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OREGON STATE MARINE BOARD

 

DIVISION 21
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT RULES

250-021-0010
Scope
The following rules shall govern the operation of personal watercraft operating on the waters of this state. These rules are in addition to all other applicable laws, rules and regulations governing personal watercraft.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 830.110, 830.175 & 830.195

Stats. Implemented: ORS 830.110

Hist.: MB 3-1990, f. 5-18-90, cert. ef. 6-1-90
250-021-0020
Definitions
"Personal Watercraft" means a motorboat, less than 16 feet, propelled by machinery which:
(1) Uses an outboard motor or an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as its primary source of power;
(2) Is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 830.110

Stats. Implemented: ORS 830.110

Hist.: MB 3-1990, f. 5-18-90, cert. ef. 6-1-90; MB 8-1997, f. & cert. ef. 10-8-97
250-021-0030
Operating Rules
(1) A person must not operate a personal
watercraft unless each person operating or riding on such vessel is wearing an inherently
buoyant Coast Guard approved Type I, II, or III personal flotation device (PFD)
as defined by OAR 250-010-0154.
(2) A person operating a
personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff
switch must attach such lanyard to their person, clothing, or personal flotation
device.
(3) A person must not operate
a personal watercraft unless it is effectively muffled in accordance with OAR 250-010-0121.
(4) A person must not operate
a personal watercraft at any time between sunset and sunrise unless equipped with
lights as prescribed in OAR Chapter 250, Division 011.
(5) Every personal watercraft
shall at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers which
unreasonably or unnecessarily endanger life, limb or property, including but not
limited to weaving through congested vessel traffic, jumping the wake of another
vessel unreasonably or unnecessarily close to said vessel or when visibility around
said vessel is obstructed, and swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision
shall constitute unsafe or reckless operation of a vessel, as provided in ORS 830.305
or 830.315.
(6) The provisions of section
(5) of this rule do not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition
or a person preparing to participate or participating in an officially sanctioned
regatta, race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition.
(7) A person must not operate
a personal watercraft in excess of a slow-no wake speed:
(a) Within 200 feet of a
boat launch ramp, dock, swim float, pier, marina or moorage, floating home or boathouse,
or locations where persons are working at water levels on floats, logs or waterway
construction;
(b) Within 200 feet of a
swimmer, surfer, diving flag, bank or wading angler;
(c) Within 100 feet of any
anchored or non-motorized vessel;
(d) Except on safe take-offs
and landings, a person must not operate a personal watercraft in excess of a slow-no
wake speed within 200 feet of shoreline on all lakes, bays and reservoirs. A safe
take-off or landing will not be considered "safe" unless it can be accomplished
without risk to any swimmer or craft within 200 feet from shoreline.
(8) A person must not operate
a personal watercraft in excess of 10 MPH when approaching within 100' of another
motorized or sail vessel underway.
(9) A person must not operate
a personal watercraft within 200 feet directly behind a water skier being towed.
(10) A person must not tow
a water skier or any floating device with a personal watercraft unless:
(a) Another person on the
personal watercraft is continuously observing the person being towed; and
(b) The personal watercraft
is large enough to carry operator, observer and the person being towed; and
(c) The personal watercraft
is equipped with a "skier-down" flag to be held aloft when the skier or person being
towed is down in the water; and
(d) The personal watercraft
is being operated between sunrise and sunset.
(11) Personal watercraft
may be used to tow another vessel when rendering assistance.
(12) A person under the age
of 16 must not operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this state, unless
accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older on board.
(13) A person who owns a
personal watercraft or who has charge over or control of a personal watercraft must
not authorize or knowingly permit that personal watercraft to be operated by a person
under 16 years of age, unless accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older.
(14) A person must not rent
a personal watercraft to a person under the age of 18.
