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. Approved online courses provide a 60-day temporary certificate.

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

In Texas, know the life jacket, intoxication, registration, personal watercraft and invasive species rules before launching. Children under 13 must wear a life jacket on vessels under 26 feet while underway, and every person aboard needs an approved wearable life jacket. Operating while intoxicated is illegal at a BAC of 0.08% or higher. All motorized vessels and nonmotorized vessels 14 feet or longer generally require current Texas registration. Personal watercraft cannot operate from sunset to sunrise; children under 13 may operate only with a lawful operator age 18 or older aboard. When leaving or approaching public fresh water, drain all water and remove attached harmful aquatic plants. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department enforces these rules.

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

Spring and fall are the best overall times to go boating in Texas, especially March through May and September through November; June through August is the peak period for lake, river and Gulf outings. Summer brings hotter conditions and heavier use at popular waters, while drought can lower reservoirs, expose hazards and close boat ramps. Coastal boaters should also plan around Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 through November 30. For a quieter trip, favor spring or fall weekdays, and check current lake levels, ramp status and weather before launching.

Source: Travel Texas (traveltexas.com)

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)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Austin has 106 boat rentals, 14 boat clubs and 22 boat dealers.