Marathon Yacht Club to add a pool

Marathon Yacht Club to add a pool - A close up of a map - Yellow

Addition coincides with membership drive

Marathon Yacht Club wants you! The club, established in 1951, is adding a pool to sweeten the pot.

“We want to make the club fun,” said Vice Commodore Jim Payer. “And we want the community to become more involved.”

The pool will be constructed on the north side of the club, where the lawn and barbecue pit is now. The plans calls for a new ADA bathroom, tiki shade for loungers and pavers around the pool that will measure 20 by 36 feet.

“It will be perfect for playing, water aerobics and we might even be able to put up a volleyball net,” said Commodore Ralph Girkins. “This will make the facility more useful for activities, banquets and entertainment.”

Payer and Girkins have been overseeing the project — the plans and the fundraising. They said pool construction should start in May and end in late August.

The pool is just the latest effort to reach a broader segment of the Middle Keys community. Last summer, the club formed the nonprofit Marathon Yacht Club Education Foundation. One of its outreach programs included certifying a handful of local youth in skin diving. Club members are also considering the creation of a youth sailing foundation.

“We are open to suggestions. We particularly want to reach out to families with young children,” said Payer.

Right now the club has about 300 members. According to Girkins, the club is looking to increase the membership by 100.

In addition to the pool, the club also features a full service restaurant and bar and about 22 slips with a “million dollar view.” The Marathon Yacht Club is part of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs which gives members reciprocal priviledges at about three dozen participating yacht clubs around Florida.

“The first night of dockage is free for FCYC members,” said Girkins.

The Marathon Yacht Club docks are also new, replaced about two years ago after taking a beating from Hurricane Wilma.

For more information about becoming a member, please call 305-743-6739 or email Teresa@marathonyachtclub.com

 

Sara Matthis thinks community journalism is important, but not serious; likes weird and wonderful children (she has two); and occasionally tortures herself with sprint-distance triathlons, but only if she has a good chance of beating her sister.