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2023 Registration is now Open!

Keep It Simple

Registration is now open for the 2023 PSGBOA Rendezvous!

This years event is all about K.I.S.S. – “Keepin’ It Simple Sailor”! We will have a great suite of relevant talks, lot’s of time for socializing and boat gawking, learning and sharing our experiences, and Sponsors on hand to walk us through what we need to know. And did we mention free beer?

Here is the link to register for the event:
https://psgboa.wufoo.com/forms/2023-grand-banks-rendezvous-registration/

You will also need to make your own moorage reservations with Roche Harbor. They are using the “Dockwa” App again this year to manage their moorage reservations. Use this link so that they know you are part of the GB Rendezvous:
https://dockwa.com/explore/destination/wgcrgq-roche-harbor-resort-marina/inquiries/new?contract_group_id=RNKMUNZZ

If you have used Dockwa before, all of your boat specifics will already be part of your account so just click “Login”. If you have not used Dockwa before, then you can create an account by clicking “Sign Up”.

Roche will again be offering free moorage on Wednesday for boats that stay through Sunday. Events (and donuts!) start Thursday morning so you’ll definitely want to be there by Wednesday evening.

It’s going to be a great year of boating so start it out right by attending the Rendezvous and Keepin’ It Simple!

2023 Rendezvous – Coming Soon!

Grand Banks Rendezvous

May 10-14, 2023
Registration opens March 22
Early Bird Registration Fee is $255 per Boat

Back by Popular Demand – Chef Shaw Cooking Demo!
– lunch with a demo and wine in the beautiful McMillan Dining Room
– make sure to sign up as attendance is limited and it is sure to sell out

Wednesday
~ Boats arrive and a BYOB Cocktail Welcome Party
Thursday
~ Donuts, Speakers, Catered Welcome Banquet in the Pavilion
Friday
~ More Speakers, Chef Shaw Cooking Demo (extra fee)
~ Sponsor Appreciation Event with free Beer!!!
~ Dinner at your leisure
Saturday
~ More Speakers, Buses to Friday Harbor for Shopping, Farmers Market
~ Pot Luck Dinner followed by Entertainment on the Dock

Plus so much more!! Details coming soon. Information on how to make moorage reservations will be part of the registration process.

2023 Rendezvous – Save The Date!

May 10-14, 2023 – Roche Harbor

We have started to plan the 2023 PSGBOA Rendezvous and we know you won’t want to miss it. Mark your Calendars!

Simple Fun! Simple Friendships! Simple Solutions! Simply beautiful Roche Harbor!

K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Sailor!

Your committee is busy setting things in motion for a simple yet fantastic few days of camaraderie with owners of All forms of Grand Banks boats!

Mark your calendars to make plans to join us in beautiful Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. Details will be coming soon on what to expect.

Event registration opens mid March. At that time, the registration form will have instructions on how to make moorage reservations at Roche. (Don’t worry, they will have room for you!)

Questions : contact Patt or Janice at rendezvous@psgbowners.org

As always, if you are interested in volunteering with the Committee to help us come up with fun and interesting ideas for our members, please let us know and we can include you in our Zoom meetings!

2022 Registration is now open!

Registration is now open for the 2022 PSGBOA Rendezvous! We are returning to our traditional form Rendezvous since before pandemic restrictions and we are expecting a great turn out. Click the link below to fill out the form and for more details about the event. Early bird registration will be until April 4th. Payments are made online via PayPal only, however a PayPal account is not required.

Let’s get ready to Pawty! 
https://psgboa.wufoo.com/forms/2022-grand-banks-rendezvous-registration/

Winter Battery Tips

Hello all Grand Banks Owners,

Thank you for inviting me to speak at your Rendezvous this past September.  If you missed it, I’m happy to send the notes from my presentation.  With winter near, I thought I’d give a few quick tips to help those of you who have either wet, lead-acid batteries or Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries.  So please put on your safety glasses and a pair of nitrile gloves and let’s get to it.  This should only take about 20-30 minutes and a few basic tools.

Tools: Combination (or adjustable) wrench for loosening the nuts on the cable terminal bolts, wire brush and a wire terminal cleaner (one that cleans inside the cable end and fits over the battery terminal), Digital Volt Meter (DVM), electrolyte hydrometer; a gallon of distilled water and a damp yellow microfiber rag for cleanup. 

