(1) No person shall operate a boat on the waters of this state unless:

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Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 830.780

  • 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
  • Operate: means to navigate or otherwise use a boat. 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) There is painted on or attached to each side of the forward half of the boat a valid, effective identifying number awarded to the boat:

(A) By this state;

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

(C) Subject to the provisions of ORS § 830.805, by another state that awards identifying numbers under a federally approved numbering system.

(b) The identifying number described in paragraph (a) of this subsection is painted or attached on each side of the forward half of the vessel in such position as to provide clear legibility for identification. The numbers shall read from left to right and shall be in block characters of good proportion not less than three inches in height. The numbers shall be of a color that will contrast with the color of the background and so maintained as to be clearly visible and legible; i.e., dark letters on a light background, or light letters on a dark background.

(c) No number other than the identifying number described in paragraph (a) of this subsection appears on the forward half of the boat.

(2) No person or dealer shall sell or display for sale a boat previously numbered by this state, by an agency of the federal government or by another state that issued a certificate of number under a federally approved numbering system unless the identifying number appears on each side of the forward half of the boat. [Formerly 488.725; 2003 c.14 § 503]