Club Policy and History

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Thank you for your interest in the Kenai Fjords Yacht Club. The Kenai Fjords Yacht Club was founded in 1987 to promote boating safety, education, and camaraderie in the Seward boating community. Sailors, power-boaters, and anyone interested in boating is welcome to join. Boat ownership is NOT required.

Members in the past received the Bergy Bits & Growlers, our newsletter, advertising quarterly general membership meetings, club activities, marine safety issues, and other Seward harbor and marine news.

Revenues from membership dues, newsletter advertising, and the sale of club T-shirts and burgees enable the club to cover modest overhead costs and support Harbor Opening Day, the Silver Salmon Derby, and other events, programs, and projects as suggested and approved by the membership at meetings.

The Kenai Fjords Yacht Club was responsible for installing escape ladders throughout the harbor in 1992. Harbor renovations have incorporated a more durable design. Ladders located along the main floats between every two slips, to help save anyone who might fall into the numbingly cold harbor waters.

Dock carts (see a photo of one of our carts on our Photo page) are available for our members' non-commercial use. We ask that everyone help keep them clean (NO FISH!), don't overload them, and return them to the heads of the ramps and lock them back after use. Courtesy and common sense help maintain the carts for the benefits of all our members. We change the cart combination lock each season, so renewing your membership allows you to continue to use this club asset.

All Kenai Fjords Yacht Club members are encouraged to make suggestions, and to participate in club meetings and activities. Input from people with diverse points of view helps us to maintain balance in our activities and grow as a voice for the boating public.

Welcome Aboard!

Below is a concise history of the people and events that helped to create this organization.

The club filed its articles of incorporation with the State of Alaska on June 16, 1987. The five people who formed the nonprofit corporation were Carrie Lyall, Carol Clouse, Clem Locke McCann, Tanya Sandefur and Ralph Browning.

The club's official formation followed several organizational meetings, the first of which was on Dec. 13, 1986. The following information comes from minutes of the club's meetings:

Commodore Carol Clouse called to order the first general membership meeting of Kenai Fjords Yacht Club on Sept. 12, 1987. Eleven members were present. Clem McCann was vice commodore, Kip Louttit was recording secretary and Carrie Lyall was treasurer. Among the topics discussed during that three-hour meeting were: club newsletter, club sweatshirts and a holiday party. John Flood took the floor to talk about boat winterizing.

The club's 1988 annual meeting was held March 19 and the following were elected as officers: Commodore Clem McCann, Vice Commodore Tanya Sandefur, board member Mike Brittain, Treasurer Carrie Lyall, Correspondence Secretary Kip Louttit, and Entertainment Committee Chairman Mike McKern. Members said the club should have education as its main goal and social activities as its second goal.

Our gracious former Commodore, Donald Smith, has taken on the project of revising our club's bylaws. In the club's Winter meeting, we formed a committee to revise the bylaws to be voted in at our Spring meeting.  They have been additionally revised by a committee in the Spring of 2024. 

Ultimately, we are a service organization: we try to return to the Seward community some of the kindness that they have shown to us through the many years of our existence.

Proceeds from our annual dues, our sales of clothing and burgees, are dedicated to completing tasks for the community, among which are:

Safety Ladders: To provide emergency egress from the SBH's frigid waters, we provided, and installed the original escape ladders on all floats.

Seward Silver Salmon Derby Prize: Proud sponsor of the $100 prize given each year to the yacht club member catching the heaviest fish in the Seward Silver Salmon Derby.

Donations: Over the years, the club has donated to various civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Alaska SeaLife Center and the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Mariners' Memorial: Club members have played a major role in trying to push forward the idea of creating a Mariners' Memorial. As this is an ongoing effort, anyone willing to lend their support in any way is urged to contact the Commodore.