Labor Day Weekend traditions are rooted in the outdoors, and to keep things safe, the Oregon State Marine Board suggests taking the time to plan your on-water getaway with the following tips:
Wear your life jacket. Each boat (including canoes and kayaks, rafts, inflatable boats, and stand up paddleboards) must have a properly fitted life jacket for each person on board and at least one sound-producing device. Life jackets need to be in good shape and readily accessible – not under a hatch or in their packaging. All youth younger than 13 must wear a life jacket when in a boat that’s underway. Since storage space is limited on paddlecraft, it makes the best sense to just wear a life jacket. Conditions can change very quickly and there’s no time to put on a life jacket in an emergency. So far this season, most of the victims of recreational boating fatalities were paddlers who were not wearing life jackets.
Know your waterway. “Take the time to get familiar with the waterway and know the inherent dangers such as current, tides, and wind,” says Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board. “Look out for wood, other debris, and shallow gravel bars with low water levels.” Find out more about low water impacts on boat ramps by subscribing to the Marine Board’s Opportunities and Access Report.
Know what rules apply. There are all types of watercraft on the market; some are considered boats and others are pool toys. Boats are designed differently, and by state law, have specific equipment requirements. “If you plan to float in a river, keep in mind that pool toys are designed for use in a swimming pool, have no directional control, and can puncture easily. Float in a watercraft designed for a river that won’t easily puncture and comes equipped with a paddle so you can maneuver away from obstructions.” Paulsen adds.
Boat Sober. Boating is a great social activity, and the Marine Board encourages boaters and individuals floating on the waterways to leave the alcohol on shore. It’s safer for everyone. If arrested for Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants (BUII), violators can be fined up to $6,250; can lose boating privileges for up to three years and even serve jail time. Intoxicants include marijuana, illicit drugs, and even some prescriptions.
Sit on the seat inside the boat. Many boaters are tempted to ride on the swim platform, stern, sides, and the bow of open motorboats. The stern can be a dangerous place for exposure to carbon monoxide and a prop-strike safety hazard. It is illegal to ride on the bow, decks, gunwales, or transoms of a motorboat when the boat is underway. Sitting on designated seats is the safest option – especially when the boat is towing someone. Just because new boats have seats on the transom or swim step doesn’t make them legal for use when the boat is underway.
Slow down, keep scanning, and be courteous. Know the boating regulations for your area of operation. Boaters, including personal watercraft, are responsible for damage caused by their wake. Remember to slow down within 200 feet of a dock, launch ramp, marina, moorage, floating home or boathouse, pier or swim float, even if they don’t have a “Slow No-Wake” buoy or sign. This is a statewide proximity rule that applies to all waterways. Paddlers should stay closer to shore, crossing busy channels at right angles only when safe, and allow motorboats to pass in deeper water. Be courteous, share the water, and recreate responsibly.
For more information about equipment requirements, boating regulations, and ideas on where to go boating, visit the Marine Board’s website.
