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PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – You’d be forgiven for thinking this was satire, but it’s not: Starting January 1, 2026, Oregon will require a Water Access Permit for all boats on state waterways — and yes, even something as harmless as two inner tubes tied together will now officially count as a “boat.”
For years, watercraft under 10 feet long were exempt from permit requirements. That’s over now. Under a law signed June 24 by Governor Tina Kotek, House Bill 2982, anything that floats and isn’t a single inner tube is fair game for regulation. This includes kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, canoes, and yes — even those patched-up
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