Dunstable and District Boat Club

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About the Dunstable & District Boat Club

The primary objective of DDBC is to promote and facilitate Motor Boating on inland waterways.

The club has a number of mooring spaces and facilities for boat maintenance available for use by Full members.

The club also has an active social calendar open to all members.

A little bit of background.

The club was founded in 1964, by three boating enthusiasts: Pete Stanbridge, Reg Hayes and Ivor Cave. Initially there were only a handful of members with moorings that were rented at Marsworth. Later the current site was acquired, but the facilities were rudimentary and mooring was linear.

In 1980 the current "end on" moorings were dug out by members so that boat numbers at the club could be increased, we now have 45 permanent moorings for boats up to 40ft in length as well as a wet dock, slipway and dry working area.

The initial clubhouse was a caravan which was then replaced by a recycled 1945 prefab which did us proud until 1984 when the first proper clubhouse was built. In 2008 we had a grand opening for our brand new clubhouse almost entirely built by the members of the club and is the venue for most of our social functions.

As a club we have members with wide ranging skills and knowledge and it is all down to their abilities, commitment and hard work that we have the club and facilities that we have today - we think the founding members would be extremely proud of what they started and what it has become. 

Members Commitment to the Club

The provision and maintenance of the clubs facilities is only possible because members commit their own time and expertise. It is not like a commercial marina where you pay your mooring fee and get use of all the services. At DDBC you have the benefit of a reduced mooring fee but then make up for this by giving your time to help maintain and provide the club facilities.

The minimum expected of our members is to regularly attend general meetings and working parties. For those members who like to get a little more involved we also have an elected Committee responsible for the day to day running of the club.

There are monthly social functions that members are encouraged to attend as these shared memories are what build relationships and is all part of being a member of a club. The functions are varied in nature and normally involve excesses of calories and laughter.

For more details on becoming members of the club, in the first instance please email the Honorary Secretary (details on the contacts page).

Clubs and Associations

DDBC actively promotes motor boating on the inland waterways and registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club in February 2012.

DDBC was a founder member of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs. Through AWCC, clubs offer reciprocal short term moorings and other help to members "away from base". AWCC also organises events and publishes a handbook which lists all member clubs.

DDBC is affiliated to the Inland Waterways Association and has won the Offley and Slack Propeller Award several times.

Club members enjoy certain benefits not found at commercial marinas, but as previously mentioned boats longer than 40 feet cannot be accommodated except for short term pre-arranged visits.