[OSMB-News] News Release -New Years Resolutions for Boaters

Ashley Massey ashley.massey at state.or.us
Mon Dec 28 14:31:56 PST 2009


For Immediate Release	Date: Monday, December 28, 2009

New Years Resolutions for Boaters

The Oregon State Marine Board suggests New Years Resolutions for
boaters that don’t involve any sort of dieting, and are short-term
goals with immediate results -benefiting boaters and the waterways.

Resolution #1 -Don’t Drink and Boat

In November of 2008, a Washington boat operator was convicted of
killing three people -two of whom were children, after overturning his
boat in the Nisqually River. The boater had a blood alcohol
concentration of 0.19 percent at the time of the accident, more than
twice the legal limit.  “Operating a boat takes attention and skill. 
Driving a boat can be more challenging than driving a car,” says
Ashley Massey, Public Affairs Specialist for the Marine Board. 
“Conditions on the water are constantly changing, and with good
weather, there’s usually congestion too, which requires a lot of
attention.  When people consume alcohol or other drugs, they often feel
“safe to drive,” but it’s actually the substance playing tricks on
their mind.  The first area impaired by alcohol is a person’s
judgment, and this is where they make the mistake in the first place of
getting behind the wheel of a boat.  This year, resolve to not drink and
boat, and don’t allow your passengers to drink alcohol either.” 
Massey adds.  “Impaired passengers are more likely to end up in the
water by falling overboard.”   

Resolution #2 - Wear Your Life Jacket

Not only was the Washington boat operator impaired by alcohol, no one
on board was wearing a life jacket.  The two children thrown into the
water drowned, but would likely have survived if they’d been wearing
life jackets.  In Oregon, 90 percent of recreational boating fatality
victims were not wearing life jackets.  “Life jackets are the single
most important piece of equipment a boater can have.  Emergencies happen
so quickly, so life jackets really need to be worn when you’re out in
a boat.  In 2009, 13 lives were lost and of those, 10 of the victims
were not wearing a life jacket,” Massey adds.  Resolve to wear a
properly fitting life jacket for everyone on board, and designed for the
appropriate boating activity.

Resolution #3 -Never Launch a Dirty Boat

Oregon is special to the people who live here because of the clear
water, lush greenery and abundant wildlife.  The 2009 Legislature passed
two new laws affecting boaters in order to protect Oregon waterways from
aquatic invasive species that threaten Oregon’s pristine beauty and
ecology.  “Aquatic invasive species are spread primarily by boats,”
says Massey.  Eurasian watermilfoil and New Zealand mud snails are
species that have already contaminated some of Oregon’s waterways. 
“Non-native species can easily hitch a ride on a boat and be
transported to another waterbody,” Massey adds.  The “Clean
Launch” law (HB 2583) prohibits launching a boat if there are any
visible aquatic species on the hull, motor, trailer or related
equipment, or any invasive species inside the boat.  The goal of the law
is to prevent aquatic invasive plants, shellfish or other organisms from
being released into un-infested waters. Boaters need to remove all
vegetation and mud from inside and outside their boat, trailer, motor,
fishing gear, waders and other equipment before launching into a new
waterway.  Even a garden hose is effective at removing most vegetation. 
The other new law, The Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program (HB
2220) aims to educate boaters, both motorized and non-motorized alike,
about the threat of aquatic invasive species and create an inspection
program to detect and prevent aquatic invasive species from entering our
waterways.  The program also requires boaters of paddle craft (and
non-registered sail boats) 10 feet long and longer to purchase an
aquatic invasive species prevention permit when operating on the water. 
Non-motorized boat operators pay an annual $7 permit fee ($5 permit plus
$2 agent fee) and motorized boat owners pay $5 automatically when they
renew their boat’s registration.  Current registration decals are
proof of payment into the program for motorboat owners.  Funds generated
from this program will fund five regional inspection teams, pay for
education/outreach materials, signage, voluntary boat inspections and
decontamination of infested boats.  The fees will also pay for training
and decontamination equipment.  

The Marine Board also discourages salt-water boaters from flushing
their motors in fresh-water lakes because this is spreading New Zealand
mud snails to other freshwater lakes throughout the Oregon Coast. The
best location to wash your boat is at a commercial car wash or on a lawn
or other permeable surface away from storm drains, ditches or other
waterways.  “Once invasive species are here, they’re nearly
impossible to eradicate,” Massey adds.  “Prevention is our best
defense.”  Resolve to clean, drain and dry your boat after each use.
	
For more information about boating in Oregon, visit www.boatoregon.com.
 To purchase an aquatic invasive species prevention permit, visit the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website at
www.dfw.state.or.us/online_license_sales/index.asp.
###


Ashley A. Massey
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
503-378-8587 ext. 82623
ashley.massey at state.or.us
www.boatoregon.com
www.twitter.com/marineboard

"Go with the flow, and don't fight the current."



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