| That's the membership I had about 10 years ago. But the price has gone
up a bit since then. Used to be $600/season. At the time the boats
were well maintained and in good shape. The owner employed a boat boy
to wash down and repair the boats after each usage. Never got a dirty
or malfunctioning boat. The equipment provided is adequate but not
extravagant. No electronics other than VHF and running lights.
Provide your own winch handles and charts. I guess members found those
items too easy to take with them when leaving the boat.
Availablility on weekends was a real problem. The policy was not more
than one full weekend (both days) per month. One weekend day per week
was allowed but you had to be real aggressive on the phone the
preceeding Monday to get it. No problem with availability during the
week.
The boats themselves are a good boat for a club and almost, but not
completely idiot proof. For the first few seasons they were equiped
with decksweeping 150 genoas and working jibs. We were not supposed to
use the genoa in the harbor because of the restricted visibility. Of
course, no one ever followed that rule. After several collisions with
tankers, other boats, and sundry immovable objects, the owner cut the
genoas down to 120% high clewed yankees. Much safer but light air
performance and cruising range really suffered. P-town and back was a
three day affair. To the builders credit, none of the boats suffered
more than cosmetic damage through all of fiascos they were subject to.
After a couple of long but slow trips, I reverted to weekday after work
booze cruise usage. The maximum one day (a long day) round trip
cruising range was to either Marblehead or Scituate. Nice trips but
you can only do them so many times before other horizons bekon. But
the club Pearsons were not going to be the boat to get you there. The
booze cruising made for a nice evening. 7:00 to 9:00 got us out to
Castle Island and back at the cost of a six pack and a few bags of
chips.
The club is not a bad way to learn Boston Harbor and nearby coastal
areas. It's also a good way to learn boat handling skills at some one
else's expense. That alone may be worth the membership price. High as
it is, it's nothing like paying all the bills yourself.
- gene
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| I took 2 courses from Boston Harbor Sailing Club, the Coastal Cruising
and the Night Sailing Course. Both of these were done on the Pearson
26. The training was good, but I was disappointed with the condition
of the boats we used. They were old, very used and not very well
equipped.
I since have explored other clubs and depending on where you live would
make another recommendation for a club with better boats, better
cruising area, more availability and more flexible memberships. See
note 184.9 for more info, or call me and I will discuss it with you.
Paul - DTN 276 9400
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| I have been a Pearson member of Boston Harbour Sailing for several years
and have signed up for next year also.
The boats are rudamentary and unaethetic below, however they seem remarkably
strong and well suited to conditions in Boston Bay.
Last year I went on trips to Newburyport, Provincetown and Welfleet.
Such trips can take a weekend if you leave Friday evening and sail
overnight. However three days is more relaxing.
The Pearson 26 membership is less expensive than any other alternative
for a boat of that size.
Mike
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