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6 Boat Clubs in Fort Lauderdale You Should Know (Must-See!)

Fort Lauderdale is a beautiful destination city because of its clear waters and excellent sailing opportunities. For those that live there, getting out on the open water is a dream come true.

Boat clubs are great for trying out different watercraft. With membership in one of Fort Lauderdale Florida’s amazing, top boat clubs, you won’t have to worry about owning and maintaining a boat.

There are many excellent boat clubs in the Fort Lauderdale area. Depending on what you or your family need, you want to make sure that you’ve picked the right boat club.

Before you make a final decision, check out these top five clubs!

Table of Contents

Carefree Boat Club

Carefree Boat Club is one of the largest boat clubs with destinations across the United States and Canada.

This is an excellent option if you think you may want to travel and take advantage of the ability to sail on the open sea in another locale.

Despite being a relatively large boat club, membership here still manages to feel exclusive. Managers do their best to keep the member to boat ratio low.

For every ten members, there should be one ship that is reserved for the exclusive use of club members. They never charter or rent out their boats during the off-season.

If you want to try out a wide variety of boats, this Fort Lauderdale club is going to be the perfect choice for you.

Carfree Boat Rental Options:

• Fishing boats
• Ski and sailboats

Related Article: Boat Club Rules: 10 Thing to Know Before Joining

Carefree Boat Club Memberships:

One of the best things about the Carefree Boat Club is that they offer a variety of memberships. You can choose to sail on weekdays or weekends exclusively to save a bit of money.

Be sure to inquire about the specific plans that might suit your needs.

This is also an ideal choice if you have minimal boating experience. Carefree Boat Club is committed to safety on the seas.

You will be required to read through a training manual and take a hands-on class covering topics like maneuvering boats and basic safety protocols. It’s a great time to ask questions and learn more before you dive right into sailing.

Related Article: 9 Boat Clubs to Know in South Carolina

Coral Ridge Yacht Club

Are you looking for an extremely exclusive boat club that is unavailable to the general public? Available by invitation only, the Coral Ridge Yacht Club is an excellent blend of family-focused fun and exclusivity.

A current member must be willing to sponsor you in order to be considered for entrance into this elite yacht club. Rest assured if you don’t know anyone but still want to become a member here.

Much like Carefree Boat Club, Coral Ridge also allows you to explore other destinations.

However, they only offer 36 different locations scattered around the state of Florida. Traveling will be a bit more limited with membership to this yacht club.

Related Article: 7 Boat Clubs in Florida You Should Know (Before Choosing)

Coral Ridge Memberships:

Joining the Coral Ridge Yacht Club is about so much more than simply renting a boat on the weekend.

Their membership department can help to match you up with an existing member to secure a spot in this club.

Most of their members embrace a particular lifestyle and want to welcome all of the best things that life has to offer. The social aspect of joining this yacht club is even more critical than simply boating itself.

That is why their campus includes amenities such as fitness centers, tennis courts with waterfront views, swimming pools, and even multiple restaurants.

Related Article: Boat Clubs In Naples, Florida (8 Clubs You Should Know)

Best Boat Club

The Best Boat Club in Fort Lauderdale has been an affordable option for more than twenty years. They have two Fort Lauderdale locations – one at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and one at the Pier 66 Resort and Marina.

Between the two locations, they host a pretty impressive fleet. Choose from deck boats, pontoons, or ski boats.

They also have several center console boats that are ideal for finishing or hosting a few family members and friends on the water.

Perhaps the best part of the best boat club is the flexibility of their membership plans. Unlike other memberships, you may be required to pay a rental rate with some of the membership options.

Corporate memberships are available, but individuals can choose from four different levels:

• Standard : Saves forty to fifty percent off boat rentals
• Silver : Unlimited use of the entire fleet on weekdays only
• Gold : Unlimited use of the whole fleet on weekdays and weekend mornings only
• Platinum : Unlimited use of the entire fleet whenever

If you have a lot to learn about boating, you may want to consider signing up for a membership at the Best Boat Club.

They are the only authorized US Powerboating training center in the Fort Lauderdale area. They have the most extensive training center in the country and feature plenty of hands-on powerboat training.

