Outstation and Main Station Nightly Moorage Rates

At the February 6th Board of Trustees meeting and after several months of review and discussion, new Bainbridge Island Outstation and Main Station nightly moorage rates were approved, to be effective April 1, 2023.  The increases will reduce the annual operating deficits for both the Bainbridge Island and Deer Harbor Outstations, and place more emphasis on revenue from user-based fees.

The new rates (effective April 1, 2023) will be:

Bainbridge Island​ - $16 per night

Deer Harbor -        ​ ​$25 per night

Main Station -         ​$16 per night

(Main Station includes the Work Slips, the “U”, and Member use of reciprocal moorage [when approved by the Bridge]). 

While permanent moorage rates and annual membership dues have seen increases, the $8.00/night visitor moorage fees for these two Outstations and the Main Station have not been adjusted in over a decade. Annual operating deficits average about 50% at Bainbridge and 70% at Deer Harbor (Revenue - Operating Expenses = -$35-40K/year at Bainbridge). This does not include other expenses such as commercial marine insurance (which has increased approximately 187% since 2010) nor approximately $1M spent on Bainbridge Outstation capital improvements over the past 12 years. 

Membership dues and permanent moorage fees have absorbed these operating deficits as well as capital improvements specific to Bainbridge. And soon the Club will invest about $1M to replace the Bainbridge Outstation pier, ramp, and utilities.  The $8/night fee at Bainbridge is not sustainable.

Over the same 12-year period, the Deer Harbor lease has increased 76%. With the new $25/night rate, the deficit will be approximately $18K for this year. The Board believes Members will continue to enjoy a significant benefit with a nightly rate that is about 25% of San Juan Islands market rates. 

The rationale for increasing the rates at the Main Station Work Slips, “U”, and reciprocal docks (when approved by the Bridge) is to keep temporary moorage rates uniform for both the Bainbridge Outstation and the Main Station.  This change will also help shift the revenue stream towards user-based fees while maintaining a significant membership benefit.

The Outstation Committee, Planning and Finance Committee, Bridge, and Board of Trustees believe the rate change maintains the great value of the Bainbridge Island and Deer Harbor Outstations and Main Station facilities while balancing revenue streams between actual use, membership dues, and permanent moorage fees.  

Rodger McKinley

QCYC Board of Trustees

Chairperson