Membership Benefits
We are Grand Banks Owners who enjoy boating on the Chesapeake Bay
The CBGBOA is an association of of current, former, and prospective owners of Grand Banks yachts. We also welcome owners who have a cruising vessel similar to a Grand Banks. We sponsor social activities,cruises and the exchange of information and ideas.
Our goals are to:
- Create opportunities for social interaction among owners, potential owners and other individuals having an appreciation for boats bearing the Grand Banks brand name.
- Foster enjoyable, knowledgeable and safe boating via cruising and rendezvous events.
- Provide a means of communicating between members, relative to recreational boating, by publishing a newsletter and maintaining a website.
- Promote an understanding of our boats with emphasis on maintenance and technical issues.
- Promote pride in ownership of the Grand Banks brand.
- Promote a relationship with Grand Banks Yachts, Ltd., its dealers and maintenance facilities as well as vendors that have an expressed interest in our boats.
We Have Been Active as a Group Since 1967
The Chesapeake Bay Grand Banks Owners Association got its start in 1967 with a casual get-together of boat owners with the help of a young salesman, John Shannahan. By 1985, the first official Grand Banks rendezvous was held at the Tides Lodge. In 2002, John Shannahan had agreed to be the dealer/sponsor of the GBOC and Jim Watson was the first president. On March 2, 2009, the GBCBOA was was officially incorporated as a Tax Exempt 501(C)3 organization. For more info, go to
CBGBOA Historical Milestones
You'll have access to a great website to contact others with similar interests
We think our website is a great benefit to our members. Please explore it, take advantage of our forums, and check the wealth of information stored online. Want to cruise with others who have a similar interest and would be great company? Get on the cruising Forum and make your desires known.
Joining us is easy.
Joining CBGBOA is easy. We are family type membership. One person will sign up as the MEMBER, and will fill out all the pertinent membership information. The person who is Spouse/Partner gets full access as the Member. Family members can also be identified, although their access is restricted to the same as the public.
Following your sign-up for membership, the Membership Chair will be notified to consider and approve the application. An initiation fee of $100 is required to cover the costs of a CBGBOA burgee, name tags and administrative expenses that are provided upon joining. Annual membership dues are $125 that are renewable on January 1st each year. New members who join November 1 through December 31 are current through December 31 of the following year. Upon approval by the Membership Chair, you will be notified to pay the initiation fee and dues after which you will be sent a CBGBOA Burgee and forms for name tags.
Boat owners who wish to join but don't own a Grand Banks or are planning to acquire a Grand Banks can also join CBGBOA, but should explain the reason for joining with the application. The Membership Chair will review this information and either approve the application or explain why not to the applicant.
Success of the Association requires active engagement. This means participating in the Association cruises, social affairs and other activities. New members along with current members are encouraged and expected to contribute their share of planning, leading and organizing CBGBOA activities so that its support and success for Grand Banks owners will continue.
Don't worry about making an error in your application. Everything you put in your application can be modified or changed by you as time goes on and you get more familiar with our organization. Go right ahead and start filling out the Member Signup Form - Member Signup/Information.
Comraderie with fellow Boaters
Joining CBGBOA was a way to build comraderie with other Grand Bank Owners. We build friendships based on our love of cruising. Sharing like experiences and enjoying each other's company in the water.