A message for Washington state boaters

Sam Bisset

Sam Bisset

Staff member
Factory Employee
Joined
Nov 10, 2014
Messages
307
Location
Arlington, WA
Fluid Motion Model
R-27 (Outboard)
Vessel Name
ZISSOU
Hi Tugnuts,

If you're a Washington boater, you may have heard about SB 5801—a proposed 10% luxury tax on new and used vessels over $500,000. While most of the boats we build at Fluid Motion fall under that threshold, this bill would still have broad, negative impacts on the Washington boating industry and on us as boaters.

We only learned about this bill a week ago after it had already passed the Senate. Things are moving fast, and the industry is scrambling to respond. Arnie from Best4Boats.com wrote a great article that talks about what's at stake, the history of failed luxury taxes, and how you can contact your legislators. https://best4boats.com/death-and-taxes-new-luxury-tax-proposed-in-washington-state/ I encourage any Washington State boaters to check it out.

Waggoner Guide also has a call to action on their website that highlights the information sent out by RBAW: https://waggonerguide.com/proposed-luxury-tax-on-boats-purchased-in-wa-action-needed/

Sam
 
Here in San Diego we pay luxury tax on boats every year. Well I don't because I have my boat to the MCRD Marina and that is tax exempt because it's federal property.

Ralph
 
Aren't political posts banned here? I see this is from the factory, who set the rules.

If we are open to discussing the merits of taxes in Washington State, let us know. My understanding has been that this is off topic. I'm sure many of us have plenty of opinions about what should be taxed and not taxed.

I know it's about taxes on boats, but would that mean we can also discuss anything else related to politics and boats? How about climate legislation and boats? Or immigration policy and boats? Or tariffs and boats? Or foreign parts manufacturing and boats?

My $0.02 is to stay away from any political intersection and discuss boats only as boats!
 
Seems to me this is entirely appropriate because it is legislation specifically targeted to Washington boaters and to at least some Ranger Tug owners and wanna be owners.
 
SJI Sailor said:
Aren't political posts banned here? I see this is from the factory, who set the rules.

If we are open to discussing the merits of taxes in Washington State, let us know. My understanding has been that this is off topic. I'm sure many of us have plenty of opinions about what should be taxed and not taxed.

I know it's about taxes on boats, but would that mean we can also discuss anything else related to politics and boats? How about climate legislation and boats? Or immigration policy and boats? Or tariffs and boats? Or foreign parts manufacturing and boats?

My $0.02 is to stay away from any political intersection and discuss boats only as boats!
Click to expand...
Why is there always someone who needs to rock the boat?



Since Fluid Motion owns, operates, supports, and FINANCES this web site they can do whatever they feel is appropriate. If something affects their business they have the right to publicize it, political or otherwise. Users of the web site do not, and should not, have the same right. What is there not to understand?



I would like Fluid Motion, and this web site, to be around for a long time and will support them in whatever ways I can. Please do not try and promote an agenda that is off topic and will only cause discord which in turn may cause restrictions on, or removal of, this web site.
 
I'm OK with Fluid Motion posting anything they want. I'm just confused when they also say that posts must be non-political.

I want to stay on topic but honestly do not understand the limits they want us to place on discussion. The site is and, I hope, will remain valuable to the extent that expectations are clear.

My suggestion: delete the thread.
American Flyer said:
Since Fluid Motion owns, operates, supports, and FINANCES this web site they can do whatever they feel is appropriate. If something affects their business they have the right to publicize it, political or otherwise. Users of the web site do not, and should not, have the same right. What is there not to understand?
Click to expand...
 
I view this particular boating issue as non-partisan and non-political. No Rs or Ds mentioned. Just plain old taxation.
 
Obviously I have no say in what you or anyone else chooses to post. To me it is clear, this site is focused on the boat itself and what we do with it. Preferably with the intent to assist and inform others.

To keep with the spirit, and I think intent, of the moderators wishes, I choose to abstain from posting my opinions on the government, politics, politicians, regulations, taxes, and everything associated with them. These all belong elsewhere. Of course some of these may be mentioned to give context, but they should never be the subject. Just my opinion on how to keep this site enjoyable and (boat) informative.

What the owners of the site choose to post in no way affects what the users should and should not post. And I totally agree about the soup, but this is the wrong pot.

In reference to the post above, so now should everyone get a chance to post their opinions on taxes? Where would it ever stop? This has absolutely nothing to do with our boats! Unbelievable.

Anyway, looking forward to another great boating season and hope to see you all on the water to discuss something else!
 
When I’m out on the boat I do not think about taxes. It is not a boating issue to me.
 
We are all I hope "Boater Voters". Some times we need to assure others that not all Yachies are "Rich Folks".
 
I like knowing about this and I can still choose to respond or not respond!!!
And I did not know until I read the post.
Very directly impacts boaters regardless of politics so why not.
 
My last post on this topic, but maybe it is time to consider a new forum dedicated to Laws, Rules, and Regulations (LRR). This could help the whole Ranger, Cutwater, Solara community better understand the boating world we live in. No pressure or obligation to read it. I bet there would be more than a few posts just on how to decipher the WA marine area fishing regulations. Thanks everyone for your input.
 
FYI: the additional 10% recreational vessel tax was removed from the bill as passed. Starting July 1, 2026 there is an additional 0.5% tax at the time of purchase. Just for context, that means an R-43 would have an additional tax of approximately $6000. As I understand it, the existing tax was already 0.5% and this is on top of that, so the excise tax would be 1% of the value of the vessel now.
 
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