Edisto Island Yacht Club

Located along the serene and picturesque Big Bay Creek on Edisto Island, South Carolina, the Edisto Island Yacht Club offers a unique experience for water enthusiasts to share their love for boating, fishing, and good food in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. With the salt marshes and Spanish moss-covered trees as a backdrop, members can dock their boats at the water's edge and make their way up to the roomy clubhouse to enjoy great food and drinks, while watching fabulous sunsets on the river.

At the Edisto Island Yacht Club, members can enjoy the beautiful surrounding waterways by participating in our fishing tournaments and boat outings. The Atlantic Ocean is just around the "corner" out Big Bay Creek, and if you prefer quieter water, explore and fish the Edisto River and the many marsh creeks within easy access. Whether you're an avid fisherman or just looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Southern hospitality, the Edisto Island Yacht Club is the perfect yacht club for you.

Events and Tournaments

The Edisto Island Yacht Club hosts several events and tournaments throughout the year. Our fishing tournaments, which are held in May and October, are in-shore events that target red fish, spotted sea trout, and flounder. A Captain meeting is held the night before, and after a day of fishing, the weigh-in is held on the Sunset Deck, which concludes with a dinner and awards for the largest fish by species and the aggregate weight.

We also have numerous social events, including the New Years Day Meal, Oyster Roast, Super Bowl Party, Valentines Dinner, Ladies Night, and Trivia. Our events are designed to bring members together to share their love for boating, fishing, and good food.

Boating Trips

The Edisto Island Yacht Club offers several boating trips throughout the year. Day trips to other clubs and restaurants accessible by water are popular events. Overnight trips to Beaufort, Savannah, and Charleston are frequent destinations. Sand Bar trips, poker runs, and day trips are typically held in the summer and early fall and enjoyed by all who participate.

History of the Edisto Island Yacht Club

In March of 1987, eighteen people met to organize the Club under the name of the Edisto Yacht Club, and subsequently changed in 1990 to the Edisto Island Yacht Club. By-Laws were adopted, and the first officers of the Club were Tom Kapp - Commodore, Buck Fisk - Vice-Commodore, Diane Fisk- Secretary, Tommy Padgett- Treasurer, Captain Marion Sams-Fleet Commander, and Woody Kapp- Rear Commodore. By the end of 1987, there were 150 members with dues of $100 per year.

In 1992, the Club entered a contract to purchase the Sam's Boathouse property, located on Big Bay Creek at Lybrand Street. The negotiated contract price of $250,000 was contingent upon a quick cash closing. To meet this requirement, five members formed the Financing Group, INC to purchase the property and personally guarantee the purchase money mortgage. The Financing Group, Inc. the leased the property to the club for an annual amount equal to the carrying cost of the mortgage.

The EIYC was restructured from a social club to a full-service yacht club complete with its own facilities. This new program required an initiation fee of $1,000 and annual dues of $300.00 per year. Coincidental with these activities, the Financing Group, Inc. purchased the DOG HOUSE. In the summer of 1992, the Yacht Club held the grand opening for its new facilities with Marion Whaley, SR., the former skipper of the DOG HOUSE in attendance. The DOG HOUSE was re-commissioned as the official clubhouse of the Edisto Island Yacht Club.