Club Rules
Collingwood Yacht Club
Also available as a download here CYC Club Rules Apr 17 2025.pdf
Club Rules April 17, 2025
INTRODUCTION
In 2024, the Board and the Members of the Collingwood Yacht Club (the Club) approved changes to the Bylaws of the Club (the New Bylaws). These were last amended in 2016 (the Old Bylaws). Some of these changes were required to comply with the Ontario Not For Profit Corporations Act, 2010 (The Act), which came into force in the fall of 2024.
Other changes such as those in the Section 2 and elsewhere in the new Bylaws deal with fundamental and important provisions that define the nature of the Club, including the Club's purposes, that it is a local working Club, with two classes of Members, the important role of spouses, the ability of a Member to suspend their Membership for a year, seniority, mooring privileges and a process to deal with allegations of misconduct.
Accordingly, in late 2024 and early 2025, the Board reviewed the 2024 rules to ensure compliance with the new Bylaws and to better provide for the day-to-day operation of the Club.
TWO CLASSES OF MEMBERS
As noted above, only two classes of Members are allowed by the Bylaws. These are "Voting Members" and "Non-voting Members". This an important distinction because only Voting Members enjoy the full privileges of attending meetings, voting, seniority, mooring, lift in and out, off season storage and use of all the Club's facilities. Non-voting Members have limited privileges. For simplicity, Voting Members will now simply be called "Full Members," and all Non-voting Members will be called "Social Members".
MEMBERSHIP
1.All Full Members and Social Members are bound by the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the Rules of the Club.
2.On the enactment of these new Bylaws the category of non-voting senior associates was eliminated, except for those Members currently within that category, whose status will remain unchanged until three years after they became non-voting senior associates. As provided by the old Bylaws, if these Members do not return to Full Membership within those three years, they will thereafter become Social Members paying the fee prescribed for this class of Member as is from to-time set by the Board and which only allows access to the Club facilities, but does not provide any voting, seniority, mooring or the other privileges of a Full Member.
3.Social Members pay an annual fee as set by the Board which allows some access to the clubhouse and grounds, but does not provide any of the other privileges of Full Members. This category is designed to encourage people to crew for Full Members and participate with Full Members in Club racing, or for other activities from time-to-time approved by the Board, or for former Full Members to continue to enjoy the continuing camaraderie of association with other Members of the Club.
4.Similarly, on the enactment of the new Bylaws, the category of honorary associate was eliminated. Current honorary associates shall henceforth be Social Members. Those currently holding this status shall pay the fee set for non-voting Social Membership or such reduced fee as may from time-to-time be set by the Board.
PAYMENT OF MEMBERSHIP AND OTHER FEES AND CHARGES
5.The Membership of any Member who fails to pay any fee or other charge imposed by the Board shall be terminated in accordance with the Bylaws.
6.In respect of persons applying to become new Members whom the Board has approved, all fees are due on receipt of their invoice and must be paid immediately or their Membership will not commence and shall be deemed to have been denied.
SHARED BOAT OWNERSHIP
7.No boat moored at the Club shall be co-owned with someone other than a spouse, immediate family member or another Full Member of the Club. Boats co-owned with a Social Member before January 1, 2025, will be exempt from this rule.
7.
EXCLUSIVE USE OF CLUB BY MEMBERS
8.The Club is for the exclusive use of Full Members and their spouses, Social Members and their spouses, and the approved guests or contractors of Full Members. Social Members are not allowed to invite guests. In all cases, the conduct of each Member and their spouses, and, in respect of Full Members, their guests and contractors is the responsibility of the Member, and of their spouse, guests and contractors, and, in the case of visiting boaters, the visiting boaters. All Members, spouses, guests and contractors are personally liable for all damage, injury or other loss caused to the Club or other Members. Members are personally liable for all damage, injury or other loss caused by these persons. All visiting boaters are subject to the same obligations as a Member.
