Local Boat Club celebrates 50 year anniversary.
The Triangle Boat Club (TBC) was formed on January 15, 1960. Its founders were a dozen Lake County residents whose love of boating on Lake County’s waterways drew them together. They saw the club as a way to enhance boating skills and build camaraderie among old and new found friends while passing an enjoyable day, evening, or weekend on the county’s waterways.
As the club celebrates 50 years of service in Lake County, its members are still drawn to the club for many of the same reasons. They see the club as a way to enhance boating skills and build camaraderie among old and newfound friends while passing an enjoyable day, evening, or weekend on the county’s waterways.
Good things never change.
The clubhouse, docks, and facilities, on the waterfront of the Dead River under the Bridge on State Road 441 between Tavares and Leesburg, were made possible by the personal donations and sweat equity of those founding members. They hand- dug the 68 foot well. They met as a workforce to pour the slab for the extension of the original bait-house building. They held fundraisers and personally donated money to add to the building’s original foot print. They met to install windows, doors, cabinets, to paint walls and floors. They even met to build docks, a seawall and to plant grass.
Since that eventful day in 1960, more than 300 Lake County boating enthusiasts have been members of the club and every one of them have continued the tradition of adding their labor and donations to maintain and improve their clubhouse.
Just like the founding members 50 years ago, members still meet with paint brushes and shovels in hand to maintain this little piece of heaven. Work parties of the membership can often be seen working to rescreen the patio, plant shrubs, wash windows, clean toilets, replace light bulbs and mow the lawn.
Centrally located, the TBC has easy boating access to every waterfront restaurant on the lakes. But, it’s also a great starting point for cruises to the many near-by parks where quiet picnic lunches can be enjoyed or boats can lazily raft together on a warm summer afternoon.
While the club serves to provide recreation for the members, its greater role is served when it affords members the opportunity to learn to navigate the various lakes and the many miles of canals in Lake County. On these fun filled cruises, members can explore new waterways and strengthen their boating skills.
The first Wednesday of each month is a board meeting at 4:30 PM. The club’s members gather at 5:30 PM for a social which is followed by a Pot Luck dinner at 6:30 PM.
The third Friday is a social starting at 5:30PM followed by a catered dinner or a dinner prepared by some of the members. Normally a small fee is charged for this event
The forth Wednesday is typically a local cruise from the clubhouse docks to various lakes and local restaurants.
Several times a year we cruise to other waterways including the St. John river, East and West coast Inter Coastal Waterways, and other non local rivers or lakes. Some cruises are more than one day. Most members use waterside motels, but some hardy souls sleep on their boats. All of the cruises that are not on the Lake County waterways start with trailering boats to various launch sites. Multi-day cruises are usually Tuesday through Thursday.
Saturday cruises accommodate members who work during the week.
Member’s boats measure between 17 and 27 ft, with most in the 19 - 22 ft range. Some members are 'Snowbirds’ but most live here all year.This boat club is active all year round!!
The club also schedules an annual Coast Guard Auxiliary Boat Safety Inspection leading to courtesy inspections certificates.
The clubhouse boasts a complete kitchen with two ranges and ovens, an over-sized refrigerator, a screened lanai with patio seating and an oversized barbecue grill that is great for a hamburger cookout or even a pig roast. And, of course, the clubhouse has its own docks to encourage arrival by boat.
Snowbirds and full time residents are equally welcomed.
The clubhouse is located at 200 Hwy 441, Tavares, Florida.
And of course, information about the Triangle Boat Club is on our website. The website address
is www.TriangleBoatClubFL.com