Boat Oregon Newsletter

Meet and Greet Open Houses Scheduled

You're invited to meet with Marine Board staff in a city near you! We are hosting 10 statewide meetings in the month of October.

The purpose of these meetings is to build relationships with local boaters, share information about what the agency does, and gain a better understanding of your needs. Staff will also be available to answer all of your questions. Meeting details are available here.

The More You Know -Be a Smart Skipper

There are the fortunate few who are naturals with whatever they do; naturals at playing sports, naturals with playing games, and even naturals with learning. And then there are the rest of us -the ones who need to follow the adage, “Practice makes perfect.” Whether propelled by motor, oar, or paddle, every boat type is unique; hull design, draft, freeboard, and propulsion all work together for optimum movement in the water.

During the 1980s and ’90s, Oregon witnessed a peak in recreational motorboat use, with personal watercraft leading the trend. This increase came with more accidents, fatalities, and property damage, which helped Oregon to become one of the first states in the nation to adopt a mandatory education requirement to improve boating safety. In 1999, the Oregon Legislature passed the Mandatory Boater Education requirement for boaters operating a motorboat with a motor over 10 hp. The legislature gave the Marine Board from 2003 to 2009 to “phase in” the requirement. From 2000 to 2002, some boaters completed a voluntary home study option and applied for their mandatory education card. The card, like a driver’s license, must be carried when operating a boat with a motor over 10 hp and must be presented to a marine law enforcement officer if stopped.

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Sold boat reporting is just like a car sale

Keeping Records Up-To-Date

When you sell a vehicle, you sign the back of the title to release interest in the property and a boat sale has the same process. When you sell a boat, donate it to charity, give it away for parts, or consign it to a broker, you have 30 days to report the transfer to the Marine Board. If the new owner fails to apply for title and there is no record of the transfer, you may be held liable as the owner if that boat becomes abandoned or causes damage in the future. On the flip side, if you buy a boat, be sure to apply for a title right away and provide proof of the seller’s release of interest. If you don't, and the seller doesn't report the sale, you may struggle to prove your ownership if the boat becomes lost or stolen or the ownership is disputed. It's a simple step to get the seller’s name on the certificate of title and to give it to the buyer with their signature releasing interest. If the boat is co-owned, all owners must release their interest before the title can be transferred. If you can’t remember if you reported the transfer of your boat and would like to double-check, contact the Marine Board by emailing marine.board@boat.oregon.gov or calling 503-378-8587. You can complete an easy, digital Report of Boat Sale form online and keep a copy for your own records. 

Inflatable life jacket annual maintenance

Have you pulled the cord lately?

Inflatable lifejackets have been on the market for two decades now and are a great option for many boaters. Inflatables come in many varieties including manual, automatic, hydrostatic, and hybrid mechanisms for harnesses, coats, or belt packs. Technology has really evolved along with the level of comfort. Inflatables are becoming more commonly seen and worn, which is a good thing compared to not wearing a life jacket of any kind. However, it's only a good thing if you know how to properly wear, maintain, and care for this style of a life jacket. In the past few years, there have been multiple boating fatalities in Oregon from people wearing inflatable lifejackets that either malfunctioned or were tampered with outside the manufactures re-arming instructions and procedures.

Consider inflatable life jackets a mechanical device that requires routine maintenance. Reading the owner’s manual before use and being familiar with how to deploy the device is critical because, when you need it in an emergency, your fight or flight mode takes over from cognitive thinking.

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Show Me the Money

Did you know in the last six years the Marine Board has helped fund more than $30 million for boat ramps, docks, parking, and more? Funding has also gotten more people on the water through grants for nonmotorized access. Check out the Grant History Dashboard to see the where, when, what, and how much. You can filter by waterbody, biennium, grant status, and type of funding.