Operation Ship Shape, July 23

The Oregon State Marine Board, in partnership with 32 county sheriff’s offices and the Oregon State Police will be focusing their enforcement efforts on boaters with lapsed boat registrations during the weekend of August 4-5, 2018 for “Operation Ship Shape.” “So far this year, marine law enforcement officers are reporting unusually high numbers of unregistered boats,” says Randy Henry, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board.  “This means that those registered boaters who are playing by the rules are carrying the load for everyone else.  Without adequate revenue, the agency is forced to cut funds to our law enforcement programs which ultimately mean fewer patrol boats on the water and longer response times in emergency incidents.” “We’re at a five year high for fatalities so far this year, and we cannot afford to reduce our agency’s services, so we’re simply making sure that all motorboats –any boat with any mechanical propulsion, whether gas, electric, diesel or solar, and all sailboats 12 feet or longer, are currently registered.”  Henry adds, “The fine for lapsed boat registration is $265, which is far more than the cost of the boat registration itself.  Fines do not come back to the Marine Board.  When collected, those fines go into the state’s general fund.  It’s better for all of us if you register your boat now than wait for a fine.” Motorboat registrations are $4.50 per foot, rounded to the highest foot plus $5 for the aquatic invasive species prevention program.  For example, a 16 foot outboard motorboat would cost $77.  Registrations are valid for two calendar years. Boaters can renew their boat registration online at www.boatoregon.com/store, or can visit their local registration agent.  Boaters can print off a temporary permit after successfully completing their transaction online or will be issued a temporary permit through an agent for an additional fee.  If you need assistance renewing online, please contact the Marine Board at marine.board@oregon.gov or 503-378-8587. For a list of registration agents, visit http://www.oregon.gov/osmb/title-registration/Pages/Where-to-Register.aspx.