Boating in Texas

There are a variety of different boating opportunities in Texas, including boating on lakes and rivers in Texas, and boating in the Gulf of Mexico as well. No matter what type of boating you are looking to do, be it canoeing, water skiing, sail boarding, jet skiing, sail boating, fishing or motor boating, the boating opportunities available in Texas are numerous.

There are a number of popular cities and towns for boating endeavors spread across Texas. Some of the more popular boating cities in Texas include Austin, Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. There are also numerous towns that serve as popular boating locations in Texas, including Buchanan Dam, Burnet, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Granite Shoals, Horseshoe Bay, Kingsland, Llano, Marble Falls and Sunrise Beach.

In Central Texas you will find the Highland Lakes, including Lake Buchanan which is a popular boating location for all types of boating. It is even possible to rent house boats on Lake Buchanan. This lake is extremely popular for fisherman, swimmers, campers and boating of all types, and boaters never feel crowded because of how large the lake is. Lake LBJ, named for Lyndon B. Johnson is a pretty lake that is ideal for general boating and water skiing. Lake Marble Falls is a constant level lake that is 5.75 miles long that offers outstanding boating and waterskiing, and hosts the annual Marble Falls Cigarette Boat race. Lake Austin, another Highland Lake, is a pretty winding lake that offers a great deal of boating activity along with spectacular views. Lake Austin has beautiful high cliffs that provide shelter from the wind, which makes most boating activities more enjoyable.

Another incredible lake for boating endeavors is Caddo Lake, which is located on the Texas and Louisiana border. The Caddo Lake is a beautiful and mysterious water feature that covers more than 26,810 acres worth of swamp with an average depth of more than 8'10". The deepest water in Caddo Lake is around 20 feet. The various bayous, water ways and channels that Caddo lake offers are ideal for fisherman and many other boating endeavors as well.

If you are a boater who is looking for excellent bass fishing, then Lake Fork is your ideal destination. Bass of more than 8 lbs are being caught in Lake Fork, which is more than almost any other lake in the Texas area. The largest bass fish ever caught in Lake Fork was a 17.67 lb largemouth bass that was caught in 1986. Lake Fork provides the most ideal habitat for many different types of fish including channel catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and sunfish.

Lake Whitney is a popular lake for many endeavors, including jet skiing, scuba diving, fishing, swimming, sailing and boating. Lake Whitney is located centrally in the heart of Texas and is commonly regarded as the getaway capital of Texas. The clear blue water of Lake Whitney makes it a popular recreational lake with enjoyable varied shorelines, gorgeous sandy beaches and stunning steep bluffs.

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Here are some required safety equipment that is required by law in most states: Life vests on board the boat and worn by children, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, sound making devices and visual distress signals that work in the daytime and at night.

Texas Boat Law FAQ

1. Who must take boater education?

Anyone born on or after September 1, 1984 and under the age of 18 must complete a TPWD-approved course and be certified with TPWD to operate:

any vessel over 10 horsepower,
wind-blown vessel over 14 feet and
all personal watercraft.

Some violations of the Water Safety Act also require course completion.

A partial list of these violations is in the Digest of the Water Safety Act.

2. What does the course cost?

Fees start at $13 for a basic course. Additional fees may be required for other options such as the homestudy course or courses that offer more hands-on experiences.

3. Who must be certified to operate a vessel alone?

In Texas a person cannot operate a windblown vessel over 14 feet in length, a motorboat with more than 10 horsepower, or personal watercraft with more than 10 horsepower unless he/she:

was born after September 1, 1984 and has passed a boater education class or equivalency examination prescribed by the department.
is 18 years of age or older or born before September 1, 1984, or,
is under 16 years of age and is accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older, or
is at least 13 years of age and have passed a boater education course or equivalency examination prescribed by the department.

4. Who can operate a PWC?

NOTE: Children under 13 are specifically prohibited from operating a PWC unless accompanied on board by a person at least 18 years of age.

To operate a PWC, the operator must meet one of the following:

Born after September 1, 1984 and passed a boater education class or equivalency examination prescribed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, or
18 years of age or older or born before September 1, 1984, or,
Under 16 years of age and accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older, or
At least 13 years of age and have passed a boater education course or equivalency examination prescribed by the department.

5. Is there a minimum operator age?

To operate a vessel alone in Texas, a boater must be 13 years of age to operate a vessel of 10 horsepower or more; or windblown vessel over 14 feet in length; and meet the requirements as stated above.

6. What forms of identification does a person have to carry on board?

Persons subject to this law must have a picture identification card and a boater certification card issued by the department in their possession.

7. Are there any exemptions to the mandatory education law?

A person 18 years of age or older is exempt from mandatory boater education requirements or born before September 1, 1984.

8. Is there another way a person can get certified, other than taking an approved classroom course?

A person may take a homestudy course by completing an online certification course or by purchasing a home study video and workbook from Boat Texas, 2906 Ladybird Lane, Dallas, Texas 75220, phone 1-800-460-9698.

9. Can I be required to take a boater education course?

Courts have the authority to require a boater education course for violators of certain offenses.

10. May I have an open container on a boat?

Open containers are legal, but operators of boats are subject to boating while intoxicated laws, similar to driving a vehicle. Operators or passengers may also be subject to public intoxication laws. Drinking and boating is DANGEROUS and the cause of most boating fatalities.

11. Where can I learn more about Boater Education?

We have information about the program, weather and buoy symbols...even a quiz on our Boater Education page. Check out our course schedule, by city or date, for a class in your area.

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