N. Oregon Coast Rescuers Assist Boaters with No Life Vests at Netarts Bay

Published 01/02/26 at 6:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Netarts, Oregon) – New Year's Day started off with a near-tragedy on the north Oregon coast. (Photos Netarts-Fire)

Netarts-Oceanside Fire District (NOFD) said it received a call of a boat in distress on the bar crossing at the Netarts Bay mouth.

Within minutes, rescuers were able to spot them thanks to their drone, catching sight of a boat clearly struggling against an outgoing tide to get back into the bay.

“We had a 9 foot tidal exchange due to King Tides,” said NOFD.

They noted how former Fire Chief Tim Carpenter always said: “ the tide comes in like a river, and goes out like a raging river,” which it was doing in this case.

“Our boat crew found 4 young males in a very small, overloaded, under powered boat not wearing life vests,” NOFD said. “The visitors were able to make their way back to dock.”

NOFD said the incident echoes one they had a few years ago with a similarly-sized boat that capsized and two boaters not wearing vests died in the water.

Back in 2023, there was another incident in the Nestucca Bay area at Pacific City where three males were in a boat that capsized. One was not wearing a life vest and drowned in the water, while the other two were wearing them and made it to shore.

At the time, Tillamook County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) said the initial investigation found there were not enough floatation devices on board the watercraft.

Oregon coast authorities offered some guidelines on how to avoid such a tragedy yourself.

"These types of incidents happen in the blink of an eye. It is important to be wearing life jackets, or have them readily available immediately," said TCSO. "Oregon law requires children 12 and under to be wearing a properly fitted USCG approved PFD while on a boat that is underway. All non swimmers, regardless of age, should be wearing PFD's when on the water."

Even in the summer, Oregon coast bays and rivers have dangerous currents present during tidal events and recreating on the water near the mouth of a bay or a river where it meets the ocean is particularly dangerous, said OSP. When you need a life jacket, it's often too late to put one on.

"Tragedies like this are often avoidable by simply wearing a PFD (personal floatation devices). You should also avoid crabbing, fishing, paddling or swimming on an outgoing tide anywhere near the mouth of a bay or river. Your survival in a boating accident greatly increases if you are wearing a PFD, no matter what your age. No family should have to go through something like this," said TCSO.

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