space for the applicants vessel to be accommodated both at the dock and on the hard for winter storage.

  • Yes. We are open to all boats providing they meet the size restrictions.

  • You can still apply for membership, just fill out the application based on what kind of boat you’re looking to get. The application process will get started but membership won’t be offered until you confirm the boat you’ll be bringing to the club.

  • Although we don’t have a sailing school we do have many members who join as new sailors or boaters. They benefit greatly from being part of club full of very experienced sailors who are always willing to lend a hand or share their knowledge. There’s also our friends at Scarborough Bluffs Sailing Club (SBSC) who do offer dinghy sailing lessons right next door.

  • Yes. We do have a crew membership for crew members who come out for racing. If you would like to become a crew member you will need to have a boat owning member sponsor your application. Contact us for more details.

  • All members must contribute the annual required work hours. The required work hours are set annually but are normally around 25 hours/year.

    Another responsibility that all members have is to be Officer of the Day (OD) a few times a year. A schedule is sent out and the role of the OD is to ensure that things are in order at the club and assist with any visitors.

  • No. Our club only permits boats to be at the docks April - October. All boats need to be removed from the water October - April or taken somewhere else for those months. Living on your boat out of the water is not permitted.

Get in touch

Let’s meet up to talk about boats, the club and see if we’re the right fit for each other.