Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Unique Challenges for Oregon Boaters

Recreational boaters in Oregon have a great variety of waterways to explore and enjoy. Of course, some waterways pose more challenges than others. Boating safely in Oregon’s bays and ocean, in its larger rivers, or on its high lakes requires an extra degree of knowledge, preparation, and caution.

Bays and Ocean

Oregon’s bays offer diverse and exciting boating, whether the boater is cruising, sailing, fishing, or crabbing. In the bay, a boater faces many more variables than on inland waters: tides, expansive sand, and mud flats may be passable one moment but not the next; pilings may be visible or may be hiding just below the surface; there may be stiff currents or commercial traffic; and there can be rapid weather changes including fog, wind, and heavy rain.

When boating in Oregon’s bays:

• Study local charts, learning where channels and navigation hazards lie.
• Always wear a life jacket in these cold, unpredictable waters.
• Avoid boating near the mouth of a bay on an outgoing tide—breakers can form along jetties or sand bars without notice, even on a calm day. Also, outgoing tides create extremely fast, strong currents that can sweep a disabled boat into rough water very quickly.
• Always carry a good anchor and plenty of line in case you have motor trouble.
• Be aware of the weather and tides, and know the limits of your boat and your skills.

Boating in a bay can be simple or challenging depending on conditions, but crossing a coastal bar to the ocean always requires extreme caution. The bar is the area where the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean meet the shallower waters near the mouth of a river. Most accidents and deaths that occur on coastal bars are from capsizing. To reduce your risks:

• Always wear your life jacket when crossing the bar!
• Never operate an overloaded boat. Make sure to load your boat evenly and have passengers sit or lie down in the center of the boat to improve stability.
• Check with other boaters and use a VHF marine radio to monitor the condition of the bar prior to crossing.
• Avoid crossing the bar on an outgoing tide even on days with relatively calm waters.
• Be aware that boats are more likely to capsize when crossing the bar from the ocean because the seas are on the stern and the boater may have less control over the vessel. When coming in, make sure to keep the boat square before the waves and keep the boat on the back of the swell, riding it to stay clear of the following wave.
• Do not allow the waves to catch your boat on the side (beam). It can easily result in capsizing.

Large Rivers

Oregon’s large rivers, such as the Columbia, Willamette, Rogue, Umpqua, and others, offer excellent boating opportunity. While these rivers are beautiful and serve the boater in many ways, they require safety and vigilance, too. Watch out for these potential hazards or situations.

• Logs and large pieces of driftwood: These are a danger, especially during periods of high water and afterwards when the rivers carry a heavy load of floating materials.
• Deadheads (also called sinker logs): Waterlogged deadheads stand almost vertically in the water, sometimes with just the tip of one end standing out of the water. Impact with a deadhead can punch a hole in a large boat and destroy a small one that hits it at high speed.
• Pile dikes or wing dams: These are rows of vertical pilings that run from the shoreline toward a point in the middle of the river or that stand across the upstream end of an island or slough. During high water, pile dikes are frequently covered and invisible except for a cabled cluster of taller pilings (known as a dolphin) that marks the offshore end of a pile dike. As a general rule, boats should not pass between the shore and any isolated pilings standing offshore.
• Commercial vessel traffic: Small working tugs, barges, and large ocean-going freighters share the waters with recreational boaters on many of Oregon’s larger rivers, especially the Columbia. Take note of the following.
  • Commercial traffic always has priority over recreational boats in channels, while passing under bridges, and in locks. Common sense, courtesy, and the law (rules of the road) require that small boats give these vessels a wide berth.
  • Pilots of large vessels have a large “blind spot” which can extend for hundreds of feet ahead of the vessel. Keep this in mind and get out of the way as soon as it is clear that the larger vessel is coming your way.
  • Large vessels move with surprising speed. Anglers or cruisers anchored in a channel are at grave risk and must move as soon as the large vessel is seen. Boaters continue to lose their lives each year because they carelessly anchor in the channel and don’t move for the larger ship.

High Lakes

Oregon has numerous lakes and reservoirs cradled amidst the Coast Range, Cascades, Wallowas, and other mountains across the state. These lakes provide excellent fishing, wildlife viewing, and cruising. The waters may seem like calm, secluded havens of rest—and generally they are—but they also can be deadly. When boating on any of Oregon’s high lakes, remember the following.

• Afternoon winds are the rule. Depending on the wind direction, lake depth, and other factors, large “rollers” can form quickly and swamp smaller boats. Know your limits and be ready to head to the nearest shore when the wind comes up.
• Oregon’s waters are always cold. Hypothermia is a quick killer. Dress appropriately, and wear a life jacket. If you do capsize, stay with your boat and signal for help. Huddle closely with the others in your party. Keep your clothes on for added insulation. Avoid swimming—you’ll lose body heat more rapidly.
• Watch for lightning. Severe thunderstorms can strike high lakes with little warning. Lightning, hail, and/or heavy rain and wind can follow quickly. It’s best to be off the lake before the storm begins.
• Keep a lookout for submerged stumps, trees, rocks, and other hazards. These hazards are common, especially in reservoirs. Proceed slowly until you know an area is clear.