2024 Annual Membership

Thank you for your interest in joining The Narragansett Boat Club – America’s Oldest Rowing Club!

Membership in The Narragansett Boat Club is available to any person who has reached their 18th birthday by the date of application. Youth (under 18 years of age) are not eligible for membership and may not row outside of organized programs. See our our Club Policies and Procedures for rules governing youth rowers.

Benefits

Membership benefits are described on our membership information page.

Pricing

The 2024 regular membership dues are $950.

We offer discounts of 25% of the regular membership rate for member’s spouses and for members aged 72+. To be eligible for the Spouse discount, the partner must be a current regular full-rate NBC member. To be eligible for the 72+ discount, the member must reach age 72 by December 31 of the current year.

We offer discounts of 50% of the regular membership rate for members aged 19-22 (U23) and non-resident members. To be eligible for the U23 discount, the member must be at least age 19 and not reach age 23 by December 31st of the current year. To be eligible for Non-Resident discount, the member must live and work outside of 35-mile radius of club. Non-resident members may only row at the club weekends and holidays and 10 weekdays per calendar year.

NOTE: DISCOUNTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE COMBINED. ONLY ONE DISCOUNT CATEGORY CAN BE APPLIED PER MEMBERSHIP.

Sustaining Clubhouse membership dues are $200.00. Sustaining/ Clubhouse members have access to our facilities and use of our ergs; but are not eligible for use of our rowing shells.

We also offer a monthly payment schedule spread out over nine months with nine equal monthly payments by credit card.  Select the appropriate membership option labeled as a “Monthly Plan” to purchase an installment membership.

Initiation Fee

All new members and past members who have had a break in membership of more than one year are responsible for an initiation fee of $100. The initiation fee covers a 3-session orientation class which covers boathouse operations, equipment usage, and navigation of the Seekonk River. Orientation must be completed before being rated for use of NBC equipment. The orientation fee does not apply to Sustaining Clubhouse members. The initiation fee is waived for new members with at least one full year of recent participation in one of our programs and demonstrated knowledge of navigation rules, boat care, and club rules. You will also be certified for use of Club equipment. Your membership will be activated in our database following receipt of your dues payment so that you will be immediately eligible for member discounts on classes in our rowing program. On-water rowing outside of classes will not be available until the Captain or Lieutenant certify you for equipment usage.

Requirements

All members are required to affirm they can swim at least 100 yards and tread water for at least 5 minutes in order to use any boat. All members must sign an annual waiver. New members will be prompted to sign when completing the membership application.

To row WITHOUT a PFD, members are required to submit a swim test signed by a certified Lifeguard/Water Safety instructor:
NBC Swim Test

Responsibilities

All members are responsible for Boathouse security to insure the safety of rowers and the protection of the equipment. Members are responsible for the operation of the Club through active participation on committees, the Board of Governors, work parties and other functions. Please consult the Club Policies and Procedures to fully understand what is required of the members.