
Pam and Dave Ellard
Tollycraft Boating Club Founders
In 1987
Tollycraft owners, Pam and Dave Ellard called up several other Tollycraft
boat owners to attend a “rendezvous” at Port Ludlow, Washington of
which 5 boats and 13 people attended. Later that year, he went to
the local Tollycraft dealer, Jerry Schei of Western Yacht Sales for
the purpose of planning the first Tollycraft Rendezvous for the
following year. In the years following, rendezvous became larger
with 37 boats and 76 people attending, then 68 boats and 121 people
attending. Newsletters and rosters were developed. Many friendships
were made and Tollycraft owner’s looked forward to each year’s
rendezvous. The number of people attending those rendezvous grew in
size. In
1995, it was decided to organize some type of club. So the
Tollycraft Boating Club of Puget Sound, Washington was formed and
named with By – Laws, Bridge Officers and a board. It established an
association of Tollycraft owners for the purpose of providing a
means of communication on questions and answers pertaining to their
Tollycraft Yachts, to foster greater interest and meet new friends,
to promote proper and safe boating, to organize cruises and
rendezvous in the Pacific Northwest waters and to act as a medium
for the exchange of ideas and information.
In 1997 the first International
Rendezvous of American and Canadian Tollycraft owners was held. 173
boats and 457 people attended it. In 1999 the 12th Annual Tollycraft
Boating Club Rendezvous was held at Roche Harbor, Washington, in the
San Juan Island breaking the club’s record with nearly 225 boats and
563 people in attendance. Today there are around 330 vessels and 650
members in the Tollycraft Boating Club. Members have been from all
around the United States including Switzerland, New York, Florida,
the Great Lakes, Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Alberta, Montana, California
and Oregon to the Pacific Northwest and from Canada to Seattle,
Washington.
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