REX Boating Club FAQs
DOWNLOAD THE REX BOATING CLUB APPLICATION FORM (PDF-445KB)
DOWNLOAD THE REX BOATING CLUB BROCHURE (INCLUDES THE 2010 PRICE LIST) (PDF-662KB)
Why should I join?
Owning a boat can be a fun and relatively affordable, especially if you live in an area with a year-round boating season and you enjoy do-it-yourself projects involved with boat ownership – painting the bottom, for example, or changing the engine oil or waxing the boat. However, if you live in New England, and your idea of summer fun is spending as much time as possible during our short boating season on the water with your family and friends, then REX Boating Club membership may be the answer. In fact, a REX Boating Club membership will provide you with the opportunity to spend just as much time on the water as a boat owner at about one-third the cost of the premium-brand boat you’ll be using.
In the real world of New England boating, most active boat owners get on the water 10 to 20 days a season...Take a look at the RBC website cost comparison of one year of boat ownership versus one year of RBC membership and you’ll quickly see the membership advantage. If you’ve never owned a boat, RBC membership will enable you to get a realistic idea of how boating fits into your family’s life, before you make major investment. Alternatively, if you currently own a boat and are thinking of giving it up because of the expense or infrequent use, RBC membership is a great way to lower the cost of your time on the water.
Are memberships limited in number?
Yes. We are limiting membership in order to maintain a ratio of members to boats that will assure that you have plenty of opportunity to use all of the boating days your membership provides– and even more as your spring and fall schedule permits, during the RBC unlimited use “off-peak” season.
What membership classes are available?
Membership plans and their associated number of Peak Season uses – Memorial Day weekend thru early September — are shown below. Note that on a weekday – Monday through Friday – use can be the entire day when demand allows. Each Peak Season weekend day – Saturday and Sunday/Holiday – is divided into two sessions, one begins in the morning, the other mid-afternoon. Uses are charged to the member's account only during the Peak Summer Season. Off- Peak Season uses are FREE. A membership may have two reservations at any one time, and only one use per weekend. Note: All memberships include Safe Boating Certificate training and Sea Tow protection.
For plans and pricing, please click "Download the Rex Boating Club Brochure" PDF above.
Question: “ How can some other boating clubs offer “ unlimited boating” as the foundation of their marketing materials and oral representations?”
Definition: “Unlimited”, adj. 1. Unrestricted. 2. Without limits. Synonyms: infinite; limitless, unconstrained.
Answer: “ Simply put, they cannot, at prices offered. If you were to ask these clubs to support the representation of “unlimited boating” by asking something like “Can I reserve a boat every Saturday and every Sunday, weeks in advance, every weekend of the season, so I can plan my summer?”, the answer would be “No,” perhaps followed by “but.....” Well, that demonstrates their boating usage is in fact limited, and the claim of “ unlimited boating” as a false, deceitful marketing and business practice, certainly not the way to begin a relationship.
The Rex Boating Club does in fact guarantee that our “Captain's Choice” plan members can boat every weekday, and like most RBC memberships assures one use per weekend as well as a 2nd use the same weekend on stand-by.
Who may operate the boat?
Any person at least 25 years old may become an RBC member and take a boat out as “captain.” RBC
makes it easy to get your lifetime SBC with our one-day SBC class. Out-of-state certificates are transferable,
too.
How many guests may be brought
along?
The “captain” may invite as many guests as the Club’s stated
capacity for a given boat. Most of our boats safely handle up to 12 persons.
How do I pay for membership?
Because membership is limited, RBC requires membership to be paid infull before
boating begins by the start of each season. Memberships run thru October 15. There is a 2% discount if you pay for your membership by check, and we also accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. You can reserve your membership NOW with a refundable $500 Deposit . CT sales tax is additional.
Can I get a boat on weekends and holidays?
Of course you can, so long as you plan ahead a few days. Like reservations
for court times (tennis) or tee times (golf), the earlier you reserve the
more likely you are to get the block you want. RBC limits members to one
reservation block per Peak Season weekend, and the boating
times on Saturday and Sunday are split into two blocks. RBC limits
the number and types of memberships each season to assure that all members
have plenty of opportunity to make the most of their memberships. Experience has shown that scheduling within 5 days or even less of the desired use date is successful, and we often can say ‘yes’ even for requests made on a peak-season weekend day!
How do I schedule?
Most scheduling is done through the REX Boating Club on-line reservation system, Schedule Master. Each
membership may have two reservations on the books up to two weeks in advance
including one reservation per weekend. Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor
Day are considered weekend time.Only Peak-season uses, those between Memorial Day weekend and early September diminish your pre-paid use count .
Are there additional costs or fees?
You only pay for the fuel you use. You will receive an itemized
statement listing your charges.
What do I need to know about boating?
Included in your membership is a safe boating course to earn your lifetime SBC, an easy quiz for anyone. Then, your membership includes a comprehensive,
on-the-water orientation, where you can learn and demonstrate your new your skills with a USCG-licensed RBC training captain.
Do I need special safety equipment?
No, each boat is equipped with a VHF radio and any safety gear required by
state and federal laws. Members may bring along their own fishing
gear.
What boats are available?
REX Boating Club selects only the safest boats for our fleet – boats
designed for the conditions normally found on Long Island Sound.
The dayboating fleet will include Boston
Whalers, Sea
Rays, and other
high quality models between 20’ and 25’. RBC continually evaluates
our fleet mix to assure that we are meeting member needs, and welcome your
input.
Do you have larger boats suitable for over-nights or extended cruising?
Yes, the RBC Sport Cruiser Program features Sea Ray's 300 Sundancer. Details found on home page of this web site.
Tell me about the staff?
Most of our RBC staff members are college students who have a love for (and
often a family background on) the local Long Island Sound waters. You will
find them well trained, professional, helpful and friendly. They know that
the REX Boating Club’s only purpose is to provide safe, hassle-free
boating fun for our members and their families and friends.
How do I get more information or request a free demonstration boat
ride?
To learn more about how the Rex Boating Club can help you connect with those
you care about, please contact Bill Gardella Jr. at 203 984-1278, ext. 23,
or email at wgardellajr@rexboatingclub.com. Because boating connects families and friends like nothing else.
Download an Adobe PDF Cost Comparison Chart and decide for yourself (36KB). Requires the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader.
DOWNLOAD THE REX BOATING CLUB APPLICATION FORM (PDF-445KB)
DOWNLOAD THE REX BOATING CLUB BROCHURE (INCLUDES THE 2010 PRICE LIST) (PDF-662KB)
