Oregon and Washington don't regulate recreational boats identically, and those differences affect what your policy needs to cover. Both states require boat registration through their respective marine board or Department of Licensing, and both mandate boater education cards for certain age groups operating motorized vessels, including PWCs. Where they differ is more in enforcement emphasis and reporting: Washington's Department of Licensing handles titling similarly to a vehicle, while Oregon routes registration through the State Marine Board. Neither state currently mandates liability insurance simply to own a boat, but marinas, lenders, and launch facilities across both states frequently require proof of coverage before granting dock or slip access. That's one more reason boat insurance coverage shouldn't be treated as optional even where the law doesn't demand it. If you split time between an Oregon lake in the summer and a Washington coastal marina in the fall, confirm your policy travels with you across both states without a lapse — and if you also own a vacation home near the water, it's worth coordinating that policy with your marine coverage so nothing overlaps or falls through the cracks. The same logic applies if you tow the boat behind a vehicle covered under a separate auto insurance policy.