The original Vero Beach Yacht Club was chartered January 15, 1926 by Judge Elwyn Thomas, with Hoyt E. Morris as Commodore, and five other subscribers: Carl Hood, Vice Commodore; O.P. Banks, Secretary-Treasurer; plus B.W. Williams, B.W. Ketchum and A. Maree, Jr. - all of Vero Beach, Florida. Indebtedness was limited (to $50,000) as was real estate (to $ 75,000). At this writing little else is known about the club until it acquired a new 99 year charter on February 8, 1938 from Circuit Judge Elwyn Thomas.

Subscribers to the new charter were: Prescott LeB. Gardner, President; Paul Goodridge, Vice President; Waldo E. Sexton, 2nd Vice President; and E.G. Thatcher, Secretary-Treasurer. Other backers were: A.B. Michael from Wabasso, plus Harry Dameron, J.J. Schumann, B.L. Holman, Joe E. Earman and Chas. A. Mitchell, all of Vero Beach. The titles of Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, and Fleet Captain were respectively conferred on the corporate officers.

While the first club was established to study and maintain a library on nautical subjects, and was limited to individuals connected to the yachting and boating world, the 1938 club had broader objectives. Good moral character was the simple basic requirement for membership, and a not-for-profit social group was formed to encourage social and boating activities upon the waters of the Indian River adjacent to Vero Beach, and, "to extend conveniences and service to all craft passing in and upon the waters of the Indian River adjacent to the city of Vero Beach, and to improvement of waterways in said vicinity." Of prime interest was the operation of the "City Dock", built in the early thirties to provide for off-loading and loading of commercial watercraft. Over time, a second (North) dock was added to the facility, and a third (South) dock was added by the Yacht Club, which operated from these docks and had no clubhouse until 1963, when it acquired full title to the present clubhouse grounds. The Yacht Club opened a new Club House in 1963 on grounds adjacent to the marina, just North of the Merrill P. Barber old Bascle Bridge. The building provided a large lounge, a porch overlooking the river, a small office and a small kitchen.

The Club operated the city docks from 1938 until 1956 on a handshake arrangement with trade-off financing, and a lot of personal backing of the public spirited citizens who were the early subscribers. Finally, on June 19, 1956, a lease arrangement was made with the city, to operate the docks on a formal financial basis. The Club provided a full-time Dockmaster, sold gasoline and diesel fuel, rented slips to permanent and passing boatmen, provided haul-out service for boats up to thirty feet, and sold supplies. Monies earned were to be applied to maintenance and improvements, and approximately 177 dollars per month paid to the city, in one hundred installments, to compensate for structures previously erected by the city.