Earlier this week Governor Inslee signed HB 1107, sponsored by Rep. Mike Chapman (D-Port Angeles) and Rep. Andrew Barkis (R-Yelm) into law which will help bolster Washington’s boating economy in the coming years. Out-of-state vessels such as superyachts can now be put up for charter using an innovative permitting system making it even easier for boats to visit our state.

Washington Retail strongly supported the measure as a way to help our marine industry members and their customers. In a recent press release from the Northwest Marine Trade Association and Superyacht Northwest, Peter Schrappen, NMTA’s Vice President & Director of Government Affairs is quoted, “Flanked by coalition partners, Northwest Marine Trade Association demonstrated to lawmakers that boating means business, which led to this legislative win”.

Some other important provisions of this law include the following:

• Creates a framework to sell permits for skipper-provided charters for boats from out of state.
• Increases the size of all vessels eligible for these permits to include boats up to 200 feet.
• Keeps the current rule that boats can return each year, year after year for 60 days (and those days do not need to consecutive)
• Removes the language that boats have to stay away for two years after using days 61-180.
• Moves the expiration date of this so-called tax preference to 2031 (it was Jan. 1, 2026).
• The law takes effect on July 25, 2021.