Hosmer Lake (OR): Motor & Boating Rules
Deschutes County · near Bend · managed by Oregon State Marine Board
- Gas outboard: NO
- Electric trolling: YES
- PWC / jet ski: NO
Quick answer
Hosmer Lake is an electric-only water. Gasoline engines are banned outright. Trolling motors of any thrust rating are legal. Hosmer Lake in OR is restricted to electric motors only — gasoline engines are prohibited under Oregon State Marine Board regulations (verified July 14, 2026). Most anglers here run 30–55 lb thrust off a 12 V battery. Rules change and local ordinances may add restrictions — always confirm with Oregon State Marine Board before you launch.
Rules at a glance
| Restriction class | Electric Motors Only |
|---|---|
| Horsepower limit | n/a |
| Electric trolling motors | YES |
| Gas outboards | NO |
| PWC / jet skis | NO |
| Wake rule | 10 mph maximum speed at all times (ORS 830.185) |
| Hours rule | None listed for Hosmer Lake |
| Zones | All of Hosmer Lake, no zones listed |
| Managing body | State department of natural resources: Oregon State Marine Board |
| Official source | Oregon State Marine Board — secure.sos.state.or.us |
| Last verified |
What this means in practice
Electric-only means the hull can be almost anything — the power source is what matters. The typical setup on Hosmer Lake is a transom-mount trolling motor in the 30–55 lb thrust range on a deep-cycle 12 V battery. Thrust is not horsepower: 55 lb of thrust moves a small boat at roughly walking pace. Our guide on what electric-only really means covers setups and run time.
Watch the detail that trips people up: a gas outboard left tilted up on the transom is still a gas motor on the boat. Some agencies tolerate it unused; others treat any attached combustion engine as a violation. On Hosmer Lake, the safe play is to leave the gas motor at home unless Oregon State Marine Board says otherwise in writing.
Worth knowing about Hosmer Lake: OAR 250-020-0091 (Hosmer Lake provision). Internal combustion engines banned, so electric trolling motors only; ORS 830.185 additionally lists Hosmer Lake under the 10 mph at-all-times speed limit. Gas-powered PWC are effectively prohibited. Fly-fishing-only lake on the Cascade Lakes Highway.
Common mistakes on Electric only water
Ignoring the fine print. Most electric-only rules cap the power source, not the motor's size — but a few local rules do add size or mounting conditions. The notes on this page carry anything lake-specific we verified for Hosmer Lake.
Forgetting registration. In most states a kayak becomes a registrable motorboat the moment a trolling motor goes on. Paperwork stops here are more common than speed stops.
Before you launch — verify
- Official rules: Oregon State Marine Board
- Unsure about a detail? Call the Oregon State Marine Board district office that covers Deschutes County before towing your boat out.
- We last verified this page on .
Rules change and local ordinances may add restrictions — always confirm with Oregon State Marine Board before you launch.
Frequently asked questions
Are gas motors allowed on Hosmer Lake?
No. Gasoline engines are prohibited on Hosmer Lake; the lake is limited to electric motors. Verified July 14, 2026.
Can I use an electric trolling motor on Hosmer Lake?
Yes. Electric trolling motors are allowed on Hosmer Lake. A transom-mount motor in the 30–55 lb thrust range with a deep-cycle battery is the typical setup for this class of water.
Are jet skis (PWC) allowed on Hosmer Lake?
No — PWC cannot legally run here. The motor restriction on Hosmer Lake rules them out along with other powered craft.
Who enforces boating rules on Hosmer Lake?
The rules summarized here come from Oregon State Marine Board (state department of natural resources), with possible additional ordinances from Deschutes County or local municipalities. Any peace officer can cite violations, so treat posted rules as enforceable regardless of who is watching.
Where do I verify the current rules for Hosmer Lake?
The Sources section links the exact regulation we summarized, and Oregon State Marine Board publishes the live version. This page was last checked against it on July 14, 2026.
Sources
- Administrative code: Oregon State Marine Board — secure.sos.state.or.us
- Managing agency: Oregon State Marine Board
- Last verified against the source: