Marley Boat Club Celebrates 48th Annual Opening Day

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By Kevin Murnane

While there are over 50 boat clubs in Maryland, the Pasadena-based Marley Boat Club may be the runaway leader when it comes to socialization and friendship. According to legend, Marley Boat Club began as a men’s social club in 1957 with nine members, five of whom owned rowboats. Meetings were held at Higdon’s Restaurant on Marley Creek and bonds were formed over love of the water and occasional adult beverages. The club quickly grew, and today boasts over 70 members.

“We do many activities together from cruises, to progressive dinners, to crab feasts to going to Ravens games, to a black-tie affair at the end of the year,” said Commodore Steve Kincer. “But we do so many other things together like the Polar Bear Plunge and adopting a family during the holidays.”

 The club has also become an extended family for many of its members, some of whom have taken in other families during times of financial hardship.

“We’re a boat club but you don’t need a boat to join,” said Kincer with a laugh. Members who don’t own a boat themselves can get aboard someone else’s for weekend trips, some of which include trips to visit other boat clubs in the area or an extended three-day excursion to places like Chestertown.

The club also hosts unique contests like “The King of the Chesapeake,” where men have to compete in three categories: bathing suit, talent and Q&A. For the ladies, the annual “Queen of the Galley” holds a great deal of honor; the winner gets to wear a colander and cape as she oversees the galley on cruises and other events.

The club kicks off the boating season each year by hosting its annual “Opening Day Ceremony,” where an officer dedication and social celebration is held. This year, the club had a Shrimp Feast at the Pasadena VFW to launch the boating season.

“Our events are so much fun. We try to have a band because this group loves to dance and kick up their heels,” said historian and past commodore Diane Guthrie.

Any proceeds from events go directly into the club’s coffers, so the Commodore can attend other boat club functions as the representative from Marley Boat Club.

For more information on joining the Marley Boat Club, visit their website at www.marleyboat.org.

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