RBAW Monthly Newsletter

- October 2024 -

Fast Approaching - 2024 RBAW Annual Meeting!

Our annual meeting of the Organizational Members of RBAW is fast approaching on November 9th and we have over 70 registrants so far. In person space at the Tacoma Yacht Club is filling up fast, but there's plenty of room on the Zoom webinar. Affiliated Yacht Club Bridge members and RBAW Delegates, we hope you can join us for this important event.

In addition to sharing what RBAW has been focused on for recreational boaters - and the approval of our 2025 priorities and slate of board member elections, we have 2 great guest speakers lined up! We hope you can join us, members can register at the button below.

Review RBAW 2025 Priorities

That's a Wrap . . .See You Next Summer for FREE Mobile Pump-outs!

What a productive summer for RBAW's inaugural season with the West Puget Sound Mobile Pumpout program - a whopping 11,725 gallons worth from 508 recreational vessels!! Big thanks all around . . .to the RBAW members and boaters that made an appointment or waved down the pumpout boat to properly dispose of their waste, to our match partners and agencies who helped make this possible (see below) and to the crew at NW Mobile Pumpout!! This was year 1 of a 3 year CVA O&M grant.

We will spend the winter planning year #2 (no pun intended) with NW Mobile Pumpout and evaluate the schedule to be as productive and efficient as possible. And, our vessel build with Pacific Skiffs appears to be on schedule for a May 2025 delivery which will give us a larger vessel to better accomodate wind and waves, with a bigger holding tank for 2025 and forward.

RBAW has advocated for increased pumpout funding to enable more facilities for rec boaters with a focus on mobile pumpouts to meet boaters where they are. Early this year we stepped up for boaters and secured CVA grants to be able to make this service available. If we hadn't, those funds we advocated for may have gone unused for mobile services. Based upon the success of the 2023 pilot program that RBAW and others invested in we launched the west sound free pumpout program in Poulsbo/Liberty Bay, Eagle Harbor, Blake Island, Illahee, and Fort Ward State Parks.

Partial funding for this project provided by Washington State Parks Clean Vessel Act Grant Program & matching contributions from Port of Poulsbo, City of Poulsbo, Washington State Parks Foundation, and City of Bainbridge Island. The Clean Vessel Act Grant Program is funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is financed by the purchase of motorboat fuels and fishing equipment.

See ya next year!

PS - For those hearty fall and winter boaters, visit the Pumpout Washington website to find the nearest fixed or mobile facility to properly dispose of your waste . . .and don't forget there's an app for that!

Pumpout Washington

Pumpout Nav App (IOS only)

Successful 3rd Season for Mind The Zone Campaign!

During this 2024 summer season, our Mind The Zone campaign experienced significant growth and expanded its impact. Our direct-to-user lakeside public outreach efforts nearly quadrupled from 2023, and our South Lake Union Trolley wrap made the campaign more visible to thousands of Lake Union visitors and South Lake Union residents. We expanded our presence in print, with features in new publications like Seattle Gay News and The Stranger, while also broadening our reach into radio with sponsorship spots on KEXP and KUOW.

Our social media efforts yielded outstanding results! Our safety video on YouTube ad was seen 3.6 million times this summer and our Instagram and Facebook efforts reached over 200,000 impressions. Further, Seattle Parks and Recreation and King County Parks shared our message on their socials. We were also featured in digital newsletters like the University of Washington's "The Daily", Seattle Yacht Club's "Compass News", and NMTA's "WaterLife". You may have even seen us on King 5 Evening Magazine!

We want to thank our incredible Lake Union business partners in helping us raise awareness of the seaplane advisory buoys this summer- special thanks to NWOC, NMTA, Hot Tub Boats, Bowriders Grill, Fisheries Supply, Future Tides, College Club, Pocock Rowing Club, Lake Union Rowing Club, Moss Bay Kayak, Morrison's North Star Fuel Dock, Urban Surf, Pumpout Seattle, and Virginia V.

