RBAW Monthly Newsletter

- December 2025 -

As the year comes to a close, RBAW extends our sincere thanks to our members, partners, and supporters for your continued involvement and dedication to recreational boating. Your engagement and advocacy make a meaningful difference, and we are grateful to be part of such a strong boating community. We wish you and your families a very happy holiday season—may it be filled with warmth, joy, and time on the water. Whether you’re enjoying peaceful winter boating or planning for the season ahead, we look forward to working together again in the new year. See you in 2026!

Celebrating Bob Ranzenbach’s 90th Birthday

RBAW is proud to wish a very happy 90th birthday to Bob Ranzenbach and to celebrate the steady leadership, generosity, and good humor he has shared with our boating community for decades.

Bob served as RBAW’s 1st Vice President in 2013–2014, a role focused on advancing our legislative priorities. In the pre-Zoom days, this meant countless trips to Olympia for testimony, RBAW’s annual Legislative Day, and meetings with state agencies. Bob’s calm demeanor, thoughtful insight, and trademark wit consistently helped bring the right people together and keep RBAW’s mission moving forward.

Beyond his legislative work, Bob continued his service as an RBAW Director from 2015 until his retirement in 2021. He served on numerous RBAW committees to support recreational boating, and always ensured that RBAW remained top-of-mind with members of his beloved Seattle Yacht Club. Bob was the original RBAW liaison for the first Waggoner’s Guide promotion at the Seattle Boat Show—an important effort to grow membership and strengthen the RBAW mission. A passionate advocate for clean waterways, he also worked diligently to expand pumpout facilities in both freshwater and saltwater cruising areas.

In more recent years, Bob played a key role in launching and strengthening the RBAW Marine Parks Conservancy, serving as Vice President from 2019 through 2023. His contributions included recommending formation counsel, participating in early organizational meetings, and personally supporting the mission through generous donations. In recognition of his extraordinary service, Bob was unanimously elected Board Member Emeritus in January 2022.

Bob, thank you for showing up, pitching in, and helping protect and grow boating opportunities throughout Washington. Happy 90th—we’re grateful to celebrate you!

Support Lakebay Marina Before Year-End

Give back to the waterways you love! RBAW members can make year-end tax-deductible donations to the RBAW Marine Parks Conservancy. These donations are currently going to support the redevelopment of Lakebay Marina as a State marine park in the south sound.

You can donate online at the Conservancy's web site: www.rbawmarineparksconservancy.org

Or donation checks may be mailed to: RBAW Marine Parks Conservancy, PO Box 17591, Seattle, WA 98127.

Thank you for your support of Lakebay Marina and the Conservancy's mission!

Join us for Boating Day in Olympia!

RBAW and the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) invite you to join us for our annual Boating Day in Olympia on January 29, 2026. We kick off at 12noon with meetings with Legislators, followed by a reception at the Olympia Yacht Club at 5:30pm. Your voice matters, and we hope you’ll be part of this meaningful opportunity—watch for a formal invitation coming soon!

Reminding Boaters: New SRKW Law Requiring 1000 yard Buffer Zone for Recreational Vessels

With the SRKW in Washington waters right now, boaters are reminded of the new 1000yard setback law took effect on Jan 1st, 2025:

Washington State Law - Mandatory Measures

Boaters must stay 1,000 yards (1/2 nm)* from Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) on either side.
Boaters must stay 200 yards from the side and 400 yards out of their path in either direction from other killer whales (Bigg’s/Transient killer whales).
Boaters must go slow (<7 knots) within ½ mile of killer whales.
Boaters must disengage engine(s) if whales appear within 400 yards.

*NOTE: It can be difficult to determine different types of killer whales, especially at a distance when you’re underway. When in doubt, err on the side of caution, treat them as endangered, and follow the appropriate regulations and guidelines.

Boats should stay 100 yards from all other marine mammals (e.g. humpback whales, gray whales, sea lions and seals).

The new rules apply to all recreational boaters in Washington waters, including paddle craft like kayaks and paddleboards. You can review the complete set of boating rules related to SRKW, Biggs or Transients and other whales in Washington State and British Columbia - to include the Canadian Sanctuary Zones - at www.BeWhaleWise.org.