Labor Day Weekend Boating -Planning, Preparing For Perfect Play - 09/01/26

Labor Day Weekend family boating traditions are rooted in the outdoors, and to keep things safe, the Oregon State Marine Board suggests taking the time to plan your on-water getaway with the following tips:

Know your waterway. “Take the time to get familiar with the waterway and know the dangers that come with natural waterbodies such as current, tides, and wind,” says Randy Sigman, interim Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board. “Look out for wood, other debris, and shallow gravel bars or shoaling that can catch motorized boaters off-guard with these low water levels.” Find out if the access site is open or closed either due to low water impacts on boat ramps or wildfires. The Marine Board compiles a weekly report on water levels, access closures, and alternate nearby locations in its Opportunities and Access Report. Closures are also indicated in the Boat Oregon Online Map of access sites in Oregon.

Wear your life jacket. Each boat (including canoes and kayaks, rafts, inflatable boats, and stand up paddleboards) must have a properly fitted life jacket for each person on board and at least one sound-producing device. Life jackets need to be in good shape and readily accessible – not under a hatch or in their packaging. All youth younger than 13 must wear a life jacket when in a boat that’s underway. Since storage space is limited on paddlecraft, it makes the most sense to just wear a life jacket. Conditions can change very quickly, and there’s no time to put on a life jacket in an emergency. So far this season, most of the victims of recreational boating fatalities were paddlers who were not wearing life jackets.

Know what rules apply. There are all types of watercraft on the market; some are considered boats and others are pool toys. Boats are designed differently and, by state law, have specific equipment requirements. “If you plan to float in a river, keep in mind that pool toys are designed for use in a swimming pool, have no directional control, and can puncture easily. Float in a watercraft designed for a river that won’t easily puncture and comes equipped with a paddle so you can maneuver away from obstructions.” Sigman adds.

Boat Sober. Boating is a great social activity, and the Marine Board encourages anyone recreating on the water to leave the alcohol on shore. It’s safer for everyone. If arrested for Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants (BUII), violators can be fined up to $6,250, can lose boating privileges for up to three years, and even serve jail time. Intoxicants include marijuana, illicit drugs, and even some prescriptions.

Sit on the seat inside the boat. Many boaters are tempted to ride on the swim platform, stern, sides, and the bow of open motorboats. The stern can be a dangerous place for exposure to carbon monoxide and a prop-strike safety hazard. It is illegal to ride on the bow, decks, gunwales, or transoms of a motorboat when the boat is underway. Sitting on designated seats is the safest option – especially when the boat is towing someone. Just because new boats have seats on the transom or swim step doesn’t make them legal for use when the boat is underway.

Slow down, keep scanning, and be courteous. Know the boating regulations for your area of operation. Boaters, including personal watercraft, are responsible for damage caused by their wake. Remember to slow down within 200 feet of a dock, launch ramp, marina, moorage, floating home or boathouse, pier, or swim float, even if they don’t have a “Slow No-Wake” buoy or sign. This is a statewide proximity rule that applies to all waterways. Paddlers should stay closer to shore, cross busy channels at right angles only when safe, and allow motorboats to pass in deeper water. Be courteous, share the water, and recreate responsibly.

For more information about equipment requirements, boating regulations, and ideas on where to go boating, visit the Marine Board’s website.

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Marine Board Recognizes Impactful Lincoln County Deputy (Photo) - 08/14/26

The Oregon State Marine Board honored recently retired Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Marine Deputy Dion Blake during its quarterly board meeting held in Madras.

Over Deputy Blake’s 14-plus years with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, much of his time was dedicated to the Marine Patrol. Lincoln County’s waterways are complex and diverse, everything from saltwater bays to narrow freshwater rivers. Expert boat handling and knowledge are required, and Blake quickly mastered them. Blake served as a respected training instructor with the Marine Board’s Swift Water Rescue, Personal Watercraft, Drift, Jet, and Marine Law Enforcement Academy training schools. His boating skills, depth of knowledge, and calm demeanor were quickly recognized by others, and he became a mentor for many new marine officers.

