Page 30 - Experience Oregon Boating Handbook
P. 30
Surfing (Coastal Surfing) The following is a brief list of additional rules personal
Surfing is a popular activity in the Pacific Ocean. In watercraft operators must be familiar with before
some areas, surfers need to keep a sharp lookout for launching:
incoming boat traffic when swimming out into the surf 1. Personal watercraft riders must wear a Type I, II or III
zone. Boaters need to keep a sharp lookout for surfers
when heading into shore. If a surf board is being paddled U.S. Coast Guard -approved life jacket. Inflatable life
into a surf zone in conjunction with a surfing activity, life jackets are not approved for this activity.
jackets are not required to be worn. Hypothermia is a 2. An engine shut off lanyard must be attached to the
serious threat to surfers and the Marine Board strongly person operating the PWC.
recommends wearing a wetsuit at all times when engaged 3. Do not consume alcohol before and/or during operation
in activities in the Pacific Ocean. Surfers are exempt from (BUII).
the AIS permit. 4. Avoid wake jumping and operating near other boats and
commercial ships.
Personal Watercraft (PWC) 5. Do not operate a personal watercraft within 200 feet
PWCs are small, highly maneuverable, very fast, and a lot behind a water skier or other towed device.
of fun to ride and operate. But with all that power, comes 6. Observe speed limits and no wake zones.
more responsibility. To operate a personal watercraft alone, a 7. Avoid operating close to residential and congested areas.
person must be at least 16 years of age. Youth 12 to 15 need 8. Harassing wildlife, birds, and marine mammals is strictly
to carry their boater education card and can only operate a prohibited.
PWC if they are accompanied by a card-holding adult 18 or Personal watercraft operation is prohibited on many
older. waterways. See the regulations section of this handbook for
approved locations.
PWCs are considered high horsepower motorboats
and operators of personal watercraft have the same Personal Watercraft and Motorboat Rentals
responsibilities as any boat operator. It’s very important
that operators show courtesy by not operating in a reckless If you are renting a personal watercraft, all of the above
manner and frequenting the same area for long periods of rules apply. In addition, you must:
time due to high sound levels some motors produce. • Be age 18 or older to rent a PWC;
• Carry on board a signed“watercraft rental safety
The following rules are designed to help prevent
collisions, the most common type of personal watercraft checklist”form from the rental facility (livery).
accident: If the renter or operator of the rented motorboat does
• Slow to 10 mph when you are approaching within 100 not possess a boater education card, the rental agent must
provide the renter or operator of the boat with a watercraft
feet of another motorboat or sailboat underway. You rental safety checklist provided by the Marine Board.
are not required to slow if they are approaching you. The renter or operator of a rental motorboat must
• Slow to slow no-wake speed when operating within review and mark the watercraft rental safety checklist in the
100 feet of an anchored vessel or non-motorized boat. presence of the rental agent before they may operate the
• Operate at slow no-wake within 200 feet of the boat and carry signed portion of the watercraft rental safety
shoreline on a lake, bay or reservoir. Safe takeoffs checklist on board when operating the watercraft.
and landings are accepted. It is not required that every person who operates the
• Operate at slow no-wake within 200 feet of a rented motorboat complete the checklist. A person under
swimmer, surfer, shoreline angler, diving flag, dock, the age of 16 may operate the rented boat if they are
launch ramp, marina, moorage, floating home, accompanied and directly supervised by a person over the
boathouse, pier, or swim float. age of 16 (18 for PWC) who is carrying a boater education
card or signed portion of the watercraft rental safety
checklist.
46 Riding on the transom of a boat that’s underway is dangerous – Wakeboarding
for falling overboard and possible CO poisoning and it is illegal. Wake boats are specially designed boats that make a
larger, steeper wake for wake boarders. Most wakeboard
boats have several design features that help to create large
wakes including ballast, wedge, and hull technology.
However, large wakes introduce other issues, such as
damage to docks or other structures. When there are wake
