• Boat Registration Cards Are In The Mail
• Be Safe, Save Money: Winterize Your Boat Now

Boat Registration Cards Are In The Mail

By week's end, about half of Oregon's registered boat owners will find their annual courtesy renewal reminder card in their mail box. The Oregon State Marine Board, Oregon's Recreational Boating Agency, mailed 91,911 of the yellow postcards this week to remind Oregon boat owners that it's time to renew their boat's registration.

Boats are registered on a two-year cycle with half registering one year and the other half the next. "We encourage people to send their registration renewal in well before boating season begins," said Randy Henry, of the Oregon State Marine Board. "It helps the boater because they don't have to worry about a last minute panic to get their registration, and it helps us because we can spread the workload out throughout the winter and spring." Each spring and summer, tens of thousands of boaters end up in a last-minute rush because they didn't register their boat in the winter when their was plenty of time. "It doesn't save you any money to wait, but it may cost you boating time when the good weather or the spring fish runs arrives," said Henry.

The blue postcard is a courtesy reminder that your boat's registration will expire January 1. A boat with an "00" registration decal is good until Dec. 31, 2000, and needs to be renewed prior to use in 2001. If your boat registration decal says "01," it's good for another year. The postcard includes registration fees and other information. If you have questions, please call the Marine Board at (503) 378-8587.

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Be Safe, Save Money: Winterize Your Boat Now

It's difficult to tell when the first major freeze will come, but an un-prepared boater could end up with expensive repairs if he or she fails to properly winterize his or her boat before hand. The Oregon State Marine Board, Oregon's recreational boating agency, has put together some winterizing tips to help protect your boat through the coming winter season.

Your Boat

• The best place to store your boat for the winter is ashore. The bulkhead, keel and motor are the critical areas needing support. Cradles work best, but don't store your boat on a cradle that was designed for a different model.
• If you store your boat in the water, close all through-hull fittings, gatevalves and seacocks. Do not close cockpit drains. Plug exhaust ports. Check your boat occasionally to make sure lines are secure, bumpers are in place, and the bilge is dry.
• Cover the boat. Using a frame is best, but plastic works too. Make sure you leave vents in it to allow condensation to escape. Allow for drainage if you're storing outside.
• Add non-toxic anti-freeze to water tanks, toilets and septic holding tanks. Never use engine anti-freeze in a freshwater system.
• Remove electronic equipment, important documents and other valuables that could tempt thieves.

Your Engine

• Drain the cooling system and add anti-freeze.
• Disconnect the battery and store in a warm, dry place. If you have to leave it on board to operate an alarm or bilge pump, fill battery cells with distilled water and fully charge it so it doesn't freeze. Apply petroleum jelly to clean terminals to prevent corrosion.
• Oil: Drain and replace the engine, transmission and outdrive oil. Replace gear oil in outdrives. Use internal oil fogger while the engine is warm to prevent corrosion.
• Top off fuel tanks, leaving a little room for expansion. Add a fuel stabilizer.
• To keep water from collecting in outdrives, leave them in the down position.

Your Trailer

• Rust spreads easily, so inspect your trailer before storing. Sand off and prime any rust spots you find.
• Check tire inflation and brakes and brake fluid. Consider raising the trailer onto blocks to take stress off the tires and suspension.
• Lubricate all rollers, pivot points, the winch and the coupler.
• Look for signs of cracking or metal fatigue. Tighten bolts and screws and inspect the electrical system for worn wires or loose connections. The bulb bases inside taillights can be sprayed with WD-40 to keep moisture out.
• Protecting your boat now against the extremes of winter will save you time and money in the long run.

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