Drone: Dan Gavere.

You Bought an eFoil! Now Let’s Make It Oregon Legal
(It’s Easier Than You Think)

By T.J. Gulizia

Congrats on the new toy! Before you go buzzing up and down the Columbia, there’s one quick bit of homework: registering your eFoil with the Oregon State Marine Board.

I just did it for my LiftX. It took about 20 minutes online and cost $112.75. Here’s exactly how I did it, plus the gear that keeps you safe and legal on the water.

Why Register an eFoil?

Oregon treats an eFoil as a personal watercraft, the same category as a Jet Ski. That means if you’re an Oregon resident riding in Oregon waters, your board needs an Oregon title and registration, just like a boat.

The good news: it’s all online through the Oregon State Marine Board‘s Boat Oregon Store, and you only do it once.

Not in Oregon? Every state handles eFoils a little differently. Many treat them as personal watercraft, just like Oregon does. Before your first ride, look up your own state’s boating agency and check two things: how to title and register your eFoil, and the personal watercraft rules where you ride (life jacket, boater education, age limits and which waters are open). Riding across state lines, like here on the Columbia between Oregon and Washington? Check both.

Before You Start: Grab These

Have everything in one spot before you log in. The application can’t be finished without it.

Your title paperwork: the Builder’s Certification and First Transfer of Title (USCG form CG-1261, 2 pages). It comes with your board, and we fill out and notarize the transfer to you at Big Winds.
Photos or scans of both title pages (JPG, PNG or PDF) on the device you’ll use.
Your Hull Identification Number (HIN) from the board. It has to match the title exactly.
Length, model year and model from the title.
Your details: full legal name, mailing address, date of birth, phone and email.
Lender info, only if your board is financed.
A credit card. Fees in October 2026: $75 title + $37.75 registration = $112.75.
A Boat Oregon Store account (free to set up through the Marine Board’s site).

The 20-Minute Walkthrough

The application is a 7-page form and then checkout. You can hit “Close and Save for later” anytime and pick up where you left off.

Log in to the Boat Oregon Store and open Boat Title and/or Registration Application. Pick the one with no boat description (yours is a new boat).
Transaction type: choose Apply for title and registration. Leave the Oregon Certificate Number blank.
Apply for Boat Title: choose New Boat or Never Titled. The purchase date is the transfer date on page 2 of your title.
Proof of Ownership: click Add, pick Brand New or Never Titled or Homebuilt, then upload title page 1 and page 2, one at a time.
Boat Details: use the cheat sheet below.
Ownership: add yourself as the owner (Business/Trust: No). Single owner? Answer No to joint-owner survivorship.
Lienholders: click Next if there’s no loan.
Attestation: type your full legal name.
Checkout: click Pay Invoice and save your receipt.

Boat Details Cheat Sheet

The form was built for boats, so a couple of answers feel funny for an eFoil. Here’s what I entered for my LiftX.

Question	What to enter	My LiftX
Length (feet, inches)	From the title	4 ft 7 in
Hull Identification Number (HIN)	Exactly as it appears on the board and title	Copied character for character
Model year	4 digits (the last 2 digits of the HIN)	2026
Model	Up to 25 characters	LIFTX
Manufacturer	The builder named on your title	MHL CUSTOMS
Primary propulsion	Propeller	Propeller
Hull material	Match your title	Fiberglass
Vessel type	There is no eFoil option	Other
Primary operation	Pleasure	Pleasure
Fuel	Electric	Electric
Engine drive type	There is no eFoil option	Other

Lift boards are built by MHL Custom, so look for MHL CUSTOMS in the manufacturer list.

Pro Tips (Learned the Fun Way)

Check the HIN first. Lift HINs start with MHS while the builder is MHL Custom. That’s normal, but the HIN has to match your title character for character.
Use the calendar picker for dates. Typing dates can scramble them (mine turned 10/02/2026 into 12/22/1960!). Double check before clicking Next.
Upload title pages one at a time and make sure both file names show before clicking OK.
iPhone photos won’t upload if they’re HEIC. Export them as JPEG first, or set your camera to “Most Compatible.”
Stick to one application. If you stop partway, click Continue on the one under “In Progress” instead of starting over.
Fees are non-refundable, so give the Boat Details page one last look before you sign.

After You Pay: One Trip to the Mailbox

The Marine Board won’t finish your title until the original paperwork arrives.

Snap photos of both title pages for your records.
Mail the original CG-1261 (both pages) and a copy of your payment receipt to:
Attn: Online, Oregon State Marine Board, PO Box 14145, Salem OR 97309
Use tracked mail.
Your Oregon title, registration card and decals come back in the mail.
Hang on to your receipt until they arrive.

When your decals show up, your OR numbers go on the forward half of each side of the board in a contrasting color, with the decal 3 inches behind the number. Keep your registration card with you on the water (a waterproof pouch works great).

Gear Up: Safe and Legal on the Water

Because an eFoil counts as a personal watercraft in Oregon, it carries Jet Ski rules, not paddleboard rules. Here’s what Oregon requires, plus what we recommend. Outside Oregon, check your state’s personal watercraft rules, but this kit covers you almost anywhere.

Required by law

A USCG-approved life jacket, worn by every rider while underway. Inflatables aren’t allowed on personal watercraft, and most foil impact vests aren’t USCG-approved (check the label). The Mustang Survival Vibe Foam Life Vest is USCG-approved and comes with a tethered whistle.
A whistle or other sound device. Clip it to your vest.
A Boater Education Card. Oregon applies personal watercraft rules to eFoils, so plan on carrying one. The course is online at boat-ed.com/oregon, Oregon cards never expire, and out-of-state NASBLA cards count too.
Your registration: OR numbers and decal on the board, registration card with you.

What we always recommend

A helmet. Always. We like the Forward WIP Prowip 2.0.
Cut protection. Foils and props are sharp. The ION Surf Shield Rashguard and Surf Shield Boardshorts are cut-resistant (level 4 of 5) without feeling like armor. The boardshorts are on pre-order for March 2027.
Be seen. A bright top makes you easy to spot on a crowded river, and easy to find if things go wrong. I ride in a yellow one (see the top photo). We carry the Florence Marine X Hooded Rashguard in Rescue Red.
A leash. The Ride Engine RE_Tractable Reel Leash and Waist Belt keep the board close without a tangle of cord.

Quick Rules of the Road

Age: 16 and older with a Boater Education Card can ride solo. Under 16 needs a card-holding adult 18+ along. Under 12 can’t operate.
Where: the Columbia River is open to personal watercraft. Lakes and other rivers have their own rules, so check before you go.
Give space: slow, no-wake within 200 feet of swimmers, surfers, docks, ramps and shorelines on lakes and bays, and within 100 feet of non-motorized or anchored boats.
Be a good neighbor: give the kiters, wingers and swimmers off the Waterfront Park and Event Site plenty of room.

Riding outside Oregon? Take a few minutes to look up your local registration and personal watercraft rules before you head out.

Questions? Stop by the shop and we’ll walk you through it. Now go have fun!

Fees and rules as of October 2026. This is our friendly guide, not legal advice. For the official word, contact the Oregon State Marine Board at 503-378-8587.

T.J. Gulizia is a co-owner of Big Winds in Hood River, Oregon. Come talk eFoils at 207 Front Street or call 541-386-6086.