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BSC Club Rules

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House and Grounds

  1. Any Club property lost or damaged as a result of carelessness or misuse shall be replaced or repaired at the expense of the member responsible for the loss or damage.
  2. Guests are permitted on Club premises only when accompanied by a member or a member's family. No member shall invite more than six guests to the Club at any one time without the permission of the chairman of the House Committee. Children of members shall not invite more than two guests at any one time.
  3. The Clubhouse shall not be used for the storage of a member's property.
  4. Members may use the kitchen, but shall leave it in good order.
  5. Although the Club has janitorial service, members should place all trash in trash cans and keep the appearance of the Club in good order for the sake of other members and guests
  6. No pets are allowed on Club grounds.
  7. Tents and camping trailers must be removed after 14 days, unless a permanent space has been assigned.
  8. No firearms, including air rifles, are allowed on Club grounds.
  9. Members are responsible for the supervision of their children and their guests.

Docks and Harbor

  1. The use of Club-owned boats shall be limited to Club programs.
  2. Swimming is permitted only from the north dock.
  3. Water skiing is not permitted from any dock.
  4. As soon as a boat is launched, it should be moved as far out on the dock as possible and allowed to weathervane.
  5. Motor boats should launch from the windward side of the dock.
  6. Docks are for the general use of all members and should not be obstructed with gear.
  7. Boats and vehicles shall not park in areas designated for rigging or launching, except when rigging or launching.

Boat Parking and Mooring

Section I - Generally
  1. Definitions:
    1. An "Initiation Member" is a member who currently pays dues as a regular, spousal, intermediate or a student member.
    2. A "Non-initiation Member" is a member who currently pays dues as an associate or a non-resident member.
    3. "Boat Parking" refers to a dry land parking space.
    4. "Mooring" and a "Wet Slip," are used interchangeably and refer to an in-the-water dock.
    5. "Space" refers to either a boat parking or mooring.
  1. Boat Parking or Moorings are provided for members only. Any boat stored on Club property must be 100% owned by a member or members. Any boat or other craft left on the Club property by former members or any one else is subject to the fee set forth herein plus the equivalent of dues until removed.
  1. Due to the physical limitations of the Club's property and docking facilities, no member or guest may keep a boat more than 27 feet long at the Club, either on shore or at a dock, for more than 72 hours.
  2. A limited number of Wet Slips have been set aside for the specific use of some of the members, subject to the following conditions:
  1. These Wet Slips shall only be used for sailboats.
  2. There shall be paid in addition to applicable dues, a fee as required in Section III.
  3. A Wet Slip is for the use only of the member to whom it has been assigned. No member shall transfer the use of the slip to another member.
  1. The Grounds Committee, with the consent of the Board of Governors, has the responsibility of designating those areas of the Club's lands and moorings that are to be used for general use, boat parking or mooring, rigging areas, power boat parking, auto parking, camper, RV, and temporary trailer parking.
  2. The Harbormaster has the responsibility for assigning spaces for boat parking and mooring within the areas designated by the Grounds Committee and shall keep an accurate record of space assignments. The Harbormaster is appointed by the Commodore and serves at the pleasure of the Board.
  3. Boats shall be kept in assigned spaces. Any member who wishes to change his Boat Parking or Mooring Space must apply in writing and obtain approval of the Harbormaster. No boat, except those in an assigned Mooring, shall be left in the water for a period of more than 72 hours without the approval of the Harbormaster.
  4. Only one trailer may be kept in a Boat Parking Space. A member may store a small boat on top of another boat.
  5. A member with a Space for Boat Parking or a Mooring shall not lend it to anyone else except on a short term, occasional basis.
Section II - Assignments of Spaces
  1. Assignment of Spaces. When a Space for Boat Parking or Mooring becomes available, it shall be assigned in the following order of priority:
  1. By category: (boat parking or mooring)
  2. By status within the category as delineated in Section II, Paragraph 3.
  3. By activity within the status as defined in Section II, Paragraph 4.
  1. Waiting Lists. There shall be separate waiting lists for each category, Boat Parking and Wet Slips.
  2. Status. The order of priority for members within each category will be:
  1. To the Initiation Member with a Space who wishes to move to a new space and relinquish his or her current Space.
  2. To the Initiation Member without a Space.
  3. To the non-voting Initiation Member without a Space.
  4. To the Non-initiation Member without a Space.
  5. To a voting Initiation Member who requests a second Space for a sailboat.
  6. As to Boat Parking Spaces only, to those Initiation Members who wish to park a powerboat or other craft.
  7. As to Boat Parking Spaces only, to the Initiation Member with a powerboat Space who wishes to move to a new Space and relinquish his or her current Space.
  8. As to Boat Parking Spaces only, to the voting Initiation Member without a powerboat Space.
  9. As to Boat Parking Spaces only, to the Non-voting Initiation Member without a powerboat Space.
  10. No other assignments will be made.
  1. Activity. Allocation of Spaces shall be from a waiting list with seniority to the member who raced the most races in the last previous Annual Series. Date of request shall be used in case of ties. A more senior member on the list may pass on a move to the next available space and retain his/her position on the list.
  2. Retention of Spaces. A member must be current on any fees due on the space to retain the Space. If current, the following applies:
  1. Any Initiation Member, once assigned his or her first Space, shall retain it regardless of any waiting lists as long as it is used for a sailboat. A four-month grace period is allowed for a member without a sailboat who is getting another one.
  2. A Non-initiation Member who met the Board-defined criteria for renewing his or her membership may retain the Space assigned to him or her.
  3. A member with a second sailboat Space may retain it if he or she raced at least ten races during the previous Annual Series.
  1. Relinquishing Spaces.
  1. The criteria for retention of Spaces overrides this Paragraph.
  2. Spaces which may be relinquished, from first status to last, are:
  1. The Space of any non-member.
  2. Non-initiation Members who did not meet the Board defined criteria for renewal of membership.
  3. The Space of a member who has not paid the applicable fees for the Space.
  4. Second Spaces used to park powerboats or other craft.
  5. The second sailboat Space of a member who did not race at least ten races during the previous Annual Series.
  1. Order of relinquishing
The criteria for activity shall apply in the reverse order to each status above.

