Pennsylvania Yacht Club • 2189 State Road • Bensalem, PA 19020
215 • 245 • 9883
Commodore - Steve Zielinski • Vice Commodore - Don Buscher • Rear Commodore - Jim Sharp
Membership Information
Information for Prospective Members
The Pennsylvania Yacht Club was established by eighteen founding members in 1943. The objectives of the Club is to encourage yachting, establish a high standard of skill and safety in the science of boat navigation and to furnish recreation and entertainment to its membership.
The Club owns the grounds and buildings on which it is situated. Boating facilities include yard storage, piers, docks, slips, sluiceway, water, electric, gas and equipment for hauling and launching of boats, mooring facilities, tenders, et.al. The buildings consist of a clubhouse with full kitchen, banquet room and bar, an outside pavilion, a two bay work barn and a powerhouse. Recent improvements include new barn door and lighting, completion of the new gasoline system, renovation of the clubhouse, new fence and security gates in the yard and new fence along the seawall and sluiceway. A 1700 sq. ft. deck was added onto the rear of the clubhouse in 1997. The new vessel transport was completed in 1998 and the sluiceway has been renovated to provide launching facilities for trailered boats as well with our Allis-Chalmers farm tractor.
All full members with boating privileges are required to put in work hours and gas dock shifts. These are in addition to the yearly dues and entertainment fees. New members entering the Club are liable for initiation fee, dues and entertainment fee upon acceptance into the Club.
The Club is a boating club with family orientation. Spouses or significant others of Club members are encouraged to participate. Spouses or significant others of PYC members are eligible to apply for Auxiliary membership into the Club through their spouse or significant other. Spouses or significant others may also join the First Mates, PYCs Ladies organization. In addition to assisting the members the First Mates run the children's Christmas party and Easter Egg Hunt.
Traditionally the Club holds five Club sponsored parties, a Gala Opening day celebration, Commodores banquet, Super Bowl party, shrimp and crab nights, a summer cruise and many informal gatherings such as rafting at the Cove. The Club is a member of the Delaware River Yachtsmen League, the Pennsylvania Boating Association, the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association and Boat US. Members of the Club enjoy reciprocal privileges with most clubs in the area and many clubs around the country. We participate with other clubs in the Von Nieda picnic, the DRYL Queens Pageant and the DRYL Banquet as well as other league functions.
The entire Clubhouse is available to members on a rental basis for private parties and functions.
New Applicants
Applications must be made in duplicate.
The membership committee will interview and investigate a prospective member prior to submission of the application to the board of directors. $200.00 of the entrance fess, dues and entertainment fee must be submitted with the application.
If recommended by the membership committee, the applicant must then appear before the board of directors at a normally scheduled directors meeting where his application will be considered and voted upon for recommendation to the General Membership. The applicant will then appear before the General Membership at a regularly scheduled meeting to be considered and voted upon for probationary status. If the prospective is rejected by the membership, then all monies paid will be returned to the applicant with no further liability to the Club. Note: The prospective members’ application must be posted in the clubhouse for a minimum of thirty days prior to consideration by the General Membership!
It is suggested that the prospective member obtain one or two sponsors from the membership via signature on the application which will be posted in the clubhouse. It is also suggested that the prospective member spend as much time at the club getting to know the members to enhance the chances of acceptance.
The General Membership may reject an application or reject probationary membership if one third of the voting members cast “nay” votes.
All members’ boats must have at least $100,000 liability insurance to be kept on the property or in the fleet. New members must complete either a Coast Guard, Power Squadron or NASBLA approved safe boating course within one year of date of probationary membership; or have proof that a course has already been completed.
The entrance fee is currently $600.00. It is refundable if not accepted as probationary member. Once probationary status is granted, this fee is non refundable, even if a member is rejected for permanent status.
A new member spends his/her first year in probationary status. The probationary member is considered for permanent status at the first general membership meeting at which he/she is in attendance after the probationary period and supplies documentation of completion of an approved safe boating course. Should the probationary member be rejected for permanent status, only the remaining portion of the current dues already paid and prorated and any unused portion of the current entertainment fee shall be refunded. The entrance fee is non refundable. A period of six months must pass before a new application is tendered. If reapplying at a later date, all procedures, with the exception of again paying an entrance fee must be followed.
Dues
Full annual dues are payable if accepted as probationary member by June 30th. Sixty percent dues are payable if accepted after June 30th of the calendar year. Dues are set by the general membership at the December meeting for the following year. Dues for the upcoming calendar year are $410.00. For new members entering after June 30th, dues are $250.00.
Entertainment fee is assessed for the calendar year. This may be used for club functions such as parties, opening day or the Commodores banquet. It may not be used to pay any fees, attend fundraisers or purchase any goods from the club. If it is not used during the calendar year it is forfeited to the Club. The current entertainment fee assessment is $40.00 per calendar year.
Upon acceptance into the club the applicant must tender the remaining portion of the fees, dues and entertainment fee by check made payable to PYC. The new member will not have the privilege of voting at the same meeting at which acceptance takes place.
Additional fees are as follows:
Mooring fee: $50.00 (includes placement and removal)
Launching: 1.50 Per foot
Hauling: 1.50 Per foot
Storage: 2.00 Per foot
Slip fee: 2.00 Per foot (boats under 19’ subject to availability)
The Club operates on a seniority system with regard to moorage and slips.
All members are required to perform work at the Club with one or more committees. The minimum yearly requirement for hours worked is set by the Board of Directors at the December meeting. For this calendar year the requirement is 48 hours. Work hours for new members are prorated. Half of the work hour requirement must be completed by July 1st. The remaining hours must be completed by December 15th. Any member not performing the required number of hours by the specified dates of the calendar year are liable to the Club for cash payment of $20.00 per hour for each hour not worked.
Each member is required to work 3 shifts (4 hours per shift) on the gas dock on weekends or holidays during the boating season. The penalty in lieu of is $48.00 per shift which equates to lost income to the Club.
With your application you are requested to fill out a skills inventory survey. You will be assigned by the Commodore to a committee for your probationary year. Afterwards you will have the opportunity to choose the committee/committees on which you would prefer to serve, subject to availability of open slots as determined by the committee chair. If you do not select a committee you will be appointed to one and are expected to perform the majority of your work requirement on that committee.
The applicant is advised to become familiar with Club rules and By-Laws.
For additional information, application forms and requirements, please contact:
Membership Chairman
Fran Barthmaier 215-638-9453 pager 215-894-7763
Email: jugband1@comcast.net
Pennsylvania Yacht Club
2189 State Road
Bensalem, Pa. 19020
215-245-9883
Club voice mail: 215-638-1387
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