RBAW Monthly Newsletter

- March 2025 -

RBAW, Looking to do More!

Thank you RBAW community!

First and foremost. If you are receiving this newsletter in your inbox, you are the heart and soul of RBAW.

Thank you for supporting RBAW!

In order to do more, RBAW is finding more support through membership growth. As we work to grow awareness for everything RBAW, we plan to increase our membership on all fronts.

Goals for 2025: Considerable growth in individual membership, adding new and returning yacht clubs and to increase our growing list of Contributing Business Members!

Already in 2025, we have visited multiple yacht clubs and hope to share news soon regarding new clubs joining and previous member clubs re-joining RBAW.

In 2025, we have visited multiple yacht clubs and hope to share news soon regarding new clubs joining and previous member clubs returning to RBAW.

How can you help? Please share our story with your boating friends and your marina neighbors. Remind them that it is just $20 a year to join and support RBAW.

If you spend your boat dollars at a business that provides services you value, please share your contact with us and ask them to support Recreational Boating by becoming a Contributing Business Member of RBAW!

Send your suggestions to Troy Olason at...

executivedirector@rbaw.org

Welcome our new Contributing Members!

Speaking of membership, we've added a few new Contributing Members recently. Please consider supporting our supporters with your boating dollars!

RBAW would like to thank all of our Contributing Business Members for their investment in Recreational Boating!

Argo, our new Gold Member!

This navigation app makes trip planning and on-the-water navigation easier. Smart Routing, Real-Time Tips, Tide and Current Updates, Marinas & Anchorages, Multi-Device Access.

RBAW members get 25% off !

(coupon code is on your membership card)

Pacific Power Group, our new Silver member!

Pacific Power Group is a leading sales and service provider for Volvo Penta, Yanmar, and mtu Solutions for marine and power generation applications, and New and Remanufactured engines. As a trusted partner for more than 60 years, Pacific Power Group has worked with customers to meet their power needs.

Port of Edmonds! Bronze Member!

Port of Edmonds is a full service marina in a prime location on Puget Sound. Offering over 650 open and covered slips, we are able to accommodate boats of varying sizes and types for all of your moorage needs.

Port of Bremerton! Bronze Member!

The Bremerton and Port Orchard Marinas provide boaters with first-rate moorage, state-of-the-art facilities and professional service. Our staff makes every visit warm and pleasant so that you will return again and again.

Elliott Bay Yacht Sales! Bronze Member!

As a successful and respected member of the Northwest boating industry since 1980, we have hands-on experience in all facets of recreational boating. We are located at the Elliott Bay Marina!

We thank all of our Contributing Business Members for their investment in Recreational Boating!

What's next for the 2025 Legislative Session?

With ~ 40 days to go, the Legislature hit a major milestone on Wednesday, March 12 -the deadline to pass bills out of their original chamber. Lawmakers put in some late nights over the past week and a half, pushing through as many bills as possible before time ran out. Several big-ticket bills backed by majority Democrats made the cut, including rent control (HB 1217), unemployment benefits for striking workers (SB 5041), gun purchase permits (HB 1163), and parental rights in education (HB 1296).

On the boating front, our partners at NMTA saw 2 bills they were supporting pass this milestone. ESSB 5281 - changing the vessel length requirement in obtaining nonresident vessel permits and, SB 5656 - modifying the definition of inflation rate for aquatic leases are both moving on through the process.

Bills that failed to meet the deadline are now considered "dead" for the year – although nothing is ever truly dead in the Legislature! Lawmakers can still amend their content into other legislation or use procedural maneuvers to keep them alive. This Washington State Standard article covers additional noteworthy bills and their status if you want to learn more.

With that deadline behind them, lawmakers switched gears on Thursday, March 13, returning to committee hearings. Bills are back in the hands of committees for work sessions, public hearings, and debates, just like they were in the first round. The next big deadline is April 2—when all bills must clear their opposite chamber’s policy committee to stay in play. RBAW’s lobbyist, Trevor Justin, is closely watching all activities to ensure we stay on top of any potential impacts to recreational boating.

On the States budget front - Washington’s next revenue forecast, set to drop on March 18, is a big deal for the state’s budget planning. This report, put together by the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, helps lawmakers figure out how much money they’ll have to work with. If the forecast shows more revenue than expected, there might be room to fund new programs or boost existing ones. But if it predicts a shortfall—especially on top of the already projected $12–16 billion budget gap—lawmakers will have to make some tough calls on spending cuts or creating new revenue sources.

