Small Yacht Club Web Software Ideas

[Loren Beach]

Our club is researching a change in software for our web site. After looking at what's out there, it seems like a lot club packages are aimed at larger social clubs with restaurants and bars. And then there are the ones aimed at clubs with sail training, racing, and dinghy programs.

We, on the other hand, have a 150 slip marina, floating clubhouse, fenced parking area, and our main need is way to let members communicate for chat or buying/selling stuff. And, setting up for BBQ's and other functions. Being all volunteer, we also really need an easy way to track maintenance projects and see that required work hours are correctly tallied.
It would be best to source a complete software package, but I have not found much.

Any of you sailors have any vendors to recommend for consideration?

 

[Parrothead]

I know a guy . . . .
. . . that provided and manages the software for Catalina Island's mooring system. I'll contact him today.

 

[william.haas]

Both yacht clubs we belong to use Club Essentials. The one club, Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club, is completely volunteer driven and does not have a single paid employee. Chicago Columbia Yacht Club, on the other hand, does have a paid staff of servers, bartenders, and a management team. I brought up both as it appears to be a scalable solution. The only aspect of what it sounds like you need that I am not sure if it does is the capitol/maintenance component but, that stated, I only use the software as a member and am not an Admin.

 

[Parrothead]

My guy replied that his software is totally custom with a corresponding price. He and I agreed it wasn't really what you're looking for. Sorry.

 

[Loren Beach]

Thanks for the input. We have a small committee working on and so far today has generated over 6 emails to me... and the day is young....
It's interesting how something that seems so simple in concept is so complicated in reality.

 

[Ralph Hewitt]

Our club is researching a change in software for our web site. After looking at what's out there, it seems like a lot club packages are aimed at larger social clubs with restaurants and bars. And then there are the ones aimed at clubs with sail training, racing, and dinghy programs.

We, on the other hand, have a 150 slip marina, floating clubhouse, fenced parking area, and our main need is way to let members communicate for chat or buying/selling stuff. And, setting up for BBQ's and other functions. Being all volunteer, we also really need an easy way to track maintenance projects and see that required work hours are correctly tallied.
It would be best to source a complete software package, but I have not found much.

Any of you sailors have any vendors to recommend for consideration?

Set up a Facebook group. Simple.

 

[Loren Beach]

Set up a Facebook group. Simple.

Facebook is.... Evil......

 

[Ralph Hewitt]

Facebook is.... Evil......

Not if it used right.
Might check out the Ericson owners group site.
But I do agree "lots of Evil" in many areas of social media and on the web in general .

 

[Loren Beach]

I have friends that use FB, and say that they just accept the risks. Thing is, once they have your prose or pix, they own it. And unlike here where we know Sean will guard our data, FB barely answers to anyone, including the Federal gov't.
Not saying I would never use it (never.... is a long long time) but I am inclined not to do so.

 

[Ralph Hewitt]

I have friends that use FB, and say that they just accept the risks. Thing is, once they have your prose or pix, they own it. And unlike here where we know Sean will guard our data, FB barely answers to anyone, including the Federal gov't.
Not saying I would never use it (never.... is a long long time) but I am inclined not to do so.

Just thought maybe a private group posting for what you described your YC NEEDED would fit. easy good way to communicate as a group. With out trying to reinvent the rudder. But I do understand your thinking.

 

[Tin Kicker]

I'd look at making a GoDaddy website. They have members-only features, scheduling calendars, billing, email to members, etc. My biz is on GoDaddy and setting it up was pretty simple. The only downsides so far is the constant marketing to add features and some can add $$ to the annual bill.

https://www.godaddy.com/websites/website-builder/features

 

[steven]

my homeowners association uses:
https://www.hoa-sites.com/sites.php
home owner associations operate very similarly to other clubs with facilities.
Its a several hundred bucks a year.

They have quite a few interesting examples, including a yacht club.

--Steve

 

[Felicity]

Our club is researching a change in software for our web site. After looking at what's out there, it seems like a lot club packages are aimed at larger social clubs with restaurants and bars. And then there are the ones aimed at clubs with sail training, racing, and dinghy programs.

We, on the other hand, have a 150 slip marina, floating clubhouse, fenced parking area, and our main need is way to let members communicate for chat or buying/selling stuff. And, setting up for BBQ's and other functions. Being all volunteer, we also really need an easy way to track maintenance projects and see that required work hours are correctly tallied.
It would be best to source a complete software package, but I have not found much.

Any of you sailors have any vendors to recommend for consideration?

Our company makes custom apps, for a range of organisations from hospitals to tv broadcasters, to insurance companies. It might be worth a discussion. Often the flexibility of using Facebook for social, in conjunction with other third party tools like an app, can give you the best of both worlds