The Palatka Yacht Club was formed in 1976 by several boaters after the St. Johns Yacht Club dissolved. The motivating force behind establishing the Palatka Yacht Club was boaters from Putnam County and new arrivals from Dade County, FL.

Those founding members had the experience of belonging to a yacht club without a proper clubhouse and knew the challenges. The also had two key ingredients, the love of boating and perseverance. From this small group, the Palatka Yacht Club (PYC) was established.

For several years the PYC conducted monthly meetings in a home of various members. The monthly meeting served as both the director’s meeting (as there were no formal directors at that time) and a business meeting. Business was transacted over a dinner served by the host of the meeting. At that time there was approximately a dozen members, most of whom, had boats.

Club membership soon grew beyond a single meeting in member homes. Meetings then moved to "floating events", then later to rented halls necessary to accompany the growing membership. The old Holiday Inn (now Quality Inn & Suites Riverfront), the Civic Center at Ravine Gardens, Price Martin Community Center and the Palatka Women’s Club held many monthly meetings, club functions, commodore balls and dances.

Boating outings were numerous and were often over night events. Some of those early events included overnight boating to Harbormaster’s Marine in Jacksonville (downtown across the river from the Landings), to Astor, south of Lake George and 3-day weekend event to Ft. Brook through the Buchman Lock onto Lake Oklawaha that became an annual spring "primitive camping" weekend by boat. Other outings were cruises to enjoy food and drink at Corky Bells and Old Shell Harbor. At Shell Harbor, then run by Capt. L.J. Smith always looked forward to the arrival of the club and made sure that all had an excellent dinning experience – which it was indeed!

Later events included torrential rain down pours (one known as "We Survived Fort Brook") did not stop an outdoor rendezvous cookout; the cooking simply moved inside to members motor homes. Another was the "Storm of the Century" that caused considerable damage to "live-aboard" member boats with them on board. They were also left with no land access as docks were wiped out. Numerous members went to rescue with temporary repairs, and a later club rendezvous was held for permanent repairs to the dock.

Membership continued to grow despite the fact that the club was without a home of its own. While many members looked forward to the wonderful catered dinner meetings, events and rendezvous; others dreamed, explored and discussed the club having its own home.

In approximately 2003, several members found an old steel hull that had been buried in the mud at Keith Marine, in Palatka FL. This hull (85’ long x 32’ high x 32’ wide weighing approximately 68 tons) was built but then cancelled by the purchaser before completion. After negotiation with Keith Marine and creative financing by numerous members, the hull was purchased. The build out was commissioned and was ready for its members in 2005.