The Oregon State Marine Board will conduct its week-long jet boat training on the Rogue River during the week of July 15 – July 19. This intensive course focuses on boat operation, marine law, swift water rescue, and boat trailering. Students who attend the Marine Board’s Whitewater Jet Boat Training bring a range of skills from the novice operator to advanced operator. “We’re aiming to have a minimal impact on other waterway users by operating in different stretches each day,” says Eddie Persichetti, Marine Law Enforcement Training Coordinator for the Marine Board. “There can be a dozen or more boats with students learning and practicing and we want to other folks out on the water to feel comfortable knowing their activities won’t be interrupted by training operations.” In addition to boat handling exercises in whitewater conditions, students will also learn how to disassemble, service and reassemble jet pumps, learn how to read the river to identify safe passages, learn anchoring and chocking techniques. “This kind of training is so important because fast action and skill can mean the difference between a saved life -or not,” Persichetti says. Training will occur in the following river stretches: Monday, July 15: Gold Beach to Lobster Creek; Tuesday, July 16: Gold Beach to Colemans Corner; Wednesday, July 17: Gold Beach to Agness; Thursday and Friday, July 18-19: Gold Beach to Agness. The Marine Board contracts with 31 Sheriff’s Offices and the Oregon State Police for marine law enforcement services, including search and rescue operations, and boating safety education. Contracts with the County Sheriff’s Offices are paid for through motorboat registrations and titling fees. For more information about the Marine Board and law enforcement services, visit http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/BoatLaws/pages/index.aspx.
