ABOUT THE MARINA
The Fairfax Yacht Club is a first-class, year-round, recreational yachting facility with 170 open and covered slips accommodating boats up to 50 feet in length. The facility is designed and operated with the active boating family in mind. The Fairfax Yacht Club is not a yacht club in the traditional sense. Rather it is a condominium marina, each of the slips being owned by an individual and none being owned by the marina. No transient slips are available. Many of the owners do out-lease their slips to persons seeking to moor their vessels in a beautiful environment without actually purchasing a slip.
The Fairfax Yacht Club offers a beautifully landscaped five-acre park-like surroundings, a clubhouse, picnic stations, restrooms, private parking and a pump-out station. For peace of mind, Fairfax Yacht Club allows limited access to the parking lot and clubhouse through a secured card entry system.
Much of the popularity of Fairfax Yacht Club can be attributed to its unique location on the scenic Occoquan River. The Club is located along the Fairfax County shore north of the Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge. No other location offers boaters a greater variety of popular cruising ports within easy reach. Georgetown, Washington DC, Old Town Alexandria, the Town of Occoquan, the Chesapeake Bay, and many popular restaurants and swimming areas are within easy reach.
The Fairfax Yacht Club is operated by a Board of Directors, elected by the slip owners. All of the Directors are slip owners in good standing. The make-up of the board ensures that Fairfax Yacht Club is operated and maintained with the boater and slip owner in mind, and a high priority is given to upkeep.
Slip owners and their tenants have the use of all Fairfax Yacht Club facilities.
Fairfax Yacht Club was the first marina on the Potomac River to offer condominium slips. Because condominium marinas have many unique features, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions designed to help you better understand condominium slip ownership.
What is a Condominium Slip?
A condominium slip is similar to an apartment condominium in that the owner receives a deed which is recorded in the County Land Records and on which title insurance is obtainable. Ownership carries with it the exclusive right to the use of the slip (the slip is owned by the owner and not rented or leased from the marina). Further, the owner receives an undivided interest in all condominium property (referred to as the common elements) as specified in the condominium documents which, in this case, includes the piers, clubhouse, parking lots, and other facilities. The owner may sell a slip to other persons without limitation. Fairfax Yacht Club is subject to Virginia’s condominium laws.
Why purchase into a Condominium Marina?
At one time, boaters had no other alternatives to renting if they wanted to keep their boat in a wet
slip. Condominium slips provide an alternative. In addition to having independence from rising
rental rates, condominium slip owners have the ability to take money normally spent on slip
rental and use it to build up equity in an asset that can be sold sometime in the future. It also
gives owners a voice in the operations of the facility.
Who Operates the Marina?
A five member Board of Directors, elected by the unit owners, establishes the budget and sets the operating policies. A Dockmaster, employed by the Condominium Association, provides day-to-day services and is responsible for the general maintenance and repair of the facility.
What Are The Costs Related To Owning A Condominium Slip?
Each year, the Board prepares a budget for insuring, operating, and maintaining the facility. Virginia Law requires condominium associations such as the Fairfax Yacht Club to set aside in reserve the funds needed for future replacement, major maintenance, and repairs, such as dredging, piling and dock replacement, and other major repairs. Periodic reserve studies are conducted to assure the adequacy of the reserves that the Fairfax Yacht Club does maintain. The budget also provides for a capital reserve fund dedicated to future expenses and new projects. Each condominium unit supports a proportional share of the budget through an assessment. In addition, owners receive an annual real estate tax assessment directly from the County. Other utilities, such as electricity, telephone, etc., are billed directly to the slip occupant by the utility. Although rare, if the marina experiences unusual expenses, the Board may elect to impose special assessments to cover these costs.
Other than the assessments just described, there are no rental fees payable to the Club on slips, and there is no fee paid to the Club to become a Unit Owner.
Are Slip Rentals Available?
Yes. Slips are available for lease directly from slip owners. Many of the Fairfax Yacht Club’s current owners first rented a slip before later deciding to purchase. To see a current listing of slips available for rent, please click on the “Sales & Leases” tab located on this website’s home page. The Fairfax Yacht Club maintains on this website a list of slips for sale or lease, but does not itself get involved in any way in any sale or lease transactions; these are completely within the Parties’ control.