Current Registration Soon Required on Moored Boats
Boats with expired decals moored in state waters may be ticketed beginning in November. The Oregon State Marine Board adopted a rule clarification during a meeting in Hood River on Oct. 8. The Board also eliminated thrust limits on certain lakes for electric boat motors and approved funding for several facility projects.
"The rule regarding expired boat registrations was clarified by the Board to help marine patrol officers do their job more effectively," said Marine Board Director Paul Donheffner. "In some public moorages, 20 percent or more of the boats have expired registrations. These boats are using state resources, but the definition of 'in use' was ambiguous. This clarification states that a boat in the water must have a current registration." Donheffner noted that this is a very narrow change affecting only registration and titling.
In Oregon, all boats with motors, and sailboats 12 feet and longer, must be registered when in the water. The cost to register a boat varies from $15 to $30 or more every two years depending on size. "For most people we're talking $10 to $20 per year – far less than they're likely paying in moorage fees," said Donheffner. "But these registration fees are used to provide law enforcement and to build and maintain floats, ramps, restrooms and other public boating facilities. We need to be sure that people using these resources are paying their way."
The Board also eliminated thrust limits for electric motors on the following small lakes: Walton Lake in Crook County; Ben Irving Reservoir in Douglas County; Agate Reservoir in Jackson County; Goose and Mission lakes in Marion County; and Lake Penland and Willow Creek Reservoir in Morrow County.
Regulations on these "electric motor only" waterbodies limited thrust to 25 or 30 pounds. None of Oregon's other 30-plus waterbodies with electric-only rules have thrust limits. "In my research I could find no good reason to maintain the limits on these few waterbodies," said Wayne Shuyler, Assistant Director for the Marine Board. "Electric motors are clean and quiet regardless of the size. And motors with more thrust are not designed for speed but are meant to be used with larger boats or in more challenging conditions. The change in regulations for these lakes reduces the confusion for boaters and for law enforcement."
The Board also approved funding for two facility projects: the first at Ochoco Reservoir and the second at the M. James Gleason Ramp in Portland.
In the first project, the Board approved a request for $20,000 from the Crook County Parks and Recreation District to install 140 feet of boarding floats at the Ochoco Reservoir Ramp. The floats will be installed along the new ramp and parking area recently completed there.
In the second project, the Board approved a request for $13,500 from the Metro Regional Parks and Greenspaces to dredge the boat basin at the M. James Gleason boat ramp adjacent to the Portland Airport on Marine Drive. Total cost of the project is estimated at $100,000. Metro is providing $41,500, with the remaining $45,000 coming from federal Sport Fish Restoration Funds administered by the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.
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January Deadlines Awaits 30-and-Younger Boaters
Boaters 30 and younger, and boaters who will be supervising youth 12-15, will need their boater education card beginning this January if they plan to operate powerboats greater than 10 horsepower in 2003.
"This is the first year of the Mandatory Boater Education Program phase-in," said Kendra Callahan, program coordinator for the Oregon State Marine Board. "We estimate there are at least 7,000 people who'll need their card before running their boat next year, and that doesn't include adults who will be supervising youth."
"It's important that people get their card before heading out," said Callahan. "If they don't have it when they're on the water, they will face a $75 fine."
Callahan estimates that well over half of the 30-and-younger age group has gotten their card already. "One recent survey shows that 75 percent of boaters know about the program," said Callahan, "so this requirement isn't coming as a big surprise. We've worked hard to spread the word since 1999 and make classes and online opportunities as convenient as possible. Still, 7,000 people are a lot of folks."
The law has special requirements for youth 12-15. It states that beginning in 2003, youth 12-15 must have a boater education card to operate a motorboat of 10 hp or less alone. To operate a boat greater than 10 hp, they must have their card and be supervised by a card-holding adult. No one under the age of 12 may operate a motorboat in Oregon beginning in 2003.
To qualify for the boater education card, a person must complete an approved boater education course, equivalency exam or online course. "These are pretty basic courses but the information is important and useful," said Callahan. "The Coast Guard Auxiliary and US Power Squadron offer some excellent courses." The Marine Board's web site, www.boatoregon.com, lists approved classes, equivalency exams locations and times, and links to approved online courses.
For more information on the requirement, check the web site or call (503) 373-1405 x273.
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