Related Article: Boat Clubs In Los Angeles: 7 Clubs You Should Know

Lauderdale Yacht Club

The Lauderdale Yacht Club has long roots in the Fort Lauderdale area. Having been founded in 1938, this private club is still managed by its members and reflects a peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere.

Be prepared to find a sponsor as membership is invitation only.

Much like the Coral Ridge Yacht Club, membership at Lauderdale Yacht Club is about more than simply making it onto the open water.

They are tucked inside a quiet residential area featuring beautiful amenities like tennis courts and a state-of-the-art fitness center. There are even options for dining and enjoying the company of other members.

One of the significant advantages of joining the Lauderdale Yacht Club is its impressive sailing program.

They start by teaching young children the basics of racing, but adults are welcome to join in the merriment as well.

The Lauderdale Yacht club offers classes and training to help you move from a bronze level sailor to a gold level sailor.

Grand Yacht Club

The Grand Yacht Club is a little different than the memberships found with other clubs. Instead of reserving a boat for a single afternoon on the water, you can choose a getaway from their cruise menu.

Take a three-day getaway or a dream trip that lasts for up to ten days. The choice is completely customizable for your unique interests and plans.

Knowing what kind of boats are available in the fleet is essential to potential new members.

You won’t find too many smaller boats like pontoons and deck boats here. There are three distinct boating styles you can choose from when you make a reservation with this boat club:

• 60’ Sport Yacht
• 75’ Sailing Yacht
• 80’ Luxury Cruiser

Members tend to love Grand Yacht Club because they include the cost of water sports in your membership dues. This includes jet skis, kayaks, diving, and snorkeling materials that you can check out hourly, daily, or for the entire week.

Much like some of the other yacht clubs, Grand Yacht Club also includes other activities that are focused on promoting a certain lifestyle.

From time to time, they have tournaments, seminars, and even romantic getaways for you and that special someone.

South Florida Boat Club

The South Florida Boat Club is a laid-back club that features great amenities just outside the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. They are just a few minutes away from the airport, the Las Olas shopping district, and Port Everglades.

Their property also has excellent amenities like a casual grill and a crystal-clear pool. It may not be as fancy as some of the yacht clubs listed here, but this laidback style appeals to many families.

Unlike some of the other exclusive boat clubs, entrance and membership here are a little bit more casual. You will have to submit to an interview with the membership director, but it is not an invitation-only club.

If you would like, you can even interview current members about their own experiences with the boat club before you make a final decision.

As with many of the premier boat clubs, there are flexible membership plans so that you can choose what makes the most sense for you.

They offer annual, seasonal, and partnership programs. Monthly rates start as low as $199 per month with an initial $1,200 fee.

Their fleet is one of the most extensive ones offered in the Fort Lauderdale area. Reserve deck boats, bowriders, cruisers, and center console boats up to 23’ from either the Fort Lauderdale or Miami locations. Extended hours and overnight access to the boats are provided.

Larger boats are available for rental when you choose an upgraded membership plan.

How to Choose?

Choosing the right boat club in the Fort Lauderdale area is hard when you have so many excellent choices. Each one offers a unique take on membership and has its own fleet to offer up for your usage.

Depending on the amenities you want and even what kind of social connections you have, it may make sense for you to join one of these clubs over another.

Consider what might be the right fit for you and your family with these top boat clubs .

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In Retrospect: The Club Life

By Larry Schwingel

A legacy of accomplishment, a passion for the science of sailing and a tradition of civic outreach through grants provided by its nonprofit sailing foundation make the Lauderdale Yacht Club a gem on the Fort Lauderdale landscape. 

Turn back time 81 years to 1938, the first year of its existence. A group of 100 original members paid $100 each to join, and annual dues were $24. Five years later, membership had risen to 200. Today, with nearly 1,000 members, Lauderdale Yacht Club has earned Platinum Club of America status, a recognition that places it among the elite private yacht clubs in the nation.

“It’s one of the highest designations in the private club world, and due to the efforts of our wonderful membership, we checked off all the boxes,” says Nadine Rockwell, general manager of the club. “Criteria included universal recognition, superb amenities, levels of service, quality of membership and management, and the ability to adapt to changing times.” 

