Additional Regulations Regarding Towed Watersports in Oregon
Towed Watersports Education Program
New laws were passed in 2022 that affect towed watersports on the Willamette River (a.k.a. Newberg Pool Congested Zone (Zone)) from Willamette Falls (RM 26.6) to the mouth of the Yamhill River (RM 55). No wakesurfing is allowed in this area. If you’re wanting to operate a boat for tubing, wakeboarding, or water-skiing, you are required to complete the Towed Watersports Education Course, in addition to this course.
- Boats that are being used for towed watersports in the Zone area must have a current Towed Watersports Decal (valid for a two-year period) and a Towed Watersports Education Card, in addition to Oregon’s Boating Safety Education Card.
- Boats must be under 5,500 pounds of loading weight to qualify (which is the boat’s dry weight plus maximum factory ballast capacity).
- Boats engaged in wakeboarding, tubing, and other inflatables must operate at least 200 feet from any permitted dock, boathouse, or floating moorage.
- Boats engaged in water-skiing must operate at least 100 feet from any permitted dock, boathouse, or floating moorage.
- No wake-enhancing devices: if you’re using a boat in the Zone area, you cannot use ballast or any other means to increase your wake size; this includes loading the boat with heavy objects or moving passengers to the back of the boat.
- Boats that are over the maximum loading weight may still recreate in the Zone but cannot be engaged in towed watersports.
- For more information regarding the Towed Watersports Education Program, go to https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/boater-info/Pages/Towed-Watersports-Education-Program.aspx.
Lower Willamette Towed Watersports Rules
There are also special rules for towed watersports below Willamette Falls (RM 26.7) to Waverly Marina (RM 17):
- Slow-no wake areas are within 100 feet of docks and other structures in the water.
- Boats engaged in wakeboarding, tubing, and other inflatables must operate at least 200 feet from any permitted dock, boathouse, or floating moorage.
- Boats engaged in water-skiing must operate at least 100 feet from any permitted dock, boathouse, or floating moorage.
- Wakesurfing is not allowed in this area.
- Boat operators do not need to complete the Towed Watersports Education course to participate in towed watersports in this area.
Lower Willamette River Seasonal Pass-Through Zone (Zone)
In the section of river, Hawthorne Bridge (RM 13.2) to Waverly Marina (RM 17), from May 1 to September 30:
- All boats may pass through without reducing speed.
- No PWC above 5 mph except to transit through the Zone.
- Towed watersports are not allowed in this Zone.
Ross Island and Holgate Channel are slow-no wake areas.