Section III - Fees
  1. Quarterly charges for one Boat Parking:
  1. No charge for an Initiation Member's first Boat Parking Space.
  2. $30.00 for a Non-initiation Member's Boat Parking Space.
  3. $25.00 for each additional Boat Parking Space of an Initiation Member.
  4. $15.00 for each additional Boat Parking Space for specially designated fill-in places.
  5. $10.00 for each small boat stored along the waterfront.
  6. $100.00 for any non-member's Boat Parking or Wet Slip Space as well as the equivalent of regular dues of $55.00 per quarter for a total of $155.00 per quarter until removed (this will change when the new docks are built).
  7. Spaces assigned during the first 45 days of a quarter shall be billed for the entire quarter. If assigned later in the quarter, rent will be billed beginning the first day of the following quarter.
  1. The monthly fee for wet slips and moorings is $60.00.
  2. Campers and recreational vehicles, as are approved by the Board of Governors, are subject to a $100 annual fee.

Revised May 1999

Use of Prams

  1. The prams were obtained to promote interest in sailing by the youth of the Club and will be available for this purpose as long as they are not abused. The use of the prams is governed by the following policies:
  2. Club members who wish to let their children or guests use the boats shall be present when the boats are in use and take responsibility for the boats. Club members also accept the responsibility that their children or guests do not rig and launch a boat without a member having accepted responsibility for the boat.
  3. The member who checks out the boat shall make sure that it is properly cared for and shall properly store the boat and its parts when finished. The member retains this responsibility, even when others may use the boat, until either the boat has been properly stored or until another member has signed for the boat.
  4. The sails, spars, rudder and dagger board for each boat are numbered and are kept in a locker box in the pavilion. There will be a checkout book at the locker that the member checking the boat out must sign, which indicates his/her acceptance of responsibility for the boat.
  5. If any other member wishes to use a boat while it is already checked out, they must sign the checkout book and thereby accept responsibility for the boat.
  6. The Club has first priority of use for its sailing programs.
  7. Any member who fails to meet these conditions may forfeit the right to use the boats.