We are happy to say it was another fun and safe summer on Lake Union! Mind The Zone is funded by the City of Seattle and State of Washington - we are working with both to continue their funding of this campaign through summer 2025 and 2026, to include a request in the 2025 Legislative session.

Watercraft Excise Tax - DOR Annual Depreciation Schedule Update

The annual rulemaking by the Department of Revenue (DOR) to update the watercraft excise tax depreciation schedule for 2025 continues through its defined schedule. The Department held their first rulemaking hearing on August 6th, and then an additional rulemaking hearing occured on September 25th - RBAW President Bob Wise testified in both hearings. RBAW requested the Department re-examine the depreciation schedule of vessels, and raised concerns with how the current (and proposed) schedule does not show further depreciation of vessels after 25 years of ownership, when vessels clearly continue to depreciate. In these most recent comments, RBAW highlighted the need for transparency in the methodology and formulation DOR uses to formulate their proposed schedule for 2025. The next step in the process is for DOR to finalize their rule and the depreciation schedule for 2025. Click HERE to read RBAW comments and DOR response.

The treatment of vessels as they depreciate - specifically vessels owned for 15 years or greater, continues to be a focus area for RBAW. The goal is to refine the depreciation schedule as we we believe the valuations are higher than the true market value of the vessel. We continue to evaluate moving to a flat, year-over-year depreciation for vessels owned for 15 years or more - and the requried 2025 legislation to enact. RBAW has met with BST associates to discuss what data and language may look like and we will continue this discussion with additional legislators this fall.

RBAW is excited to continue the growth and success of our organization which will enable even more focus and engagement on recreational boating priorities. The RBAW Board of Directors is actively seeking an Executive Director to take on the operations of RBAW - membership growth and administration, marketing and awareness and daily operations. An ideal leader will use their experience and proven track record of success to drive RBAW through this period of growth and opportunity. Our engaged Board will continue to define the direction, set priorities and support this role. Please share this job posting with your networks to help us get the word out, and if you know someone who’d be perfect . . .have them apply!

Job Announcement

Upcoming Events!

RBAW Annual Meeting
November 9, 2024 | 10:00AM - 1:30PM | Tacoma Yacht Club & by Zoom

RBAW Board of Directors Meeting
December 5th, 2024 | 6:00PM - 7:30PM | Held by Zoom only

Where are you spending your boat dollars?

Ask your vendors to invest in what's important to the Recreational Boater and Support RBAW, and get notice by our 7,000+ members

Please refer them to Info@RBAW.org

Platinum Sponsor - $10,000

Educational Speaking Consideration
Exhibitor Table at Annual Member Meeting
Ability to Offer Discounts to RBAW Members
Named Sponsor & Logo on RBAW Website Home Page
Sponsor Directory Listing on RBAW Website
2 Social Media Spotlights with Information of your Choice
Sponsor Logo on Exhibit Booth Banner
Sponsor Logo on Annual Meeting Banner
Named Sponsor & Logo on RBAW Member Communications
Business Card Ad & Logo in RBAW’s Newsletter

Gold Sponsor - $5,000

Ability to Offer Discounts to RBAW Members
Named Sponsor & Logo on RBAW Website Home Page
Sponsor Directory Listing on RBAW Website
1 Social Media Spotlight with Information of your Choice
Sponsor Logo on Exhibit Booth Banner
Sponsor Logo on Annual Meeting Banner
Named Sponsor & Logo on RBAW Member Communications
Business Card Ad & Logo in RBAW’s Newsletter

Silver Sponsor - $2,500

Named Sponsor & Logo on RBAW Website Home Page
Sponsor Logo on Exhibit Booth Banner
Sponsor Logo on Annual Meeting Banner
Business Card Ad & Logo in RBAW’s Newsletter

Bronze Sponsor - $1,000

Named Sponsor & Logo on RBAW Website Home Page
Business Card Ad & Logo in RBAW’s Newsletter

Click here for more information on these sponsorship opportunities!

To learn more about how your business can support what's important to the recreational boater in WA, and get notice by our 7,000+ members contact us today at Info@RBAW.org!

RBAW's Gold Sponsors!