Membership FAQ

+ What is a boat club?

It’s like a country club for boats. You pay a one-time entry fee and monthly dues and in return, you get access to our private fleet of boats on Lake Mendota.

+ Why join the boat club rather than get a rental?

This depends on how often you plan to go boating. If you only boat 2 or 3 times a year, then boat rental is probably the most economical choice for you.

However, if you want to go more often, and avoid the hassle and cost of owning a boat yourself, a Capitol Boat Club membership is the perfect solution. Our club boats are for members only and are higher-end models with larger motors than our already nicely outfitted rental boats.

+ Do you rent your boats?

Boats in the club are for members-only. We have a separate fleet of rental boats that are available to non-members.

+ What kind of boats do you have?

Our members-only fleet includes three pontoon boats, a ski boat, and a deck boat. Our rental fleet includes two pontoon boats and a deck boat.

+ Are the boats well maintained?

Yes! All boats are cleaned and inspected before and after every outing. If something breaks, we are sure to get it fixed as quickly as possible.

+ How much does it cost?

Boat club memberships come in three different plans. Besides the entry fee and dues, the only other cost is the fuel you use.

+ Is the entry fee recurring and are the monthly dues only during the season?

The entry fee is one-time only, not recurring. The dues are paid 12 months a year. Compare it to buying a boat – your loan payment is due every month regardless of the season. The difference here is that our dues include your insurance, storage, slip rental, maintenance, etc. – all costs that you’d otherwise spend thousands of dollars a year on in addition to the cost of the boat itself.

+ How many members do you have?

That number is always changing, but we keep a close eye on the ratio of members to boats. Our promise to you is that we will never accept more members than would allow each membership to get three weekend outings per month.

+ How do I know I’ll be able to get a boat when I want one?

Similar to the above, we are careful to watch the usage of the boats and cap our membership to maintain high availability. Generally speaking, availability is 85+% if you book a few days in advance.

+ How long are the reservations for?

Members can book either an AM or PM half-day outing. The exact time slots change throughout the year based on how much daylight we have, but they’re always 4-5.5 hours. Typical time slots are along the lines of 8:30am-1:30pm for mornings and 2:30pm-7:30pm for afternoons.

+ How do you qualify members?

Membership is open to anyone, 22 years of age or older. Our members range from first-time boaters to skilled former boat owners.

+ Will I get boat training?

Yes. All members receive on-the-water training upon joining. Members are also requried to complete an online Boater Safety Certification, regardless of age. Members must complete their training course and boater safety cetificate before they can start reserving boats.

+ Do I need insurance?

Nope. Our boats are fully insured by us, and you as a member are included in that insurance.

+ Can I use the boats at night?

No. All boats are due back at the docks before sunset.

+ Can we ski and tube with the boats?

Yes! All the boats are equipped with tow bars. We offer tubes for rent for a small fee. We do not have skis or wakeboards, but you’re welcome to use your own with the boats. We also rent Lily Pads!