  1. Loosen and remove cable ends to check for and remove any corrosion on your battery terminals.  Even AGM batteries can develop corrosion because acid may wick from the battery up through the POS terminal to settle between your battery post and cable terminal.  If you discover even a small bit of blue-green or white corrosion, remove the cable end from the battery and clean it away with a wire brush.
  2. If you have terminal protection goop, check to see if it’s “di-electric” type.  This type is NOT good to have between the terminal and the cable end as it is mostly silicone which acts as an insulator.  Best practice is to clean your battery and cable terminals so they are CLEAN.  Reassemble them, metal to metal, tighten everything. THEN you can smear a light coating of battery protection goop.    Other spray-on types of battery protectant material, or smear-on types, are fine when applied sparingly and after everything is tight and done.  Keep in mind that you are only trying to keep the hydrogen gas off the metal, not decorate a cake! 😉
  3. Check your electrolyte levels with a hydrometer (clearly, not possible with AGM models).  If you have enough fluid to suck up into the hydrometer, then you probably have enough fluid in the cell that is above the plates.  You should have about 3/8” to ½” deep electrolyte above the plates in your battery.
    Batteries are low on Charge?  Add just enough to cover the plates before you charge them.  The level will rise when you charge them so be sparing.  When they are fully charged, add just enough more distilled water to get that 3/8” to ½” of electrolyte above the plates.
    Batteries fully charged?  You only need to add enough distilled water to get that 3/8” to ½” level.
  4. Your fully charged batteries at rest (not influenced by your charger having been ON for at least 6 hours) should indicate about 12.6-12.7 volts on your digital volt meter or 1.265 to 1.275 specific gravity reading on your hydrometer.  AGM batteries’ voltage should be slightly higher at 12.7 to 12.8v.
  5. If all is clean and protected, and your batteries are being charged at 13.2v DC (for wet, lead-acid) and 13.4v DC for AGM batteries, then you are all set for the winter PROVIDED you either set your charger (or inverter) to periodically discharge your batteries (say, 2x per month) down to 12.1 volts, or you make a promise to yourself to go boating and accomplish the same thing.  Enjoy the winter and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Best regards,
Steve Ahmann, President
Pacific Power Batteries
https://www.pacificpowerbatteries.com/

2021 Rendezvous Recap

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a safe trip back home after our 2021 Rendezvous.

What a memorable event, from the absolutely superb seminars, to the live demonstration of a rescue at sea, the incredible food at the pot luck, the perfect afternoon at the winery, the superior ship handling demonstrated by our members when the dock came apart, and finally Stan Campbell’s risqué potato shoot. Captain Charlie presented the perfect nautical evening of entertainment to wrap up the event. It was great to see twenty new owners represented and I think every one of them were at the roundtable boat discussion that went on for hours.

These events cannot take place without the tireless dedication of the PSGBOA Rendezvous Committee.  A special thanks to Byron Richards and Sue Hunt, Greg and Janice McLaughlin, Patt and Mike Aiello, Ken and Cheri Bowles, Marty and Mary Ann Savinsky, Ross Tennent , Stan and Kay Campbell, and Morrie Trautman. A special thanks to our outgoing president Carol Tabor and Bill Read. Although they could not be with us, their presence was felt at each event.

Our presenters were amazing, Jim Marcotte, Dr. Chris Roberts, Steve Ahmann, Ann Eidenboden, Greg Allen, Mark Bunzell and our dear friends Arnold Hofmann and Marty Savinsky.

We were truly grateful to be supported by Grand Banks Yachts who graciously sent Mike Hickey and Jeff Fischer to give a presentation. Their presence was very valuable and it was great to meet them.

Finally, I am grateful to Emma and Don Doody who have volunteered to Chair next year’s Rendezvous. Additionally, we have had more new volunteers for next year’s Committee. (And we can always use more hands, so please feel free to get in touch if you are interested)

It has been a pleasure to coordinate two events this year – I needed something to keep me out of Kathy’s hair.  We have learned much from this year’s event that will make our 2022 Rendezvous in May the best ever.

Thanks for all your support!
J.J.Jones
Intruder
GB 42-529