Lauderdale Yacht Club’s history began when Avylen Harcourt Brook, a successful New York ad agency executive, retired to Florida in 1919. An avid sailor and commodore of the Jamaica Bay Yacht Club in New York, he became a member of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association in 1920 and the Florida Inland Navigation District. Coastal states from Maine to Florida lobbied Congress to create an Intracoastal Waterway. “The states wanted safer conditions, lighted buoys and dredging so that a waterway could be competitive with railways as an alternative means of transportation for both goods and people,” says Rick Burgess, the yacht club’s fleet historian. “In 1935, the Intracoastal Waterway was completed from Miami to Trenton, New Jersey.”  

Fort Lauderdale’s unique topography of inland waterways and canals was perfect for boating and sailing, and Brook and Harlow Davock spearheaded efforts to organize the Lauderdale Yacht Club. “Sailing and yachting became a craze for the upper class after the Great Depression,” Burgess says. “South Florida was a paradise for boating and sailing, and magazines promoted the area as the ‘Yachting Capital of the World.’” 

Lauderdale Yacht Club’s upcoming renovation is assessed in the neighborhood of $17.5 million, and project completion is set for next fall. “The majority of work will include renovating the existing clubhouse and expanding clubhouse facilities and amenities,” says Commodore John Dunn. “We will also be enhancing the south parking lot and adding additional bathrooms near the pool. The future of the club is very bright.” 

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2019 Issue.

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When registering multiple members from one family , please enter ' FAMILY ' as discount code for 30% discount to be applied across memberships.  Youth Membership for 13-18 year olds, particitpating in afternoon Senior racing is available as per last season. If using club boats & require regulary morning training you will need to pay as a Junior Member. Associate Membership has been dis-continued however you will receive a 50% rebate if you can provide evidence of payment of a full membership with another club. Please see Treasurer for futher information.    *** Memberships paid go towards covering costs including payment of all insurances, Council leases & rates + utility bills, Australian Sailing affliation & membership, rescue boat + club maintenance, & running of the canteen. All prices have been set & agreed by the committee to offset these running costs & your yachting Australia membership.***  

If you have been a member of our club (or any club) across Australia in the past few years, your details (including Australian Sailing Number) should be in our system. If you don't know your Australian Sailing Number, you can look it up here:  

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Member Clubs

What does your council do for you, “multiple club privileges with first class experiences”.

The Florida Council membership offers multiple club privileges without having to pay multiple club dues. Enjoy social and dining privileges at a collection of 37 private clubs in the state of Florida, offering excellent marina facilities as well as casual and fine dining options. Some clubs offer golf and tennis as well.

Each one of the Council Clubs offers the caliber of service you would expect the amenities and family events that make visiting a pleasure.

We invite you to experience for yourself the convenience, variety and fun that make Council membership so special.

More Clubs, More Choices, Welcome to Council Life! On behalf of all of the Council Clubs, we look forward to the pleasure of serving you.

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Four months after the deed transfer was filed with Broward County , the new principles of the newly renamed Lighthouse Point Yacht Club are finalizing a time line for what they see as a complete transformation of the property.

Like clubs nationwide, the Lighthouse Point club has experienced a decline in membership. As older members pass away, younger families with a broader range of interests don’t rely heavily on clubs the way their parents did.

At the Lighthouse Point club, membership is down by roughly half from pre-recession levels. The new owner, Paterson Project Management Inc., has plans to turn that around – and the club as well.

“What members were complaining about was that, for example, the outside bar is only open on Fridays … And they wanted healthier, organic, more up-to-date cuisine,” said Paterson general manager Jessica Easterling.

The Fort Lauderdale-based company has recently tweaked the decor, added new furniture and gym equipment, Easterling said. In addition, work included repainting and replanting the grounds.

It also revamped programming to draw younger members, with instructor-led fitness workouts, for example, and instruction in fishing and lure tying with the marina manager.

But while it is focusing on the core business, it also is looking around the perimeters of the 6.8-acre parcel, land worth $5.842 million, according to the Broward County Property Appraiser’s office. The new plans could include waterfront houses and townhomes.

