Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer!
Are you prepared to get out on the water? Here are a few things to remember:
You probably need a license to drive a boat in Texas.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD), anyone born on or after September 1, 1993, must complete boater education training in order to operate a watercraft. While it’s not required for those born before that date, it’s recommended that everyone take the training. Completion of this training allows a user to operate a vessel powered by a motor of more than 15 horsepower or a windblown vessel over 14 feet in length. Just like a driver's license, you must have your Boater Education Safety Card with you when you are operating a watercraft.
There are special laws and regulations for operating a personal watercraft (PWC).
According to TPWD, operational rules for a PWC are between sunrise to sunset only. Those riding PWCs must also abide by the 100-foot no-wake zone and should not jump the wake of another vessel recklessly or unnecessarily close.
There are specific boating safety equipment requirements in Texas.
A game warden, sheriff or lake ranger can pull your boat over to see if your boat has the necessary safety equipment.
Here’s what you’ll need in addition to your boater education safety card:
- A current/up-to-date Texas registration.
- A visible certificate of number and the proper display of TX numbers.
- Regardless of size or propulsion mechanism, vessels must display at least one bright light in a location that is visible from all directions, from sunset to sunrise, in all weather conditions.
- Must have a Coast Guard-approved wearable Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for each person on board at any time, including those in canoes and kayaks.
- Vessels over 16 feet in length must have at least one Type IV throwable PFD.
- Vessels with a motor must carry a whistle, horn, bell or equivalent sound-making device to signal for help in case of emergency.
- If you are towing a skier, tuber, etc., the vessel must have an observer watching the person being towed.
- If the water vessel is under 26 feet in length and is equipped with a driver cut-off switch, it must be worn by the operator when exceeding headway speed.
- All watercraft with inboard engines or those over 26 feet in length with outboard engines are required to have a fire extinguisher onboard.
Don’t forget the life jackets
Whether you’re on a boat or just playing in the water, a life jacket can save a life. More children ages 1-4 die from drowning than from any other cause of death.
If you’re boating in Texas, all children below the age of 13, including infants, must wear a life jacket when the boat is underway. These requirements also apply to those on paddle craft.
Also for safety purposes, there must be a wearable life jacket on board that is easily accessible for each person above age 13.
You CAN have alcohol on the boat, BUT ...
Almost half of all boating accidents involve alcohol, according to Boat U.S. Foundation. Operating a boat while intoxicated is a federal offense and is subject to a hefty fine. The open container law does not apply to the passenger area for motorized boating as it does in a vehicle. As of September 1, 2023, it is now a state jail felony to boat while intoxicated with a passenger under the age of 15 on board.
Also, be aware that the number of drinks you can tolerate on land does not necessarily apply to what you can tolerate while on a watercraft. The rocking of the boat can affect your equilibrium. This effect will be enhanced by alcohol. Additionally, the effects of wind and heat are dehydrating, often causing you to drink more than you realize.
Be safe. Your best bet is to leave the alcohol on the shore, or better yet, at home.
Watch your wake
There are orange and white no-wake buoys on all Brazos River Authority reservoirs that let you know where watercraft must operate at a slow headway speed so that your watercraft does not create a wake or swell. This includes all areas within 100 feet of the shoreline, any boathouse, dock or other shoreline facility, including other boats or areas where people are swimming, whether marked by a buoy or not.
Not only can a citation be given for violating this rule, but if someone can prove your wake has damaged their property, you can be held responsible for repairs to their boat, dock or to them if your wake caused them physical injury. Slowing down is much easier on your wallet than being confronted with costly repairs to another person, their property or a county-issued citation.
Are you visiting different lakes?
When you take your boat to different lakes, don’t forget to clean, drain and dry, even if it’s been a few weeks or even a few months. Zebra mussels are an invasive species not native to Texas that can harm an entire local ecosystem, can damage your boat or dock and can prevent your local water provider from sending water to your faucet. They will attach to your boat, dock, or any hard surface.
Zebra mussels can live in bilge water for months. Before putting your boat back in a lake, make sure you don’t have any hitchhikers on board. Remember to clean, drain and dry.
In trouble and need help?
If you’re out on the lake and you find yourself in trouble, you can call 911 for help. Local county dispatch will contact BRA lake rangers, a Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden or the local sheriff who will be sent out to help.
If you have questions about Texas boating laws, including permits and licenses, or are just looking for places to fish, you may access information provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department via their Annual Outdoor app for your phone. Look for the app on your phone’s app store.
Finally….Nose clips can save lives!
Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis, or PAM, is a disease caused by the ameba Naegleria fowleri. It can infect humans when water containing the ameba enters the body through the nose, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Wearing a nose clip or holding your nose closed when swimming and diving in warm freshwater can keep water from entering the body and help you avoid this normally fatal infection. Get more information on PAM and other waterborne illnesses.
Planning to visit Lakes Possum Kingdom, Granbury or Limestone this summer? The BRA has a great way for you to learn more about the reservoirs directly from the people who know the most! Unpacking the Brazos River is a podcast that addresses topics you’d like to know more about. Join staff from all three reservoirs to learn more about where to launch, what to know and how to have a blast this summer! You can find Unpacking the Brazos River podcast anywhere you get your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon.