Page 8 - Experience Oregon Boating Handbook

3. Decals must be applied to a dry surface at temperatures Theft Prevention
above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove decals from the sheet
by bending the sheet at the centerline between the decals and In Oregon and nationally, boat theft has become a
peel back. Apply one decal to each side of the bow as shown big business. To help protect yourself from thieves, the
above, smoothing the decal with a dry cloth to remove any air Marine Board suggests the following tips:
bubbles. Allow a MINIMUM 24 HOUR CURE TIME before 1. Stow loose gear and take valuables with you when
use in the water to avoid loss.
you leave the boat.
Hull Identification Number (HIN)
2. Secure your outboard motor to the boat with a
All boats manufactured after November 1, 1972 must have padlock through the two holes in thumbscrews.
the Hull Identification Number (HIN) permanently applied
and displayed according to U.S. Coast Guard regulations 3. Padlock all hatches and storage compartments. Use
before the boat can be sold in Oregon (ORS 830.825). locks that have concealed screws (called hasps).
Deadbolts provide better security.
Altered, improper or missing HINs may be cause for
seizure by marine enforcement officers. Contact the Marine 4. Secure your trailer to your vehicle with a chain and
Board if you suspect a problem with your HIN. lock. Immobilize the trailer by removing a wheel and
or blocking up the frame.
The Marine Board will assign a hull identification number
for older boats that do not have one after an inpection by 5. Mark and record the serial numbers of your property.
the County Marine Patrol.
6. Be alert to strangers in the area.
HIN (Hull Identification Number)
7. Install an audible alarm.

Report all boat thefts to the county sheriff’s office or
the Oregon State Police and the Marine Board.

ABC 45678 A484 Avoid Being a Boat Fraud Victim

Manufacturers Hull Serial Month/Year of Model Stolen boats are frequently sold to unsuspecting
I.D. Code Number Manufacture Year customers. Do not purchase any vessel if the seller is
unable to produce a title or proof of ownership. You can
avoid being victimized by recognizing common fraud
indicators:
• Before purchasing a boat, make sure its HIN exactly

matches the HIN listed on the registration and/or title.

TRANSOM HULL IDENTIFICATION • Be sure to review ownership paperwork and look for
these fraud indicators:
NUMBER IN THIS
LOCATION – The boat has been rebuilt, previously reported stolen,
sunk or recovered.

Notification Requirements – The title or proof of ownership is a duplicate issue or
from out-of-state.
The boat owner is required to notify the State Marine
Board in writing within 30 days: – Registration numbers appear altered and their shape/
1. If the boat is destroyed, stolen or documented. If size is not uniform.

stolen, the owner should report the theft to the local – The asking price is well below the market value. Be
sheriff’s office. Then contact the suspicious if someone offers to sell you a boat or
Marine Board and provide us with equipment at a price that’s too good to be true.
the same information and case
number.
2. Any change of address.
3. If a Certificate of Number, Certificate
of Title or the decals to a boat are
lost or destroyed.

The owner is responsible for any
damage caused by an abandoned or
sunken vessel in navigable waters
(ORS 830.909). If the vessel is blocking
a waterway and poses a navigation
hazard, the owner will be required to
remove it at his or her own expense.
Anyone finding an abandoned boat
must contact the local county sheriff’s
office. Oregon does not currently have
8 laws regarding boat salvage.