Pending city approval, demolition of the club house could begin in March 2019. One year later, developers are hoping to deliver a brand new building, new pool, new tennis courts and a medical spa.

Memberships will be new as well and reflect the upgrade.

Currently, Easterling said, membership initiation is $5,000 and dues $4,000 per year. No membership costs following the renovation have been announced.

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• Types of Membership

Memberships available to fit everyone's needs

From Equity membership to a category that caters to our members who are only in South Florida seasonally. Membership costs are very competitive in all our membership categories.

Play when and with whom you want

With two courses it is easy to get a tee time to play on your own or in a group. organized group play for men and women is available almost every day of the week. a competitive tournament schedule and great social events give our members many reasons to spend time at their home away from home.  , members play when other courses are closed.

The two courses at Fort Lauderdale Country Club have the very best drainage after heavy rains. It's not uncommon for our members to be playing very quickly, and certainly before nearby clubs have reopened their courses.

Just click below to read about the membership types that interest you:

“Being a new golfer, I was nervous about joining a private club where everyone would likely play better than me- boy am I glad I joined FLCC! From long time golfers, to the ladies 9 holers who have never broken 100 - everyone here just loves playing and enjoys being out there, meeting new friends, and having fun - being perfect is not required!" Janet B. 2014

  Want to learn more?

Contact us now, to get more information about membership prices or read more about all the ways our members enjoy their time at Fort Lauderdale Country Club. We look forward to meeting you!

Contact Us What to Enjoy at FLCC

As an Equity member of Fort Lauderdale Country Club, you will be a part owner of the club and have the right and privilege to vote on any referendums and elections brought before the Equity members of the club. Additionally, you have unlimited golf privileges, use of all practice facilities, access to all dining facilities, banquet rooms, card rooms, lounge and invitation to special events.  

No daily greens fees

Seven day advance tee time reservations

Club storage and personal locker with Brass Engraving  

Optional unlimited cart usage program, Cart Club

Monthly discounted guest passes

Free clinics from PGA staff in season

Full service Pro shop with Equipment and Apparel at "member prices"

PGA certified golf professionals

All applications are subject to approval by Board of Directors.  

or call our Membership Director at 954 318 0157

Seasonal membership is a non-equity membership offered to individuals who are seasonal residents of South Florida. Full member privileges are provided for any six consecutive months that the Seasonal member chooses and social membership privileges are provided the remaining six months of a given year. Seasonal membership privileges include the following:  

Three-day advance tee time reservations

Club storage and personal locker

Full service Pro Shop with equipment and apparel at "member prices"

Executive membership is offered to any individual under the age of 40 years old as an affordable pathway to full Equity membership. Modest payments are paid annually enabling the member to become an Equity member without large incremental payment. Executive members enjoy the same access to all facilities as a full equity member, these include the following: Unlimited golf privileges, use of all practice facilities, access to all dining facilities, banquet rooms, card rooms, lounge and invitation to special events.  

All applications are subject to approval by Board of Directors  

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Are My Yacht Club Dues Deductible?

By: Tom Andrews, CPA

Deducting membership dues has always been a highly scrutinized deduction by the IRS, club memberships are naturally a target because they are considered an entertainment expense and these types of expenses have a strict supporting documentation standard with the Internal Revenue Service.

When it comes to membership dues the IRS distinguishes between dues paid to clubs, which often are not deductible, and dues paid to professional organizations, which are deductible. 

Generally, you cannot deduct dues paid to social, athletic, sporting, airline, hotel, and luncheon clubs. The IRS views these organizations as providers of entertainment for their members. In contrast, dues paid to professional associations, trade associations, and public service groups may be deductible if you paid the dues for a business purpose and the organization’s purpose is not entertainment. However, other business expenses paid at a club, such as meals, may be deducted to the extent they satisfy the other requirements for a business deduction. If you take your client to your club for lunch during which a substantial and bona-fide business discussion takes place you may deduct 50 percent of the cost of the lunch.

Remember that to be deductible, club dues must not only escape this loss dis-allowance rule, they must also be an ordinary and necessary business expense.