GATE/CLUB KEYS
9.The gate keycard opens the powered gate at the main entrance. The clubhouse doors are accessed by a combination lock. Additional or replacement cards are available from the Club for $20 per card. When a Member leaves the Club the card fee is refundable upon the return of the card(s) to the Membership Chair. Members are responsible for their key cards and the security of the door codes, and, if loaned or otherwise shared with a spouse or an approved guest, Members shall ensure the return of the card and that the guest is aware of the need to keep the codes confidential.
10.The Club south gate (non-powered gate) is for emergency purposes only (flooded road, main gate inoperable, etc.). It is not intended for regular use and must remain closed at all times. Members should receive guests via the main powered gate unless the Board has directed the use of the south gate temporarily, in which case Members are responsible for opening and immediately closing the gate.
11.Neither the main gate nor the south gate should be left open.
COMMERCIAL BUSINESS
12.No commercial use may be made of any mooring space, any boat moored by a member or on any part of the Club grounds or facilities in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the purposes of the Club, the insurance policy, the lease agreement with our landlord and the Club's not-for-profit status.
13.Marine and other service providers may attend on-site to work on Member boats or Club facilities. In addition, Members may engage other Members and remunerate them for marine services on a Member's boat.
14.From time-to-time the Board on the written application of a commercial business may allow a business to attend to conduct some limited degree of business on the Club if it is in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the purposes of the Club, the insurance policy, the lease agreement with our landlord and the Club's not-for-profit status.
WAIVERS AND INDEMNITIES
15.All Members waive any liability in respect of the Member, their spouse, family or guests and indemnify the Club in respect of all actions of the Club taken by the Club in respect of the Member, their spouse, family, guests or property if such actions were taken in reasonable accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the rules or policies of the Club or the failure of the Member or the Member's spouse, family, guest or contractors to comply with same.
16. Members shall from time-to-time sign such waivers and indemnity as are requested by the Club.
WORK HOURS
17.Members are required to contribute such number of work hours per year as is set by the Board of Directors.
18.If a Member fails to perform the stipulated number of hours, they shall be fined for those hours not worked at a rate per hour as is annually set by the Board of Directors.
19.Any unpaid fine is deemed to be an unpaid fee and may lead to the termination of Membership.
20.In order to maintain the character of the Club as a working Club, a persistent failure to perform work hours may also lead to disciplinary action. Work contributions may be physical (dock work parties, grounds work) or non- physical (committee, social, clerical activities).
21.Members are responsible for ensuring that their hours are recorded and approved by a Board Member, or the person authorized by the Board on the work hour forms.
22.On the written application by a Member, the Board, on the basis of extenuating circumstances, may modify the hours a Member is required to work, waive the requirements to work or the Board or their designate may approve a designate of the Member to work on behalf of the Member.
23.To be an approved designate of a Member, the designate must be of appropriate age, physical and mental capacity to complete the task as seen fit by the Director who is responsible for the work hours being completed.
24.A Full Member whose number of Full Membership years in the Club plus the Member's years of age totals 100 or more may apply in writing to the Board for an exemption from performing their work hours. A Member who does not so apply to the Board shall continue to perform their work hours.
SECOND MOORING
25.Full Membership in the Club entitles a Full Member the privilege of mooring one boat at the Club's facilities. No Member is entitled to more than one mooring. Additionally, a maximum of five Full Members may dry-sail another boat if the appropriate fees are paid in respect of that boat. A dry-sail boat must be on a trailer, weigh less than 4,500 lbs. and be no longer than 27 feet. Current dry-sail boat owners will be grandfathered and be able to retain their formerly approved boats.
SIZE OF BOAT ADMITTED INTO THE CLUB
26.Any Full Member contemplating changing the boat they have previously moored, or new member bringing in a new boat, must seek the permission of the Mooring Director.
