Mission Statement

The Oakland County Boat Club represents 112 years of family fun, great food, and camaraderie on the shores of beautiful Sylvan Lake.

Our goal is to provide a friendly environment that celebrates boating and Michigan lake living, sharing a rich history with other preeminent boating and yacht clubs around the county.

Our values are rooted in friendship and respect for one another. We place an emphasis on creating a comfortable, tasteful environment, where Members and their guests can come together to relax and enjoy all that Michigan lake living has to offer.

Membership

All available memberships for 2023 have been filled. We will determine when memberships will be available for 2024 sometime in April and the process and guidelines for applying for membership.

Prospective Members require a current Member to propose them for membership along with 2 proposers. If you are interested in becoming a Member, please contact your current Member proposer and sponsors and they will keep you abreast of developments.

Our History

The Oakland County Boat Club was established in 1912.

The original clubhouse served as the social epicenter of Sylvan Lake. 

Local residents Frank Phillips, a piano player, and his friend Dr. Bernard TePoorten, a singer, entertained folks who visited the club every Saturday night. Couples danced, enjoyed coffee and doughnuts, and played poker while children slept on coats piled on tables not in use. 

In 1917, the present clubhouse was built on pilings, and had boat wells under the structure. Community meetings for the Sylvan Lake Council and the Garden Club were frequently held there. In the 1930's, the clubhouse was moved back seventy feet to the present location.

Powerboats dominated the club until World War II, when due to fuel rationing, sailboats took over. Every Sunday morning during the summer, a cannon would fire, heralding the start a sailboat race. Nineteen members of the club served in the armed forces.

After the war, the club returned to their annual power regattas. One or two races were held yearly until 2000.