Underway Newsletter

Boaters across Oregon have endless opportunities to enjoy some of the most diverse waterways across the country. From whitewater to the ocean, and everything in between. The biggest obstacles for most of us are finding the time and resources needed to take advantage of all the Oregon boating opportunities.

The boating community has been navigating substantial changes over the last decade. New types of boats, popular locations where people like to go and increasing population density are adding to waterway congestion. These changes provide an opportunity for us to work together to shape the future of Oregon boating. Our shared passion, regardless of what type of boat we use or activity we participate in, can serve as the foundation for finding new ways to work together and grow our community.

Preserving and growing public boating facility access to our waterways is one area where we can come together. The pressures on public access to our waterways have never been higher: upland development, competing priorities with non-boaters, growing costs to maintain public access, and changes in water quality and levels are all impacting the future of boating. Collaboration between government agencies, local communities, and private organizations is crucial to maintaining and expanding public boating facilities. Working together can help overcome financial and logistical barriers, ensuring these facilities remain accessible and enjoyable for future generations.

As we look to the future, consider how you can be a part of making the boating community better. Whether it’s introducing someone to boating, lending a hand at a ramp, trying out new types of boating or activities, volunteering for a non-profit, or taking a boating-related class, these are a few ways you can feel more connected with others in the boating community.

The Marine Board values learning and evolving as an agency. We are ready to do our part and show our work, which you can see as you read the Underway Newsletter.

Next time you're out on the water, take a moment to appreciate how special boating in Oregon is, and think about the part you play in keeping it great for future generations. I look forward to seeing you out boating, where we can share our time on the water together.

Larry Warren
Your Marine Board Director

Your Waterway Access Permit Dollars

Care About Water Habitat and Boating Opportunities?

The Waterway Access Permit program addresses two critical needs for the state: preventing aquatic invasive species from contaminating waterways by expanding boat inspection stations and investing in non-motorized boating access site improvements.

The Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) co-manage the Waterway Access Permit Program. Permit dollars go into two dedicated accounts to fund ODFW boat inspection stations and waterway access grants. The Marine Board awards grants to eligible public facility owners to:

• Purchase property to create or expand non-motorized boating access
• Develop, construct, renovate, and improve non-motorized recreational boating access sites
• Promote non-motorized boating safety, education, and increase opportunities to experience non-motorized boating safely.

Non-motorized boating access improvements like these are funded with your Waterway Access Permit dollars across the state:

• Carry down trails, paths
• Non-motorized launching docks and ramps
• Single car parking
• Non-motorized boat staging and ready areas
• Sanitation
• Boat-in camping
• Storage racks
• Portable toilet (groover or cassette toilet) dump stations

Three permit options are available through the Oregon State Marine Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife: 7-day permits, annual permits, and two-year permits. Annual and two-year permits are valid based on the calendar year, so purchase yours early to experience all Oregon has to offer in recreational boating opportunities.

Since 2020, over $4.6 million in Waterway Access Permit dollars have been awarded to improve paddling access. See the completed projects from OSMB’s Grant History Dashboard, and click on the “WAG” tab for Waterway Access Grant. Motorized projects are also highlighted in the other tabs! 

Learn more details about the Waterway Access Permit Program and answers to frequently asked questions.

Boat Oregon Store Gets Easier

We've made changes to the store so it's easier to access! If you have a single motorboat registration to renew, simply click on the Boat Renewal Tab at Boat.Oregon.gov/store. Enter your boat's OR number and click the "Log In" button. 

For Full Account Access

Click on the "Account" tab to renew additional boats, purchase Waterway Access Permits, Boating Safety Education Cards, or other credentials. Plus...you can update your own contact information to update email, phone, or mailing address. 

On the Account tab, enter your established User ID and Password, then click the Log In button. 

If you receive an error of "Invalid Login," it means the boat is currently registered, or the boat registration is in "expired" status after not being renewed for a few years. 

Soon, we hope to offer a more mobile-friendly interface. 

Using the Boat Oregon Store is the fastest way to renew.

Got questions about using the store? We have answers on the Store Help page. 