Deputy Blake also maximized the use of Cadets, along with emerging mobile electronic boat examination reporting (eBER) technology, to create an exemplary and proactive abandoned derelict vessel program in Lincoln County. Blake, with help from Cadets, regularly visited local marinas and the Port of Newport to identify and document “vessels of concern.” Due to his efforts and follow-through in finding and contacting owners, Deputy Blake was able to build relationships and improve collaboration between boat owners, marinas, and ports in preventing numerous boats from becoming derelict or unseaworthy. Through strong collaboration with the Port of Newport, Blake was able to initiate and complete the boat seizure process to remove, dismantle, and dispose of numerous boats. The abandoned derelict boat partnership he developed in Lincoln County became a model for other Sheriff’s Offices throughout Oregon.

Blake’s eagerness to make every day count is underscored by his desire to help others, on and off duty. Deputy Blake once said after a full day on the water in training, “I take the motto of 'To protect and serve ' seriously. Every day someone is in need, and sometimes something as small as a kind word or smile can help build connection.”

One of Blake’s favorite career functions as a Marine Deputy was being able to go into grade and middle schools and participate in community events in the hopes of inspiring kids about boating and water safety. “It was so much fun sharing the boats, talking about safety aspects, and including active participation from the kids and members of the community in all of the demonstrations,” Blake says with a smile on his face and joy in his tone. “Our community and the support they provided was such a gift. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as seeing people out in the community putting to practice what they learned from you.”

During another occasion at one of the Marine Law Enforcement trainings, Blake approached Marine Board Chair Laura Jackson, who was participating in the on-water scenarios, and said, “What can I do to help you do your job on the Board?” Jackson had heard from several other current and past Board members that his question and commitment were sincere. Blake’s question was an invitation Chair Jackson accepted and led to thoughtful discussion and camaraderie.

Jackson said when presenting Deputy Blake with his challenge coin, “Thank you, Dion, for your service to the boaters of Oregon and for inspiring me in my role as a Board member. What an example you’ve set for so many.”

Learn more about the Marine Board, Oregon’s recreational boating agency, and its programs that serve boaters.

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Hood River Sheriff’s Marine Deputy Recognized By Marine Board (Photo) - 08/13/26

The Oregon State Marine Board recognized the tireless efforts of Hood River County Sheriff’s Office Marine Deputy Joel Carmody during its quarterly meeting held in Madras on July 30.

Deputy Joel Carmody received the Oregon State Marine Board’s “Service Excellence Award” for his consistent and exemplary efforts in his marine career, leading through the 2025 boating season.

“Deputy Carmody has consistently gone above and beyond in youth education, community outreach, and public engagement,” said Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board. “His initiative, dedication, leadership, and passion for marine patrol have made a meaningful and lasting impact on recreational boating safety across our communities. His efforts exemplify the highest standards of service, professionalism, and commitment, and he truly deserves this recognition.”

Carmody served the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office for over 20 years, including 4 years as its Marine Deputy. He embraced his assignment to marine patrol and leapt from a beginner with boat operations to a mastery skill level within months. Carmody’s aptitude was recognized early, and he quickly advanced to a Marine Board instructor, serving in marine law enforcement training for Personal Watercraft (PWC) school and annual two-week Marine Law Enforcement Academy.

The Hood River area and robust windsports community on the Columbia River offer water recreators a mecca of opportunities, beyond boating. Carmody took the initiative to embed within the tourist-driven community to learn from locals, look for education gaps, and find ways to engage with local businesses, schools, clubs, and nonprofits. Never afraid to try new experiences, Deputy Carmody even participated in Wylde Wind and Water programs to learn SUP wing foiling and other windsports to understand the community’s perspectives better. He even volunteered with the Hood River Aquatics Center and Viento y Agua camp, which he continues in his newly retired status, helping kids learn skills to love, not fear -the water.

Visit Boat.Oregon.gov for information about the Marine Board’s partnership with 30 county Sheriff’s Offices and the Oregon State Police for on-water marine patrol services.

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View Boating Safety Video from Hood River Sheriff’s Office Marine Deputy Joel Carmody