Page 26 - Experience Oregon Boating Handbook

• Slow down before the wake arrives to lessen impact, but
don’t stop completely. You need headway to be able to
maneuver through the wake.
• Have older passengers and others susceptible to injuries
stay aft.
• Instead of crossing a wake at a perpendicular angle, cross
at a slight angle (quarter of the wake). This will keep the
bow from being thrown high in the air.
• While overtaking another boat, cross its wakes quickly
instead of riding it. Signal the skipper, keep both hands on
the wheel, and stay away from the other boat’s stern.
• Try not to take a wake on your beam. Instead turn into the
wake and come back on course when the wake has passed.
Maximum Sound Level
Motorboats must be effectively muffled with a
mechanical muffling device. They cannot exceed 88 dBA for
boats built after January 1, 1993 and 90 dBA for boats built
before January 1, 1993.
Since sound level testing isn’t always possible, a boat
must have a readily identifiable muffling system in place
in a motorboat’s exhaust system. Where water is used
for muffling, it must be in conjunction with the marine-
designed exhaust manifold.
Simply injecting water into an exhaust header does not
meet this standard and the boat owner is subject to serious
fines and cancellation of their boat’s Certificate of Number
(registration).
Outboard motors, because of their exhaust design, do
not require additional muffling. While the Marine Board
doesn’t have authority over boat stereo noise, loud stereos
are a major source of conflict. Keep stereos turned down
and avoid restrictive legislation.
Clean Operation
To operate in a“clean
and green”manner
means to efficiently tune
your engine regularly
and inspect fuel lines
for leaks, cracks and
loose connections.
When changing oil and
transmission fluid, use
a spill-proof or vacuum
pump, slip a bag over the oil filter before removal, and wipe
up oil drips with an absorption pad. Keep fluid separate for
recycling purposes according to local regulations. Here are
some additional pointers:
• Carry a waste container in your boat -never throw trash
overboard.
• Use on shore bathroom facilities or get an approved
Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) for your boat. Never
discharge sewage into Oregon waters. Pump-out and
dump stations are available in many areas.
• Upgrade your carbureted outboard, sport jet or personal
watercraft motor to a new, clean burning,
fuel-efficient model.
42 • Never use soaps to clean oil and fuel spills.
• Pump oily or dirty bilge water at a bilge pump-out
facility…not into the water. Use a bilge pad to clean up
small spills.
• Carefully clean your trailer and boat inside and out when
moving from lake to lake to avoid spreading the aquatic
nuisance species. Flush live wells in bilges away from the
water. Remove all vegetation before launching. If you’ve
recently boated outside of Oregon, consider pressure
washing your boat hull and trailer to remove any aquatic
invasive species that may be present.
Citizen Complaint Procedures
Oregon law (ORS 153.058) has a method for citizens to
initiate a complaint for any unlawful boating activity:
1. Private citizens should first contact the law enforcement
officer, preferably a sheriff’s office marine deputy or an
Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife trooper, because
they are more familiar with boating laws.
2. The deputy or trooper will fill out a citation complaint
form that the citizen will sign.
3. The citizen must then appear in the court having
jurisdiction where the boating offense took place on the
date given by the officer.
4. The district attorney or city attorney will examine the
complaint and determine if there is enough evidence to
issue a summons to the person named in the complaint.
It is important that the citizen wishing to file the
complaint make a reasonable effort to do so at the date, time
and place that the violation is alleged to have occurred. The
officer will ask you to provide the following information:
1. The offense;
2. Description of the offending boat (and OR number);
3. Description, name and/or address of the operator. The
officer may be able to assist you with obtaining this
information.
4. Time and place of the incident. Body of water, location.
5. Injuries and property damage.
6. Names of witnesses.
7. Description of the incident.
Citizens can also provide tips about serious boating
violations by emailing (marine.board @state.or.us) or writing
the complaint to the Oregon State Marine Board, Law
Enforcement Section, P.O. Box 14145, Salem, OR 97309.
Copies of these complaints will be forwarded to the marine
patrol office having jurisdiction where the offense occurred.