For tax consequences, a club’s activities, not its name nor your reason for joining, control whether the IRS determines if it exists to entertain its members or if it has a business or social service purpose.

Let’s say for example you are a yachting professional based in Fort Lauderdale, you purchase a membership to a local yacht club for you and your family.  A few times each month you head down to the club to eat dinner and participate in social activities with some of the other yachting professionals who are also members of the yacht club.  Just because you are socializing with other yachting professionals at the club and you may occasionally talk about business does not mean the membership is deductible.  Again, as stated above, the membership dues are not deductible, however the extra cost for dining at the club may be 50% deductible to the extent that they satisfy the requirements of a business meal deduction.

It is important to remember that dues for professional associations and trade organizations are generally deductible as long as they are related to your current profession and these types of dues should not be confused with country club or social dues which are the focus of this column.

If you do decide that your yacht club membership is deductible I recommend you keep a journal detailing exactly how that membership is necessary and ordinary to your production of income and you will also want to keep a record of who you meet with at that club along with the business purpose of those meetings.

How Much Does a Coral Ridge Country Club Membership Cost?

The Coral Ridge Country Club is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a couple of miles from the beach and the only club located the closest to the heart of Fort Lauderdale.

How much does a Coral Ridge Country Club membership cost?

On average the initiation dues and monthly fees will greatly vary depending on the membership category.  Refer to our table below to see what the country club charges.

NOTE:   These prices were extracted from a PDF we found .  These fees should be used as an estimate only and won’t be guaranteed as they are official as of 2015.  Contact the club for official prices.

The membership category options

Regular Tennis and Golf –  A membership option that offers unlimited access to the tennis, golf, the swimming pool, dining and year-round social events.  These members won’t have to pay course or green fees but are required to pay all golf cart fees.

Junior Golf and Tennis – These members, 39 years or younger, are entitled to the same privileges as a Regular golf membership, with the exception Regular members will hold priority for starting times.  Junior members will also pay a reduced rate.

Executive Golf and Tennis – Entitle to use of the golf, tennis, swimming and dining facilities, but members may only play golf six times per year during from November 1 through April 30 and 25 times from May 1 through October 31.  Executive members do not have to pay green fees or tennis court fees but will be required to pay golf cart fees.  Members are limited to being the guest of a Regular member up to six times in season and 12 times during the offseason.

Junior Executive Golf and Tennis – Same privileges as the Executive Golf and Tennis membership, except Executive members will hold priority.  This option is only offered to those younger than 39 years old.

Tennis – A membership option that entitles members to use the tennis, swimming and dining facilities.  Tennis members can play golf as a guest of a member up to five times in season and five times during the offseason for either the accompanied or unaccompanied guest rate.

Junior Tennis – The same privileges as the Tennis membership option, with the exception of holding priority to Tennis members.  It’s only available to those younger than 39 years old.

Social – Members are entitled to use the swimming pool and all the dining facilities at the club.  Social members can play golf as a guest of a member up to five times in season and five times during the offseason for either the accompanied or unaccompanied guest rate.

What is going to be included?

The amenities, as per the club, includes an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., a Rees 9, Par-3 course designed by Reese Jones, a driving range, putting green, chipping green and two practice bunkers.  The club also boasts 11 first-class clay tennis courts, a junior Olympic swimming pool, dining options and year-round social events.

What are the extra costs?

Private lessons, clinics, programs, leagues and tournaments for swimming, tennis or golf can all incur additional fees outside of the membership costs.

Members are required to meet an annual food and beverage minimum spend, plus gratuity and taxes.  At this time, according to the PDF sourced above, this can be either $600 for a single member or $1,200 for a family.

All of the estimates mentioned above are subject to Florida sales tax.

Annual locker rental fees range from $250 for a standard to $500 for a full.

Golf club storage is $250 a year.

Green fees range anywhere from $45 to $125 depending on the time of year and if the guest is either accompanied or unaccompanied.

Cart fees range from $15 for nine holes to $30 for 18 holes.  Pushcarts range from $10 for nine holes or $15 for 18 holes.

Tips to know

All memberships to the club are considered non-equity , meaning it isn’t an investment nor are members provided any equity in the club.

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