Boating Safety Education Milestone, 25 Years of Improving Safety on Oregon’s Waterways

In 1999, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 2977, Mandatory Boater Education, requiring operators of motorboats with engines greater than 10 horsepower and youth 12-15 years of age operating any size motorboat, to take a course on basic boating skill and/or pass an equivalency exam to demonstrate basic boating knowledge. The primary reason for passing the law was to reduce accidents, injuries, deaths, property damage, and conflict on Oregon’s waterways. Oregon was the first state west of the Mississippi to enact an education requirement. Today, there are more than 45 states and U.S. territories that require some form of boating safety education.

Want a new adventure? Go with a Registered Outfitter Guide

Outfitter Guide Dashboard

Did you know that in 2025, there were nearly 1600 registered outfitter guides in Oregon? If you want to experience a new adventure (like river rafting), go with a Marine Board-registered outfitter guide. You can look up the registration status and business standing of outfitter guides operating in Oregon with the digital dashboard. 

The Oregon State Marine Board registers outfitter guides and charters that provide outdoor recreational activities for compensation on land or water that they do not own or control. This includes land and water tours using mechanical or animal (horses, for example) means.

When you explore Oregon with a registered outfitter guide, you can rest assured they are adequately insured, bonded (if required), have basic First Aid/CPR skills, carry the required minimum safety equipment and if using a motorized boat for the business, they carry either a US Coast Guard license or OSMB Motorized Passenger Boat Operator’s Certification depending upon the waterbody. Outfitter Guides also agree to conduct themselves according to a set of Ethical and Professional Standards and are held accountable through reporting mechanisms and enforcement. 

How to Purchase Your Waterway Access Permits

Waterway Access Permits are easy to purchase online.

Purchasing from the Marine Board's Boat Oregon Store is easy:

1. Go to Boat.Oregon.gov/store
2. Click Online Services in the upper right-hand corner
3. Click the link for the permit option you want
4. Click Register to create an account and follow the prompts 

Boaters can also purchase permits through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's electronic licensing system (QR code pictured in the above infographic).

Meeting Boaters Where They Are

Boating Safety Advocate Program

In an era of fragmented information consumption, reaching a broad and diverse audience presents an ongoing challenge. As Oregon’s population grows and more people recreate on the state’s waterways, the Marine Board has adopted a grass-roots approach to outreach. By attending community events, engaging boaters at boat ramps and waterway access sites, and partnering with local organizations, the Boating Safety Advocate program is building meaningful connections and delivering education where it matters most -making a demonstrable impact and validating the effectiveness of the program’s targeted outreach efforts.

2025 Program Highlights Include:

• 593 hours of outreach and education with a focus on youth and families.
• Over 100 events were conducted statewide, engaging more than 24,000 participants in total.
• Donated over 400 life jackets at community events, life jacket loaner stations, and directly to individual boaters as a field-based intervention and incident prevention measure.
• Engaged over 2,700 boaters across 80 distinct waterways throughout the state.
• Participated in community events and water safety education efforts in Northeast Oregon, the Oregon Coast, Southern Oregon, the Willamette Valley, the Columbia River Gorge, Central Oregon, and the Portland-Metro area.
• Established contact with 97 retail stores to partner in the dissemination of boating safety educational materials at the point of sale.

The BSAs are already planning for a fulfilling 2026 and look forward to meeting boaters across the state! 

The Fastest Way to Renew Your Motorboat Registration is Online

The new year means many boat owners may have expired motorboat registrations. Motorboat registrations are valid for two calendar years. The fastest way to renew (especially if you have one motorboat) is online. Sixty-six percent of owners now use the Boat Oregon Store and can print a temporary permit after completing the transaction. The decals arrive in the mail (on average) within 7-10 business days.

Registration notices were emailed to owners in November 2025 (check your spam folder!) If we don't have an email address on file, notices were sent via US Mail. Only owners whose boats expired on December 31, 2025, were notified.

Remember to follow the decal placement requirements for the bow of your boat. Instructions are also mailed with current registration decals (stickers).