SailTime Detroit reopens, waives initiation fee for prior members

Detroit native Dave Conrad is relaunching boat membership company SailTime in the Motor City. Jim Kaza, the prior owner, died in September 2016.

Conrad and his wife, Kristen, will host an open house May 19-20 at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club as part of the Great Lakes Boating Festival.

SailTime Detroit celebrates its return with a new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 named Grand Circus in recognition of the city’s historic downtown park. Conrad said he’s waiving the $1,500 initiation fee for any former SailTime Detroit member who wants to rejoin.

“It feels great to bring SailTime back to Detroit and be part of the comeback going on here,” Conrad said in a statement. “This is where I grew up, so I want SailTime Detroit to have a distinct, local feel and welcome back the former members who showed such amazing loyalty to Jim and his business.

“We’re opening on The Nautical Mile, which is one of the best places in the country for boating enthusiasm, but we hope to eventually expand to a downtown marina to capitalize on the revitalization going on in the downtown,” Conrad said.