27.The Club does not accommodate boats over 40 feet in length overall, including swim platform & bowsprit, or any boat with a beam over 14 feet. Members who currently have an approved oversized boat may replace it with one no greater than the size of their current boat.
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
28.The Club does not allow the storage or operation of personal watercraft (a Sea-Doo or similar make) within the Club premises.
DOCK REGULATIONS AND MOORING
29.Full Members in good standing will be invoiced for annual fees by the treasurer no later than January 31 based on the mooring assignments made by the mooring committee and the treasurer shall indicate on the invoice the mooring assigned for the pending boating season and the portion of annual fees payable in respect of that mooring.
30.Members will be assigned a mooring slip by the mooring committee only if the Member is in good standing, with all fees paid. Members must not change their slips without the approval of the Mooring Director.
31.The Mooring Director is required to assign moorings that are appropriate for all boats and in accord with the Bylaws, respecting seniority, and mooring privileges. Accordingly, from time-to-time, it may become necessary for the mooring of a Member's boat to be changed from year to year or, during a year, after the mooring has been assigned. In accordance with the Bylaws, it may not be possible to assign or, on a rare occasion, to reassign a Member a mooring for their boat.
32.Members must secure their boats with two bow lines, forward and aft spring lines and at least one stern line. Moorings lines must be of sufficient size, quality and strength as determined from time to time by the Mooring Director, who may direct the Member to change or add to the lines to better secure their boat. The Mooring Director has the authority to ensure compliance of these guidelines.
33.No additions or modifications, such a dock boxes, steps, Boarding devices, carpeting, cleats or any other equipment may be made to the main or finger dock and no Member may make any adjustment to any cleat or make any change to the dock fastening system or alter the dock in any way, without the consent of the mooring Director. Members are, however, encouraged to make repairs as needed to existing hardware.
DINGHIES
34.Each Full Member is allowed to store one dingy on Club premises during the boating season. Under no circumstances will dinghies that are not in use be attached to boats or docks in such a manner as to cause them to restrict access for other boaters. Dinghies stored on dinghy docks should be secured with appropriate lines.
35.All dinghies must be removed from Club property during winter layup unless stored on the boat, within the footprint of the deck of the boat, or on the ground within the footprint of the hull of the boat.
36.All dinghies must be labelled with the owner's name. dinghy trailers cannot be stored on Club property during winter layup and can only be on Club property during the boating season as necessary to load or launch the dinghy or for its repair.
INSURANCE
37.All boats moored or stored on Club property shall be insured by all owners or co-owners of the boat with current marine public liability and property damage insurance.
38.The minimum amount of acceptable property and liability insurance is two million dollars.
39.All Full Members and any owner or co-owner of a boat moored or on the property of the Club shall provide with payment of their fees a copy of a current insurance certificate in the name of all owners of the boat.
40.A boat without a current certificate of insurance and proof of ownership, such as federal registration or licensing, a bill of sale or an affidavit, shall not be launched or lifted out.
CONTRACTORS
41.All contractors, subcontractors or employees hired to work on a Member's boat must carry appropriate insurance that fully indemnifies the Club for any damage, loss or injury to the club or person.
ELECTRICAL CORDS AND OUTLETS
42.Electricity is available for battery charging and repair work. Finger dock outlets are not designed to support refrigeration, air conditioning or stoves. Members must not leave heaters or other electrical appliances turned on when they are not on their boat.
43.If the outlet at your dock appears to be dead, check the reset button and press it if necessary. All other issues should be reported to the Facilities Director.
44.Members must use a certified marine or outdoor electrical cable rated SJWT or SJWOOW to connect their boat to the shore power outlets. Cables must not be allowed to sit in the water. Stray currents may enter the water and could harm people and pets. Any Member who sees a cable in the water should move the cord out of the water or disconnect it. Boats cannot be plugged in during winter storage except for short-term battery charging.
