Ask a Warden
How do I keep my family safe when out boating?
Wei-Wei Lin serves as a game warden in the Hill Country after holding posts in Dallas/Fort Worth, the Gulf Coast and South Texas. She was often featured on the TV show “Lone Star Law.” She is happy to answer your questions about the Texas outdoors.
Q: Wei-Wei, every year someone invites my family and me out on their boat for the Memorial Day holiday. Since I am just a guest and not an avid boater, I never know what kind of safety precautions I should take for myself and my kids. Before I head out on the water this summer, can you share your top boating safety tips?
A: Boating season is probably my favorite “season” in Texas. I love boats and boating! In my personal time, I enjoy duck hunting by kayak and offshore fishing. You may have noticed that each region of Texas and its waterways require different types of game warden patrol boats. On the coast, depending on water levels, air boats (my favorite) are commonly utilized to check waterfowl hunters. On inland rivers and lake patrols, we kayak to check trout anglers in areas inaccessible to motorized boats. Of course, our common patrol boats are best equipped for natural disaster and water rescue situations.
My Top 5 Boating Tips
Know the law. Let's be honest, a top five list can't cover all the important safety information you should know when heading out for a fun day on a boat. First, take a moment to familiarize yourself with a full list of boating safety requirements in the Texas Water Safety Digest (tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/laws). Additionally, rules and regulations may differ between water bodies based on their location and managing entity. Before you head to the water, follow up on those rules through the appropriate websites.
Wear a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket is the most important advice I share with boaters of all ages. Even in my personal time, I wear a life jacket whenever I am on the water. In Texas, individuals under the age of 13 are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket (with exceptions) while the vessel is underway. This also applies to paddle craft (kayaks, canoes, rafts). If you choose to operate a Jet Ski or other personal motorized watercraft, everyone on board is required to wear a life jacket. There are numerous styles of life jackets to accommodate various uses and weather conditions. Ensure that the one you choose meets the legal requirements to keep everyone safe.
Take Boater Education. I recommend Texans of all ages take this course. While it doesn't teach everything you need to know to operate a boat, it will go over some very useful information. In Texas, anyone born after Sept. 1, 1993, is required to complete Boater Education to operate a motorboat with more than 15 horsepower or a windblown vessel over 14 feet in length. Just to be clear, that rule applies to most recreational water vessels like ski and pontoon boats. So, if you expect to be behind the wheel of a boat, please get certified. Make sure to carry proof of completion of the Boater Education course and your identification when you are on the water.
Wear the engine cut-off switch lanyard. The cut-off switch is an emergency switch designed to shut off the engine if the operator falls overboard or moves beyond the lanyard length. If the vessel is equipped with this feature, it is required by law to be worn. Throughout my career, I have witnessed firsthand how this lanyard can help save lives and prevent property damage. Unfortunately, I have also seen the results of these lanyards not properly utilized.
Check the weather and share your float plan. A lot of people are willing to hunt and fish no matter the weather, but poor weather can lead to hazardous conditions on the water. I personally experienced some close calls while waterfowl hunting in my kayak simply because I didn't check the forecast. Once on the water, if conditions are no longer ideal for boating, please go back to the shore or dock. No fishing or hunting experience is worth risking your life or the lives of others. Just in case something unexpected does happen, make sure to share a float plan with someone who will remain on land. A float plan includes the time you are departing the boat ramp, who is with you, where you are going and when you expect to return. There is no limit to the information you can share — just remember to tell someone even if you plan to go a short distance.
There is so much more I could cover, and I encourage everyone to review the Texas Outdoor Annual and the Texas Water Safety Digest and take a Boater Education course before you get on the waterways.
Remember, always be courteous to others on the water.
Until next time. Stay safe, y'all!
Have a question for the game warden? Email us at magazine@tpwd.texas.gov and we will pass it along to Wei-Wei.
