VIP Marina Lake Travis

Rentals from VIP Marina Lake Travis include life jackets, safety equipment, an anchor, fuel, cooler storage, a bimini top, a swim ladder, a sun deck and a Bluetooth stereo. Amenities vary by boat and by season, so confirm what comes with the boat you book.

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)

From Leander, Lake Travis is the practical day boating choice, with nearby ramps serving different parts of the same connected lake. Sandy Creek Park, in Leander, launches into the narrower Sandy Creek arm. Jones Brothers Park in Jonestown provides access through three public ramps, water level permitting. Arkansas Bend’s ramps put you on more open main lake water near Lago Vista. For a cove based start, use Pace Bend’s Collier Cove or Tatum Cove ramp, then cruise out onto Lake Travis. Ramp usability varies with the reservoir’s water level.

Source: Travis County Parks (parks.traviscountytx.gov)

From Leander, boaters head onto Lake Travis for Arkansas Bend Park, Collier Cove at Pace Bend, Mansfield Dam Park and Bob Wentz Park. Arkansas Bend offers fishing, trails and picnic tables; Collier Cove provides a named cove and boat ramp within Pace Bend, which also has fishing, camping and multiuse trails; Mansfield Dam Park combines fishing, scuba diving and covered picnic shelters; and Bob Wentz draws visitors for swimming, sailing, windsurfing and scuba diving. Sandy Creek Park in Leander provides a convenient local Lake Travis launch.

Source: Travis County Parks (parks.traviscountytx.gov)