Is your boat ready for a spring launch?

Like car maintenance, taking care of a boat is crucial to ensuring safety and top performance. Unlike cars, boats may only be used occasionally – sometimes not nearly as often as a boat owner would like. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you make sure your boat is in prime shape to enjoy the water.

Before you take your boat out, first make sure that you are following the law. Those operating a boat in Texas are required to register the vessel by getting a Certificate of Number and validation decals, which are good for two years. The only exceptions to this requirement are sailboats less than 14 feet long, non-motorized boats such as canoes and kayaks, and boats registered in other states that will be used in Texas for 90 or fewer consecutive days.

Since January 1994, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has required all motorboats and outboard motors to be titled, as well as sailboats 14 feet long or longer, or any sailboat that has an auxiliary engine. Boat trailers are registered through your county tax office.

Life jackets and boater education

Before you go out on the water, make sure you have the necessary number and proper type of personal flotation devices on board to protect yourself and those boating with you. State law requires all boats (including kayaks, canoes and paddle vessels) to have at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable PFD (life vest) for every person on board. Larger boats that are 16 feet or longer must also have at least one throwable floatation device aboard. The PFDs must be of the proper size for each wearer based on body weight and chest size.

According to the Water Safety Act, children under age 13 must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD any time a boat under 26-feet in length is underway, and for safety, this is recommended for older boat occupants as well. Everyone riding on or being towed by a personal watercraft (such as a Jet Ski) must wear a PFD.

Boater education courses are required for anyone born after Sept. 1, 1993; but the course can offer excellent information for anyone, particularly less experienced boaters. An added bonus is that many insurance companies offer a discount for those who successfully complete a boater education class.
NOTE: Children under 13 are specifically prohibited from operating a PWC unless accompanied on board by a person at least 18 years of age who can lawfully operate the PWC.

What to check for

The Boat Owners Association of the United States, or BoatUS, the American Boating Association, and Boatsafe.com all offer a variety of helpful tips to help you get your boat ready for recreation.

Among the general suggestions to get everything ship-shape:

• Clean the boat’s hull, deck, and topsides with a mild detergent.
• Check to be sure drains and scuppers are clear.
• Clean the boat’s windows and hatches.
• Make sure you have any spare parts and tools you might need.
• Check to make sure your registration is current and readily available.
• Check your boat’s wiper blades, and replace worn ones as needed.

You will also want to make a thorough inspection of your hull for damage and make sure the necessary repairs are made before taking the boat into the water. Other items to be checked include deck, fittings and safety equipment, seacocks, hoses and clamps, bilges and pumps, the boat’s electrical system, lights and mirrors, and engine.

You should make sure the boat’s oil is changed, have a spare oil filter onboard, and check the cooling system. Change the coolant as necessary, and have extra coolant onboard for use when needed. Also, check the transmission fluid and the lower unit fluid as well. It is also important to check spark plugs and plug wires, as well as fuel lines.

Beyond your boat, make sure the boat trailer is in good condition and has current registration with your county. Make sure the trailer lights are working and check the trailer brakes if they are equipped. Also, check the safety chains and locks, grease trailer bearings and check tire air pressure.

For those with sailboats, check the condition of the sails, make sure all attachments are in good repair and inspect boltrope, mast, and rigging.

Another device that you should keep on board to help keep everyone safe is a fire extinguisher. These should be inspected periodically – a fire and security equipment company usually provides these services. State law requires a fire extinguisher on most motorboats with an enclosed fuel tank and multiple devices may be required for larger vessels. For specifics, visit here.

Boat lights, mirrors and sound devices

In addition to making sure that you can see everything on the water, it’s also important to be seen and heard. Those operating a motorboat must either have a rearview mirror installed or have an observer 13-years of age or older (someone other than the boat operator.) The mirror must be at least four inches wide by four inches high. For maximum safety, having mirrors and an observer is recommended.

All vessels, including kayaks, canoes and rafts, must have at least one effective and bright light, lantern or flashlight displayed. This light must be visible all around the horizon from sunset to sunrise and during times when weather conditions limit visibility. Certain navigation lights may also be required depending on the type of boat.

Boats less than 12 meters -- or 39.4 feet – long must have a sound-producing device on board to help signal intentions and position, which is especially important during times of limited visibility. Boat operators are required to have a whistle, horn or another type of sufficient sound producing device aboard.

Boat waste disposal

Those who operate larger boats with the luxury of toilets, sinks and/or showers aboard must have their vessel certified through the Texas Clean Water Certification Program, which helps prevent the discharge of wastewater into waterways.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality administers this program. The initial cost of certification for marine sanitation devices is $15. You should also check for local marinas that offer boat pump-out stations on your reservoir as well as their hours of operation. More information, including how to obtain Clean Water Certification permits, is available here. A list of the state’s marinas with pump-out stations is available here.

For an in-depth pre-season checklist for your boat, go here.

Buoy markers

Similar to highway traffic signs for cars, navigation buoys alert boaters to a variety of conditions and hazards. Make sure you know the meaning of these markers to ensure everyone’s safety. A list of navigation buoys can be found here.

Zebra mussels

Before you launch, make sure you’re not harboring hitchhikers that can wreak havoc on your local reservoir. One intruder that has created problems over the past few years in Texas reservoirs is the zebra mussel, a tiny mollusk that can quickly multiply, disturbing habitat for other aquatic species and clogging water pipes at reservoirs that supply drinking water to your community.

The best way to combat zebra mussels is to stop their spread. State law requires boaters thoroughly clean, dry and drain their vessels when leaving or approaching public fresh water areas, according to TPWD.

Violation of this law is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 for the first offense.

Lake maps

After your boat has been thoroughly inspected, you might want a lake map to help you get better oriented with your surroundings. General maps of the Brazos River Authority’s three reservoirs can be found online at www.brazos.org, and more detailed maps are available at the lake offices at Possum Kingdom Lake, Lake Limestone and Lake Granbury. You can also request a map of Lake Granbury, Lake Limestone or Possum Kingdom Lake be mailed to you by sending a request to Information@brazos.org.

If drought persists

Those who keep their boats at a B.R.A. reservoir long-term should monitor lake levels to determine if your boat needs to be moved from its dock because of drought. Fortunately, this has not been a concern over the past three years, but with dry conditions expected to linger and possibly worsen, it could again become a factor to consider as it was before rainfall restored lake levels in 2015.

The information contained in this article is not a complete listing of the requirements for watercraft in the State of Texas. For a complete listing of rules and regulations, the B.R.A. recommends visiting here.