Pulling the plug

I just read a couple new laws that will affect the kayak community.

To minimize the spread of aquatic invasive species, motorized boaters will be required to “pull the plug” when leaving a waterbody and during transport to allow any water-holding compartments to drain (transporting live crab or fish is against the law per ODFW regulations). The fine for failure to pull the plug is $30 for non-motorized boats and $50 for motorized boats and is a Class D violation. Law enforcement was also given the authority to order a person back to an aquatic invasive species boat inspection station if a boater bypasses the mandatory boat inspection station and the station is within five miles. If a person fails to go back to the station for an inspection/decontamination, they can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor ($1,250 and or 30 days in jail). Protecting our waterways from aquatic invaders is the goal and compliance with boat inspection station requirements is vital to achieving it.

I’m not sure how this will be enforced on kayaks since our plug is near the top of our kayak, but we will see.

The only other change I saw that will apply to us is the name change for aquatic invasive species permit to waterways access permit.  There is now an option for a one week permit for $5, one year for $17 or two year for $30

I suspect that the requirement that the drain plugs be removed from non-motorized boats while they are being transported was intended to apply to sailboats.  I don't use the drain plug on any of my sit-on-top kayaks because they are real inconvenient to use and don't do a very good job of draining out my kayaks, even if I stand them on end.   Other kinds of kayak may have better drain plugs, but opening the drain plug on a kayak won't do much good if the kayak is being carried right-side-up. 

If inspectors start telling kayakers that they need to open the drain plugs on their kayaks or they will get a fine, I suspect that this explanation would keep you out of trouble if you get questioned by an aquatic invasive species inspector: "Before I load my kayak onto my vehicle after using it, I always raise the stern of the kayak, open the bow hatch, and mop out any water which has leaked into the kayak.  And I store the kayak with the hatches open so the inside of the kayak will dry out."

However, this explanation won't be very persuasive if the inspector looks inside your kayak and finds water sloshing around inside it.  So you should add a big sponge to your kayak fishing gear so you can in fact mop out any water before you load the kayak on your vehicle.

If you unscrew the drain plug on your kayak while transporting it, be sure to screw the plug back in before you leave shore.  It's embarrassing how many times I've realized that one of my whitewater kayaks is filling up with water because I forgot to screw in the drain plug after draining some water out of the kayak.