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.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 830.110, 830.175 & 830.195
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 830.110
History:
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.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 830.110
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 830.110
History:
MB 8-1997, f. & cert. ef. 10-8-97
MB 3-1990, f. 5-18-90, cert. ef. 6-1-90

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 wearable personal flotation device (PFD) as defined in OAR 250-010-0010.

(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, or as provided in OAR 250-021-0036.

(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, or as provided in OAR 250-021-0036.

(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).

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 830.110, ORS 830.175, ORS 830.195 & ORS 830.250
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 830.110
History:
OSMB 6-2020, amend filed 05/21/2020, effective 06/01/2020
OSMB 3-2020, amend filed 01/30/2020, effective 02/03/2020
OSMB 6-2019, temporary amend filed 07/17/2019, effective 07/17/2019 through 12/31/2019
OSMB 6-2015, f. 6-26-15, cert. ef. 7-1-15
OSMB 1-1999, f. & cert. ef. 1-26-99
MB 9-1997, f. & cert. ef. 10-8-97
MB 8-1996, f. 4-12-96, cert. ef. 7-1-96
MB 6-1994, f. & cert. ef. 4-28-94
MB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 11-16-90
MB 3-1990, f. 5-18-90, cert. ef. 6-1-90

250-021-0036
Youth Competitions and Training

(1) A youth age 12 to 15 may independently operate a personal watercraft when competing in a Marine Board-sanctioned competition per OAR 250-010-0095 when the following requirements are met.

(a) The youth holds a NASBLA-approved boating education card.

(b) The youth carries a license, certificate or membership issued through a race-sanctioning organization.

(2) If participating in training, in addition to the requirements of 250-021-0036(1), the following must occur:

(a) An on-site sponsor, age 18 or older and who holds a NASBLA-approved boating education card, must be present and be able to provide on-water assistance, as needed.

(b) The youth or the sponsor must carry a valid letter of approval issued by the Marine Board.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 830.110, ORS 830.375 & ORS 830.082 - ORS 830.096
History:
OSMB 3-2020, adopt filed 01/30/2020, effective 02/03/2020

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.

(g) 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.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of OAR 250-010-0121(c), a person must not operate a personal watercraft in a manner that exceeds 75 dBA measured as specified in the shoreline sound level measurement procedure for recreational motorboats J1970_201102 on the Willamette River from Willamette Falls (River Mile 26.6) downstream to the Waverly Marina (River Mile 16.9). 

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 830.110, ORS 830.175 & ORS 830.195
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 830.110, ORS 830.175, ORS 830.195 & ORS 830.260
History:
OSMB 7-2022, minor correction filed 11/29/2022, effective 11/29/2022
OSMB 5-2022, amend filed 10/05/2022, effective 10/05/2022
OSMB 2-2022, temporary amend filed 04/07/2022, effective 04/08/2022 through 10/03/2022
OSMB 6-2015, f. 6-26-15, cert. ef. 7-1-15
OSMB 6-2011, f. 4-25-11, cert. ef. 5-2-11
OSMB 1-2011(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 1-3-11 thru 6-30-11
MB 6-1992, f. & cert. ef. 4-30-92
MB 9-1990, f. & cert. ef. 11-16-90
MB 3-1990, f. 5-18-90, cert. ef. 6-1-90

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 equipment required by ORS 830.210, 830.410 and 830.420.

(2) An inherently buoyant wearable personal flotation device (PFD) must be provided for each person that will ride the personal watercraft. The PFD must be worn to meet OAR 250-021-0030(1). 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 Oregon's personal watercraft rules must be provided to the renter, and any person who will operate the personal watercraft while rented, leased or chartered. The Watercraft Rental Safety Checklist (Checklist) shall be reviewed by the livery operator with the rental customer and signed by both parties. The bottom portion of the Checklist, signed by the livery operator and renter, must be carried by the operator on the personal watercraft as required by ORS 830.092. The rest of the Checklist must be retained by the livery operator with the record of the rental as required by ORS 830.415.

[ED. NOTE: Forms referenced are available from the agency.]

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 830.110, ORS 830.195 & ORS 830.250
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 830.110
History:
OSMB 6-2020, amend filed 05/21/2020, effective 06/01/2020
OSMB 6-2015, f. 6-26-15, cert. ef. 7-1-15
OSMB 13-1998, f. & cert. ef. 7-24-98
MB 10-1997, f. & cert. ef. 10-8-97