(1) A person may not operate a boat on the waters of this state, and an owner of a boat may not knowingly allow another person to operate the owner’s boat on the waters of this state, unless:

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Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 830.770

  • Boat: means every description of watercraft, including a seaplane on the water and not in flight, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water, but does not include boathouses, floating homes, air mattresses, beach and water toys or single inner tubes. See Oregon Statutes 830.005
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Operate: means to navigate or otherwise use a boat. See Oregon Statutes 830.005
  • Operator of a boat livery: means any person who is engaged wholly or in part in the business of chartering or renting boats to other persons. See Oregon Statutes 830.005
  • Peace officer: includes a member of the Oregon State Police, a sheriff or deputy sheriff, a city police officer, an authorized tribal police officer as defined in ORS § 181A. See Oregon Statutes 830.005
  • Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
  • Waters of this state: means all waters within the territorial limits of this state, the marginal sea adjacent to this state and the high seas when navigated as part of a journey or ride to or from the shore of this state. See Oregon Statutes 830.005

(a) The owner of the boat holds a valid, effective certificate of number issued in the owner’s name as owner:

(A) By this state, as provided in ORS § 830.060 to 830.140 and 830.700 to 830.870;

(B) By an agency of the federal government; or

(C) By the state of principal use which issued the certificate of number under a federally approved numbering system.

(b) The certificate of number is carried on the boat, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) Persons renting a boat from an operator of a boat livery are not required to carry the certificate of number on the boat, provided:

(a) The operator of the boat livery retains the certificate of number at the livery office for immediate inspection by a peace officer;

(b) The boat is clearly marked and identified as a livery boat; and

(c) The boat operator has a signed rental or lease agreement containing the boat’s identifying number and the period of time for which the boat is rented or leased. [Formerly 488.720; 2003 c.14 § 502; 2019 c.155 § 4]