Tracker Boating Center

For a motorboat over 15 horsepower or a personal watercraft on Texas public waters, the minimum age to operate without supervision is 13, but the rental operator decides the minimum age for renting. Under Parks and Wildlife Code Sections 31.106 and 31.107, an operator under 13 must be supervised by someone at least 18 who can lawfully operate the craft and is on board while it is under way. Boater education is based on birth date: to operate alone, anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 must meet the requirement for a motorboat over 15 horsepower, a windblown vessel over 14 feet, or any personal watercraft, and carry photo ID and the certification card. Confirm the operator’s age policy when booking.

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (tpwd.texas.gov)

Yes, some recreational operators in Texas need boater education certification, though the state does not call it a boating license. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department requires certification for anyone born on or after September 1, 1993, who operates a PWC, motorboat over 15 horsepower, or sailboat over 14 feet. Covered operators must carry photo ID and proof of certification.

A person must be at least 13 to operate alone; younger operators need an eligible operator age 18 or older onboard. Renters are not exempt. Alternatives include onboard supervision, a valid U.S. Coast Guard operator license, or a one-time 15-day deferral, which is available only to those 18 or over. Approved online courses provide a 60-day temporary certificate.

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (tpwd.texas.gov)

The best Texas boating areas include Galveston Bay on the Gulf Coast, the Highland Lakes northwest of Austin, and the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country. Galveston Bay offers protected shallow water, coves, bayous, marshes and open bay routes.

In Central Texas, the Highland Lakes form a chain on the Colorado River; Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis are its two largest reservoirs. For river boating and paddling, the Guadalupe has scenic Hill Country stretches ranging from gentle water to rapids. Together, these areas cover coastal bays, large reservoirs, linked lakes and river routes.

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (tpwd.texas.gov)

Texas’s most popular boating destinations include Lake Travis and Lake Austin near Austin, both noted for recreational boating close to the city; Canyon Lake, with shoreline parks, beaches and multiple boat ramps; Lake Texoma, known for white sand, limestone bluffs, rocky coves and striped bass fishing by boat; Galveston, where bay fishing is productive year round and offshore trips target larger Gulf species; and the Corpus Christi area around Packery Channel, Mustang Island and Padre Island, valued for accessible coastal fishing across a wide range of saltwater species.

Source: Travel Texas (traveltexas.com)