Right now, rumor is that revenues could be down, which means more debate over how to fill the gap. After the forecast is released, House and Senate budget leaders will finalize their budget proposals, expected the week of March 24. RBAW is tracking our 2 budget asks, a Capital Budget request for $1m to continue the Lakebay redevelopment and $450K Operating budget ask to continue the onshore MindTheZone campaign (including an on water safety ambassador). As budgets are released and both chambers work on ironing out the differences, we’ll keep you updated as things unfold!

To read more about the latest report, CLICK HERE

The timeline for the boat has it splashing in May. The break in process and training will commence providing the new vessel in service just in time for the cruising season!

Pumpout Boat Update

RBAW sent a few directors up to Pacific Boats in Marysville to see the progress going on with the new Pumpout Boat coming later this spring to the West Sound. It was very exciting to see the progress!

The Washington Legislature allocated funding in the 2022 session to be used for pump out programs. RBAW applied for these funds to build this vessel which will be used to run the FREE, CVA funded, West Puget Sound summer program.

You'll see her Summer of 2025!

CBCYC and RBAW Annual Meeting

In early April the Council for British Columbia Yacht Clubs (CBCYC) and the Recreational Boating Association of Washington (RBAW) (that's us!) will get together for our annual meeting. We serve similar roles advocating for recreational boaters in our respective areas.

These meeting serve as a platform to share news, best practices and find opportunities to work together on common goals and challenges alike.

Curious about CBCYC? Click the logo below!

Small Locks - Still Closed (Hiram M. Chittenden)

Just a reminder that the small locks are still closed for repair and maintenance.

Closure info:

The small lock will be closed to vessel traffic from 0700 on Feb. 18, 2025, to 0600 on May 19, 2025, for saw cutting, concrete drilling and demolition. All loud noise and vibration-inducing work will be completed before the end of this period. The small lock will remain closed to vessel traffic for final installations and commissioning from May 19, 2025, to June 18, 2025.

Here are a couple of reminders from the lock personnel.

Clink the link below for the boater information from the US Army corps of Engineers.

US Army Corps Boater Info

Lakebay Marina Update

The Lakebay Marina project continues. Since we acquired the property in 2021 our vision has stayed the same:

We envision new docks, utilities, and modern infrastructure, while seeking to preserve the site’s historic character. We hope to see families strolling the pier, boaters visiting for a rendezvous, and the building serving once more as a treasured community gathering spot.

Our partnership with the Department of Natural Resources for ongoing renovation work at the Lakebay Marina in the south sound.

Over the last two years, over $500,000 has been obtained to continue redevelopment and renovation of the Lakebay Marina.

We have submitted a request for an additional $1 million for permitting and engineering work for the removal of the existing pier to then prepare for replacement.

The current legislative session in projected to conclude at the end of April, we hope for a positive outcome!

In the future, upon project completion, the property will become part of the Washington State Marine Parks. Once again to become a destination for recreational boating in the South Sound.

Upcoming Events!

RBAW Legislative Committee Meeting
March 18th, 2025, | 4:00 PM - Zoom

RBAW Executive Committee Meeting
March 24th, 2025, | 4:00 PM - Zoom

RBAW Board of Directors Meeting
April 3th, 2025 | 6:00PM - 7:30PM | via Zoom

The Daffodil Festival
April 13th, 2025 | Tacoma Yacht Club

RBAW Membership Committee Meeting
April 21st, 2025 | 12:00PM - Zoom

RBAW Finance Committee Meeting
April 22nd, 2025 | 9:00 AM - Zoom

Opening Day of Boating
May 3th, 2025 | Montlake Cut and Seattle Yacht Club

Contributing Business Membership Opportunities

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 8,000+ members

Please refer them to Troy at 206.929.2757 or ExecutiveDirector@rbaw.org

Platinum Member - $10,000

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

Gold Member - $5,000

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

Silver Member - $2,500

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

Bronze Member - $1,000

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

Learn more about how your business can support what's important to the recreational boater in WA - and get noticed by our 8,000+ members, contact Troy at ExecutiveDirector@rbaw.org for more information.