(15) A person must not chase,
harass, molest, worry or disturb any wildlife with a personal watercraft except
while engaged in lawfully angling for, hunting or trapping such wildlife (ORS 498.006).
Stat. Auth.: ORS 830.110, 830.175, 830.195
& 830.250
Stats. Implemented: ORS 830.110
Hist.: MB 3-1990, f. 5-18-90,
cert. ef. 6-1-90; MB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 11-16-90; MB 6-1994, f. & cert.
ef. 4-28-94; MB 8-1996, f. 4-12-96, cert. ef. 7-1-96; MB 9-1997, f. & cert.
ef. 10-8-97; OSMB 1-1999, f. & cert. ef. 1-26-99; OSMB 6-2015, f. 6-26-15, cert.
ef. 7-1-15
250-021-0040
Special Local Restrictions —
Personal Watercraft Applicability
(1) Lakes and reservoirs (impoundments)
are open to the operation of personal watercraft subject to local operating rules
found in OAR chapter 250, division 20.
(2) All rivers of this state
including any tributary streams or rivers entering the Willamette River are closed
to the operation of personal watercraft, except as noted:
(a) Columbia River is open.
(b) Clackamas River is open
only between the Willamette River and the lagoon (RM 0.7). The lagoon is open.
(c) Willamette River is closed
only in the area above the Beltline Road overpass at RM 178.
(d) Chetco is closed only
in the area above the head of tide.
(e) Rogue is closed only
in the area between mouth of Snout Creek and the Applegate River and the area above
the former location of Gold Ray Dam.
(f) Yaquina River is closed
only in the area upstream of the Toledo Airport boat ramp at RM 9.5.
(q) John Day River (Sherman/Gilliam
County) is closed only in the area above Tumwater Falls (RM 10).
(h) Deschutes River is closed
only in the area above Heritage Landing boat ramp (RM 0.5).
(i) Coos is closed only in
the area above its confluence with the Millicoma River.
(j) Coquille is closed only
in the area above the Highway 42S bridge in the City of Coquille.
(k) Umpqua is closed only
in the area above Scottsburg Park.
(l) Siuslaw is closed only
in the area above Highway 126 bridge at Mapleton.
(m) Pistol, Sixes, Elk Rivers
as per OAR 250-020-0082.
(n) East and West Fork Millicoma
as per OAR 250-020-0064.
(o) Alsea, Salmon and Siletz
Rivers as per OAR 250-20-0231.
(p) Kilchis, Miami, Wilson,
Tillamook, Trask Rivers as per OAR 250-020-0308.
(q) Nehalem as per OAR 250-020-0300.
(r) Necanicum as per OAR
250-020-0043.
(s) Snake River above Brownlee
Reservoir is open.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 830.110, 830.175 &
830.195
Stats. Implemented: ORS 830.110,
830.175 & 830.195
Hist.: MB 3-1990, f. 5-18-90,
cert. ef. 6-1-90; MB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 11-16-90; MB 6-1992, f. & cert.
ef. 4-30-92; OSMB 1-2011(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 1-3-11 thru 6-30-11; OSMB 6-2011,
f. 4-25-11, cert. ef. 5-2-11; OSMB 6-2015, f. 6-26-15, cert. ef. 7-1-15
250-021-0100
Personal Watercraft Livery Operations
A person must not rent, lease or charter
a personal watercraft unless the following equipment is provided:
(1) All of the equipment
required by ORS 830.210, 830.410 and 830.420.
(2) An inherently buoyant
Type I or III personal flotation device (PFD) must be provided for each person that
will ride the personal watercraft to comply with ORS 830.215. The PFD must be worn
to meet OAR 250-021-0030(1). A Type I PFD may be substituted for the Type III for
rental operations. Fully inflatable PFDs are not acceptable for personal watercraft
rentals.
(3) A decal explaining safe
operation of personal watercraft must be affixed to every rental personal watercraft
and displayed so it is clearly visible to the operator while at the controls. The
decal must, at a minimum, contain information regarding proper use of controls,
steering, speed and distance rules, rules of the road and required PFD wearing.
(4) A written copy of the
state personal watercraft rules must be provided to the renter, and any person who
will operate the personal watercraft while rented, leased or chartered. Personal
watercraft form PWC-01 shall be reviewed by the livery operator with the rental
customer and signed by both parties. Part I of form PWC-01, signed by the livery
operator and renter, must be carried on the personal watercraft as required equipment.
Part II of form PWC-01 must be retained by the livery operator with the record of
the rental required by ORS 830.415.
[ED. NOTE: Forms referenced are available
from the agency.]
Stat. Auth.: ORS 830.110,
830.195 & 830.250
Stats. Implemented: ORS 830.110
Hist.: MB 10-1997, f. &
cert. ef. 10-8-97; OSMB 13-1998, f. & cert. ef. 7-24-98; OSMB 6-2015, f. 6-26-15,
cert. ef. 7-1-15

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