For Immediate Release

Date: February 22, 2005

Teak Surfing Gets Legislative Scrutiny

The days are numbered for teak surfing in Oregon. On February 16, the senate passed senate bill (SB) 56 prohibiting a person from operating a motorboat (or idling the engine) while any person holds onto or occupies any portion of the boat aft of the transom.

Teak surfing is when a passenger hangs onto the rear of the boat and allows themselves to be pulled through the water until the boat’s wake builds enough to allow body surfing. Teak surfing also puts passengers close to the engine exhaust.

There are a number of dangers when a person occupies the rear of the boat aft of the transom. An obvious danger is the swimmer’s proximity to the boat propeller. Another not so obvious danger is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is colorless, odorless and tasteless; and more and more people are being injured or dying as a result of inhaling the fumes. While just 8k ppm of CO is deadly, CO has been measured at the stern of the boat up to 27k ppm.

Carbon monoxide comes from the exhaust emissions of the engine driving the boat. CO becomes a problem when:

• passengers teak surf.

• passengers ride on or swim beneath a platform near the exhaust.

• leaky seals between decks, bulkheads and the hull or a faulty or poorly maintained exhaust system allows CO to build up inside the cabin.

In April 2004 CO poisoning nearly spelled disaster for a family of five riding in an open pleasure craft at Lost Creek Reservoir in Oregon. The boat was powered by an inboard/outboard engine. Foul weather had caused the operator to put the canopy up on the boat. Fortunately, a marine law enforcement officer on shore recognized the symptoms and sought immediate medical attention, likely saving the woman's life.

If SB 56 becomes law, people who operate a motorboat with someone in holding onto or occupying the portion of boat aft of the transom could receive a maximum fine of $360.

To learn more about the dangers of CO poisoning and symptoms, visit the State Marine Board’s website at www.boatoregon.com.

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