Adopted November 21, 1989

Using the BSC Power Boats

The use of Club-owned boats shall be limited to Club programs.

The ignition keys for all boats are stored in the locker on the pontoon boat on key rings labeled with these names.

Getting Started

  1. Gas and Oil
      1. All boats have separate oil supplies. Do not add oil to the gas tank! The newer Whaler & newer pontoon boats have 4 stroke Honda outboards that do not use 2 stroke oil. The 2 stroke Mercury 30 hp motor on the older Whaler has a small viewing window on the front of the outboard for checking the 2 stroke oil. The dedicated 2 stroke oil container is mounted internally on the front of the outboard & there is a 2 inch dark plastic screw lid on top of the motor to add 2 stroke oil if needed The 2 stroke Evinrude 50 hp motor on the older pontoon has a dark plastic one gallon oil container mounted on the aft deck. It has a 2 inch lid which can be unscrewed by hand to ck the oil level. Half or more full is sufficient.
      2. If needed, and you buy gas and oil, please get a receipt and submit it to the Treasurer for reimbursement. Gallon containers of oil and gasoline tanks are stored in the Club lakeside storeroom, located on the floating dock adjacent to the committee boats.
  1. Engines - Starting, etc.
  1. A. The vent screw on top on the gas tank should be loosened before starting the engine. The engine will start and run smoother, especially in the warm months, if the fuel pump does not have to overcome the vacuum that builds up in the tank as gas is used.
  2. Fast Idle - The fast idle lever should be raised when cold starting and lowered once the engine has warmed up. This control does not have any thing to do with choking.
  3. Choking - The 4-stroke engines have manual chokes on the motors. Other engines are choked by depressing and holding the ignition key while turning it to start. The engines will start with very little choking! Sometimes, you will need to choke 2 stroke engines after they have started, to keep them running. If the engines starts, then dies, just
    Birmingham Sailing Club 2005 press the key in momentarily when the RPM starts to drop. Repeat choking until the engine runs without choking.
  4. Highly important - Visually check that the water pump is working on each motor before leaving the dock. Check for water being ejected from the back of each motor. If you do not see a stream of water, do not use the boat! All boats have a built-in horn warning system. Horn sounds indicate that action must be taken to prevent damage to the
    engine. A horn sound every 20 seconds means low oil - refill oil tank. Rapid short horn sounds indicates no oil flow - stop engine, check oil tank. A continuous horn sound indicates overheating - stop engine, tow boat to dock. Note: A single horn sound when cranking the engine is normal.
  5. Please do not remove the engine covers, unless you are an experienced mechanic.

On-the-Water Pointers

Please do not shorten the anchor lines. Do not tie knots in them or cut them. The marks may float up to 30 feet from the anchor position. This is not a problem! The extra line is needed when setting marks in the river channel. The depth of the racing area ranges from 20 to over 70 feet.

The snap clips on the anchor lines allow the anchors to be used on any mark. Nothing needs to be untied or tied!

The pontoon boat has 200 feet of anchor line. Square the starting line by releasing more line or pulling in line. In a breeze, you should use more than half of the anchor line so you will not drag the anchor.

The most expedient technique to set marks is have the crash boat set all marks. The pontoon boat should then set the anchor, squaring the starting line by adjusting the anchor line.

Please do not put the anchors on seat cushions!

Stay clear of shallow water! Props cost over a hundred dollars. Special caution must be taken in the low water months, October through May. The water behind the boat sheds is very shallow. Back out aiming the stern toward deep water. When leaving and entering the harbor, use the long dock as a guide and steer a course to leave the long dock directly in your wake. If you are not aligned with the dock, you will find the shallow water to the North and South.

If you hit anything with the prop, the damage is already done, so please let the Vice Commodore know about it. The seals on the lower unit need to be checked for integrity whenever the prop hits something. It only costs $35 to check the unit, but it costs over $1200 to replace lower unit when it burns up, because the oil has leaked out. Please do not guess that it is OK: report the incident.