Boating Facts
March 2014
- Mandatory boater education is required for anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 to operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC), sailboat over 14 feet, or motorboat with a motor greater than 15 hp.
- There are more than 580,000 registered boats in Texas, ranking it 6th in the country.
- Texas has more square miles of inland water than any other state.
- Recreational boating safety is a primary area of responsibility of Texas game wardens. The most common water safety citations are issued are for:
- Not having enough lifejackets on board the boat.
- Children younger than 13 not wearing a life jacket.
- All children younger than age 13 must wear a life jacket while in a boat less than 26 feet in length that is underway.
- Game Wardens and Marine Safety Enforcement Officers enforce the Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) law.
- A person who either appears to be impaired and/or has a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher while operating a boat can be arrested for BWI.
- A person arrested for BWI may be jailed for up to 180 days, be fined as much as $2,000 or both. Additionally, the person's drivers' license may be automatically suspended.
- Alcohol plays a role in 50 percent of all boating accidents, according to BOAT US.
- Nearly 85% of boating fatality drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket.
- A typical boating accident fatality involves: An open motorboat;Weekends between the hours of Noon and 7 p.m.;
- The victim falling overboard; and
- An operator between 26-50 years of age
Texas Boating-Related Statistics
Year (Calendar) |
#Registered Boats |
Boating Accidents | Injuries | Fatalities | BWI |
2013 |
582,478 |
206 |
85 |
22 |
209 |
2012 |
587,470 |
156 |
84 |
26 |
310 |
2011 |
590,704 |
197 |
119 |
30 |
259 |
2010 |
605,332 |
171 |
138 |
29 |
318 |
2009 |
594,698 |
211 |
138 |
45 |
222 |
2008 |
594,446 |
278 |
173 |
62 |
238 |
2007 |
593,446 |
266 |
181 |
52 |
190 |
2006 |
597,830 |
261 |
165 |
47 |
230 |
2005 |
619,150 |
213 |
100 |
36 |
284 |
2004 |
620,720 |
212 |
146 |
36 |
278 |
2003 |
624,186 |
265 |
175 |
38 |
194 |
2002 |
620,740 |
251 |
147 |
61 |
203 |
2001 |
630,688 |
242 |
191 |
41 |
224 |
2000 |
617,616 |
257 |
173 |
55 |
222 |
1999 |
614,211 |
262 |
186 |
51 |
157 |
1998 |
613,378 |
252 |
187 |
53 |
188 |
1997 |
606,178 |
258 |
222 |
69 |
167 |