{"id":1244,"date":"2021-07-06T10:23:05","date_gmt":"2021-07-06T14:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nboat.com\/blog\/?p=1244"},"modified":"2026-03-23T11:45:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T15:45:15","slug":"all-you-need-to-know-about-texas-boating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/all-you-need-to-know-about-texas-boating.html","title":{"rendered":"All You Need To Know About Texas Boating"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you think of the \u201cLone Star State,\u201d boating might not be top of mind. Instead, delicious Texas barbecues, carefree country music, blistering hot weather, and the famous Alamo are often the first things many people think of. While \u201ceverything is bigger in Texas\u201d the boating life is even bigger and better than most people give this state credit for. With thousands of lakes and rivers and hundreds of miles of shoreline boarding the Gulf of Mexico, your trusted friends and experts here at the National Boat Owners Association<\/a> are sharing all of the dos and don\u2019ts of boating in Texas.<\/p>\n

The Do’s and Don’ts of Boating in Texas<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Do Wear a Lifejacket\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Wearing a USCG-approved life jacket<\/a>\u00a0is common practice and a basic boating safety tip. In Texas, it is law that children under 13 years of age wear one while spending time on any watercraft that measures 26 feet or less. Ensure that you have the proper amount of appropriately sized PFDs on board to equip every passenger on your vessel.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Do Carry Your Texas Boater Certification\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Registering your boat<\/a>\u00a0and keeping your Texas certificate number and other validation decals on your boat is of high importance. Be sure to always carry your photo ID in addition to your boater\u2019s license and certification card.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Do Call for Help\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
In the event you see an accident or are involved in one yourself while on the water, it is your responsibility to contact law enforcement or the Texas Parks and Wildlife<\/a>\u00a0no less than 30 days after the incident. If there is major damage to your watercraft or serious bodily injuries, file a report as soon as possible within 48 hours of the accident.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Do Get Boaters Insurance!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
While Texas does not require you to obtain\u00a0boat insurance<\/a>\u00a0to operate your watercraft, this does not mean you should go without protection or coverage. Similar to the benefits of car insurance and risks of the open road, accidents do happen on the water. Protect yourself from damage to your or someone else\u2019s property, and ensure coverage in case of injuries.<\/div>\n
\"\"\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n

Don\u2019t Go Boating Without a License<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Before you can set sail on Texas waters, a\u00a0boating education<\/a> is mandatory for any watercraft measuring over 14 feet or containing a motor with more than 15 horsepower. However, if you were born after September 1, 1993, you may be exempt from this rule. Anyone 13 years of age or older can legally operate a boat as long as they are accompanied by an adult, 18 years of age or older, who also have their Texas boating license. You can choose to take an approved classroom course or an online course in order to get certified and obtain your Texas boating license.<\/div>\n
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Don\u2019t Drink and Drive<\/strong><\/h3>\n
While open containers are allowed to be carried and enjoyed onboard, the same rules of the road apply to the rules of the Texas waters. Public intoxication laws and boating while intoxicated laws should never be bent in order to keep everyone on the water safe. Keep in mind, the most boating fatalities are often the result of drinking while operating a boat, as this doubles your risk of an accident.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Don\u2019t Cruise Within 50 ft of Others<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Following the 50 ft rule positions you at a safe distance away from other boats, watercrafts, swimmers, shorelines, docks, and objects while cruising at 10 MPH or over. Reckless behavior, like driving too close to others on the water will put yourself, passengers, and other boaters at risk.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Don\u2019t Forget Safety Gear<\/strong><\/h3>\n
If you plan to travel nine nautical miles or more off the coast of Texas it is imperative you secure a fire extinguisher, flares, or horn on board in case of emergencies.<\/div>\n

\"\"
\nWhere to Go Boating on the Gulf Coast of Texas<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Texas shoreline along the Gulf Coast is home to over 350 miles of sandy beaches and beautiful open waters waiting to be explored. With a variety of spots to set sail, we wanted to highlight a few of the\u00a0best places to go boating<\/a>\u00a0on the Texas Gulf Coast.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Corpus Christi<\/strong>\u00a0is one of the best locations in Texas for water sports and wind sports, such as kiteboarding and windsurfing. It holds the record for the\u00a0highest wind speeds recorded<\/a>\u00a0in North America.<\/div>\n
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Galveston Texas<\/strong>\u00a0offers\u00a0superb fishing<\/a>, sailing, and dolphin watching right on the eastern edge of the state, just minutes from Houston.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Kemah\u00a0<\/strong>is on the opposite side of Clear Lake and just steps away from the Kemah Boardwalk, which is home to approximately 400 boat slips, dozens of shops and restaurants, and constant entertainment.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Sea Ranch Marina<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0provides two stunning boating locations with fantastic access to Laguna Madre Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Sea Ranch I is merely six miles from the Mexican border and Sea Ranch II can be found at Southpoint in Port Isabel.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
South Padre Island<\/strong>, located off the coast of Brownsville, is a beautiful area known for its impressive reefs and spectacular marine wildlife. Divers and sport fishers are sure to enjoy their time here.<\/div>\n

Where to Go In-Land Boating in Texas<\/strong><\/h2>\n
While there are nearly seven thousand rivers, lakes, and reservoirs located in the Lone Star State, not all of them are conducive to boating. No matter where you are in Texas, you are sure to find a breathtaking body of water<\/a>\u00a0where you can set sail and feel the wind rush through your hair.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Amistad Reservoir<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Caddo Lake<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Canyon Lake<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Cedar Creek Reservoir<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Eagle Mountain Lake<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Guadalupe River<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Inks Lake<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lady Bird Lake<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Austin<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Buchanan<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Conroe<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Fork<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Granbury<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Grapevine<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake O\u2019 the Pines<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Texoma<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Travis<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lake Whitney<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lewisville Lake<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Possum Kingdom Lake<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sam Rayburn Reservoir<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Texas Highlands Lakes<\/div>\n
\u25cf\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Toledo Bend Reservoir<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Whether you own a boat or are looking to purchase a new watercraft, setting sail for adventures in the waters of Texas is unbeatable. Set up the best coverage and protection from the trusted professionals here at NBOA and get\u00a0quality marine and boat insurance<\/a>\u00a0you can rely on.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you think of the \u201cLone Star State,\u201d boating might not be top of mind. Instead, delicious Texas barbecues, carefree country music, blistering hot weather, and the famous Alamo are often the first things many people think of. While \u201ceverything is bigger in Texas\u201d the boating life is even bigger and better than most people […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boat-insurance"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nboa.largeinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}