Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Requirements Specific to Personal Watercraft (PWCs)

In addition to adhering to all boating laws, personal watercraft (PWC) operators have requirements specific to their vessel.

• Each person riding on or being towed behind a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device.
• If the PWC is equipped with a lanyard– Short cord used for fastening something or securing rigging; on a PWC and most powerboats, it attaches the ignition safety switch to the operator's wrist or life jacket-type ignition safety switch– A safety device that is designed to shut the engine down if the operator is thrown from the proper operating position, the lanyard must be attached to the person, clothing, or PFD of the operator.
• It is illegal to operate a PWC between sunset and sunrise.
• A PWC must maintain a distance of at least 50 feet from another boat or PWC, a person, a stationary platform, or a shoreline. The only exception is when the PWC is maintaining headway speed– The slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering.
• PWCs should not be operated in a manner that requires the operator to swerve at the last possible moment to avoid a collision. Furthermore, a PWC operator should not jump the wake of another vessel recklessly or unnecessarily close to that vessel.
• PWCs must be rated to carry the number of persons on board at any time.
• It is illegal to chase, harass, or disturb wildlife with your PWC.

Remember—As an owner of a PWC, it is illegal for you to allow anyone else to operate your PWC in such a way that it violates the laws of Texas.

Be Part of the Action! Learn more about operating a PWC with this interactive animation. (Most students will already have Flash installed. If not, follow this link to install the Flash Player.)

Towing a Person With a Vessel Legally

PWC operators who are towing skiers should be aware that their factory-installed rearview mirror may not comply with Texas regulations. A wide-angle mirror is needed for adequate viewing of a skier.

In addition to adhering to laws as they apply to all vessels, operators towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must follow these rules.

• It is illegal for operators of boats to tow a person(s) on water skis, skiboards, or any device of this type between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise. It is illegal for operators of PWCs to tow any person or device (or operate) between sunset and sunrise.
• All vessels towing person(s) on water skis or similar devices must be operated in a careful and prudent manner. A reasonable distance from other vessels, people, and property must be maintained so as not to endanger life or property. Buzzing or spraying another vessel or swimmer is illegal.
• Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must have:
  • An observer, other than the vessel operator, 13 years of age or older on board or …
  • A rearview mirror. The size of the mirror must be no less than four inches in size from bottom to top and across from side to side. It should be mounted firmly to give the vessel operator a full, complete view beyond the rear of the vessel at all times. Note: Most PWC mirrors do not meet these size standards.
• PWCs have rating requirements that must be met when towing people.
  • A PWC must be rated for at least two people when towing a person on water skis or a similar device.
  • If an observer is used, the PWC must be rated for three people—the operator, the observer, and the retrieved skier.