SEASONAL STORAGE
In Season Storage
45.Full Members may store a cradle, either collapsible or, pending further notice by the Board, if the Member joined the Club prior to 2025, non-collapsible, and, if a Member was a Full Member prior to 2025, and paid for off-season storage, one boat trailer.
46.Full Members who joined after 2024, and have paid the fee set by the Board for off-season storage, may store one collapsible cradle, but shall not store a boat trailer. No boats, other than approved dry-sail boats, under 4,500 lbs., are to be left on Club property in season.
47.Boats needing repairs or are for sale, shall be removed from Club property during in season unless the Board approves temporary storage based on the Full Members request in writing.
Off Season Storage
48.Full Members who have paid the fee set by the Board for off-season storage and who in the prior season had a boat moored in a Club slip may store one boat on Club property.
General Requirements
49.Sailboat cradles must be of steel construction, provided that any wooden or partially wooden cradle in use by a member prior to January 1, 2025 may continue to be used for the time being.
50.Powerboats or sailboats, not stored on a steel cradle shall be supported by jack stands that are secured together with chains.
51.All trailers and cradles shall be clearly marked with the owner's name and contact information, and cradles shall be marked to distinguish bow and stern.
52.Full Members who intend to sell or are awaiting sale of their boat and require additional in season or out of season storage shall request in writing the permission of the Board to store their boat temporarily and may be required to pay a fee for this additional allowance.
53.Sailboats shall be clearly marked with forward and aft sling marks on each port and starboard quarter.
54.Sailboats may be stored with their masts up, provided the crane can facilitate lift-out and launch.
55.On the advice of the Mooring Director, the Board may determine a boat to be unsafely stored and require the owner to remedy the manner of storage. Any failure to rectify by the owner may result in disciplinary proceedings and all owners of boats on Club property shall consent to and indemnify against the costs of the Club taking such action as is necessary to ensure the boat is properly stored.
56.Ladders or other boarding devices that are stored with a vessel off-season shall be stored within the footprint of the vessel and secured with a lock.
LIFT IN/OUT
57. Members and or their authorized representative must be present for their boat's launch and/or haul out and must approve the placement of slings before lift in/out and placement of cradle supports before the crane releases the boat.
58.Members who wish to use different dates must hire their own crane service and are responsible for all costs and liabilities associated with this decision and must get the permission of the Board of Directors as to their proposed launch date if they propose to launch or lift from Club property.
PUMP OUT
60.An electric sewage tank pump-out is located by the transformer shed. The pumping mechanism is automatic once the "on" switch is activated. Read the instructions on the control panel or contact the Facilities Director if you are unfamiliar with this equipment. When you have finished pumping out rinse and coil the hose. Ensure the freshwater hose is shut off and properly stored.
SERVICE DOCKS
61.The service docks are not a mooring facility. Members shall conduct whatever business is necessary at the dock and then depart as quickly as possible. Members must not use the service dock for an unreasonable period. A request must be submitted to the Board to use a service dock for any extended period of time.
CRANES
62.The mast crane has a capacity to lift 1,000 lbs. and can lift masts up to 50 feet long and Members shall not exceed those limitations.
63.The heavier hoist has a capacity to lift 4,500 lbs., and is meant to lift dry-sail boats, dock anchors and docks needing repairs, and Members shall not exceed these limitations or use the hoist for other reasons.
64.The crane hooks shall be affixed to the cement barrel after use and not directly to the crane.
65. Before using either lift, Members shall be trained by an experienced Member or work with an experienced Member.
VACANT SLIPS AND VISITING BOATERS
66.As from time-to-time the Club allows visitors to dock at the Club, Members who will be away overnight shall advise the Mooring Director if they are not using their slip for one or more days, and the Mooring Director shall post a list of all vacant slips on the lower-level clubhouse white board. With the approval of the Mooring Director, these slips are available for visiting overnight guests from clubs with which our Club has a reciprocal agreement or have been invited to participate in Club events. Other guests may be accommodated. The Board shall set such rates for guests from other clubs, participants in other club events or other guests as they deem appropriate.
