Life Jackets and Whistles: In Oregon, It's the Law

The Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) is "Oregon's recreational boating agency, dedicated to safety, education, and access in an enhanced environment." Since the summer boating season is upon us, we thought a review of a few of OSMB's particular laws that relate to wearing life jackets and whistles (or some noise making device) is in order. Here goes:

All boats must carry at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved, personal flotation device (PFD) for every person aboard, that properly fits the intended wearer.  Such devices must be in serviceable condition.  They must not have any rips, tears, or broken straps.  All devices must also be kept readily accessible for use in an emergency situation.  Personal flotation devices in a plastic bag or in a storage compartment are not readily accessible.

Persons being towed are considered on board the towing boat and there must be an approved Type I, II, or III device aboard for each. Inflatable PFD's are NOT approved for children and are also NOT approved for impact sports such as waterskiing, riding a PWC, inner-tubing, etc.

All children age 12 and under must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while on an open deck or cockpit on boats that are underway or when being towed. This includes sailboats, canoes, kayaks and rafts.
As of January 1, 2010, ORS 830.215 (Life Jacket Statute) will be amended to read:

NEW (3) Notwithstanding the classification by the State Marine Board of the types of personal flotation devices approved for various classes of vessels pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, a person operating a boat on any section of waters rated class III or higher on a commonly accepted scale of river difficulty, and all passengers in the boat, shall wear a properly secured personal flotation device.  The personal flotation device must be of a type prescribed by rules adopted by the State Marine Board.


OSMB is sponsoring a cool event on Saturday, May 21, 2011.  The Oregon State Marine Board is hosting a "Ready, Set, Inflate! Wear Your Life Jacket!" event at the M. James Gleason Boat Ramp (formerly called the 42^nd Street Boat Ramp) on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to create awareness about the importance of wearing a life jacket.  The public is invited to attend and encouraged to bring their own life jackets -inflatable or traditional Type I, II, III or V styles, and participate in "the most people wearing life jackets at the same time," world-record attempt.   The official count-down begins at noon when people will be asked to deploy their inflatable life jackets or don a traditional life jacket.  An official tally and photo will be taken for submission to the National Safe Boating Council.

This information is provided by Whitewater Warehouse...a certified Rogue River rafting, kayaking and hiking company.