Boaters Reminded to Renew Boat Registrations

It's still winter outdoors but boaters can complete one indoor chore now to speed up spring boating. The Oregon State Marine Board on Feb. 28 will mail out notices to 40,000 boat owners whose registrations have expired but who haven't renewed yet.

Boaters can help themselves by renewing now even if they don't plan to use their boats until the weather warms up. The spring rush to renew can delay getting new boat decals sent out, says Marine Board Director Paul Donheffner, who notes "Each year, there's a last-minute rush that creates a backlog of work."

Boat registrations are valid for two years, expiring Dec. 31. The Marine Board schedules renewals for half the state's boaters each year.

All motorized boats, regardless of length or type, must be registered. That includes personal watercraft (PWC)--sometimes known by the trade name Jet Skis--and inflatable rafts with motors. Sailboats 12 feet or longer must also be registered.

An owner who didn't receive a notice but whose decals expired can renew without the notice. The owner should send the fee, name, address, telephone and boat registration number to Oregon State Marine Board, P. O. Box 14145, Salem OR 97309-5065. Boaters with questions may call the Marine Board at (503) 378-8587; for TTD, press the space bar, then extension 222.

The two-year fee schedule is:

• Motorboats less than 12 feet in length and less than 30 horsepower: $15
• Motorboats less than 12 feet in length and 30 or more horsepower: $25
• Motorboats and sailboats 12 feet in length but less than 16 feet: $21
• Motorboats and sailboats 16 feet but less than 20 feet: $25
• Motorboats and sailboats 20 feet or more: $30 plus $2 for each foot or part of a foot in excess of 20 feet.

Registration fees and marine fuel taxes support boating facilities, marine law enforcement and boating safety education. No general tax dollars are used in the program.

Oregon currently has more than 197,000 registered boats.

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