SPECIAL EVENTS
67.The Club is available for personal or special events by Club Members only. The website has instructions for booking the Club with the Social Director. Appropriate user fees may be applied. Fire regulations limit the number of people allowed in the clubhouse to 42.
ALCOHOL
68.Alcoholic beverages are restricted to Club grounds inside our fenced yard, the clubhouse, decks, and boats with legal accommodations. If alcoholic beverages are sold while on Club property, appropriate permits are required from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
BULLETIN BOARDS
69.Bulletin boards are located in the upper and lower levels of the clubhouse. The boards on the upper level and on the lower-level west wall are for racing information and Club business only. Members may post ads or other notices on the bulletin board on the lower-level east wall. All notices must be dated. Any notice posted without a date will be removed.
CLUB EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
70. Members are responsible for damage to Club property caused by them, their family members, or their guests. Neither the clubhouse nor the transformer shed has storage facilities for personal gear, so personal storage is not allowed. The clubhouse BBQ, patios, kitchen facilities and parking areas are shared by all Club Full Members and Social Members and any approved visiting overnight boaters. Club furniture, equipment or other Club property must not be removed by any Member from the clubhouse without the authorization of a Member of the Board of Directors. Anyone using the clubhouse and/or the kitchen facilities must clean up after themselves and ensure all dishes, pots and pans are clean and put away and shall report any breakage to the Facilities Director. Excessive use of the facilities by any Member may incur usage fees.
GARBAGE, TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS WASTE
71. Members may dispose of their non-hazardous waste in the garbage bins provided and shall ensure the lid is closed to control birds and vermin. Members shall not fill the dumpster with large items, such as damaged tarps or shrink wrap.
72.As the Club is liable for environmental hazards, Members shall only winterize their boats and engines using non-toxic propylene glycol or alcohol base antifreeze and not use toxic ethylene glycol, as it is illegal to allow ethylene glycol into the water.
73.Batteries, paints, solvents, used engine oil and tires must not be put into our garbage bin and must be disposed of by each Member. Disposal of these materials in our bin is contrary to landfill disposal regulations. Our contract with our waste management company will be cancelled if these items are found in our bin. Substantial fines may also be levied. Members who are found to have disposed of these items on Club property may be reported to the rules committee for disciplinary action.
ICE
74.The ice machine is located on the lower clubhouse level. It is not intended to supply Members with enough ice to fill on-board ice boxes prior to cruising. The large freezer next to the ice machine is for bagged ice only. Members must fill a bag for each bag taken from the large freezer. The small freezer in the basement is available for personal ice bottles, but ensure all such items are properly labelled and do not remove any bottle that is not yours. Do not store any bottles in the kitchen freezer.
75. All vehicles parked by anyone on Club property shall park where directed and so as to not impede the ingress or egress of other traffic, shall not impede the movement of dry-sail boats, trailers, access to the clubhouse, the mast storage area, the transformer shed, the electrical supply or the mast crane and service dock.
76. Vehicles are not to be driven or parked on the west concrete dock.
PETS
77.Dogs and other pets must be under the control of their owner or designate at all times. Pets are not allowed in the clubhouse or erected facilities when food is being served. Members must observe a poop and scoop policy. Waste is to be disposed of in the large disposal bin by the gate.
SMOKING AND VAPING
78.The clubhouse is a smoke and vape free area. Members who smoke on the property shall use the appropriate bins for disposal of their cigars or cigarettes.
CONCERNS, COMPLAINTS AND RECOMENDATIONS
79.All Members are encouraged to bring their concerns to a Director, particularly the Director responsible for the particular subject of the concern. Formal complaints or requests for actions shall be in writing and provided to the Secretary to allow for distribution to all Board Members.
Last updated 3:14pm on 21 April 2025