Boating is Texas is alive and well, with thousands flocking to popular beaches, bays, rivers and lakes for some world-class fishing or scenic cruising in the Lone Star State. If you’re a local or simply visiting Texas for a bit of leisure time, make sure you know these quick takeaways before hitting the water. From age requirements to education courses, these must-learn facts can help you chart your course before heading into unknown waters.
5 Considerations Before Boating in Texas
Who to call during a boating accident? If you are involved in a boating accident that results in injury (requiring treatment beyond first aid) or death, or causes damages to property in excess of $2,000, you must report it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). You only have 48 hours to report an accident resulting in a fatality, but 30 days to report less serious accidents.
Where can I complete my boating education? To legally operate a boat or PWC with more than 15 hp, you must first complete a boater education course, unless you were born before September 1, 1993.
Can I drink while operating a boat? Open container laws do not apply to watercraft. However, operating a boat while intoxicated is a crime that could result in a driver license suspension, fines, or even jail time if involved in an accident while intoxicated.
What identification do I need to carry while boating? Boaters must carry a picture identification card, as well as a boater certification card (if applicable).
What’s the minimum age requirements for boating? Though boating in Texas can be fun for all ages, operators of vessels with more than 15 hp must be at least 13 years old. The same applies for windblown vessels of more than 14 feet.
The TPWD is a fantastic source of info for first-time boaters in Texas, so we highly suggest starting your research there if you have any questions about your next boating adventure. Texas is known as a big state, but also one that’s full of variety. Take advantage of that variety by exploring all the beautiful state has to offer, both on and off the water.
It’s no secret — boaters will find any and every excuse to hit the water for a day of fun with friends and family. Even though any experienced boater has more than a few “valid reasons” why this weekend should be spent cruising down their favorite waterways, we have a few more to add to your list.
Did you know? Boating has some legitimate health benefits you should consider.
The Health Benefits of Boating
Vitamin D: An unfortunate reality of many Americans’ work lives is that it often involves countless hours under the humming, harsh glow of fluorescent lights. Few of us are fortunate to spend much of our waking hours in the sun, so getting outside after work, while on vacation or on the weekend is definitely a treat. Soaking up the sunshine (safely) can help strengthen bones, fight disease and combat depression.
A Break from Technology: Though cell phone addiction isn’t officially recognized by the mental health textbooks, it’s a very real phenomenon and one that can cripple us without us even realizing it. If you are constantly palming at your pocket or purse to check your Twitter or Facebook, you may be in need of a little break. Boating in the perfect excuse to put the phone away and live in the moment, enjoying the natural beauty all around you.
Family Time: There are real health benefits to spending some quality time with friends and family. From stress reduction to contagious healthy habits that your fit friends may impart on you, enjoying time on the water with loved ones is all positive. Also, take into consideration that the health benefits are also shared with those you are spending time with as well, such as your kids, who get more time with Mom and Dad, or your friends, who can be relieved of depression by getting on the water with their buds.
Fitness: Looking for a low-impact, full-body exercise that is fun to do even on the most sweltering of summer days? Swimming may just be the miracle workout you’re looking for. Even many water sports are great, unconventional ways to stay active and fit while having fun in the sun.
Though you may not need more reasons to take your next boating trip, we hope the above health benefits may help to make convincing your friends or family that it is, indeed, time for another excursion on the water. Stay safe, stay healthy and we’ll see you on the water.
You may be coming to this blog wondering how you can prevent sunburns. Good thinking, since it hints at that right in the title. Sunscreen. The answer to your question is sunscreen. If you are at the beach, enjoying time on a boat or simply mowing the lawn before your significant other starts giving you the stink eye, you should always, always wear sunscreen. Your skin is easily damaged, sometimes irreversibly, by even just minutes in direct sunlight.
Now, if you’re looking for sunburn prevention tips to stack on top of a finely applied sheen of sunblock, you’re at the right place.
We love food. From unlimited wings at the local sports bar to Mom’s famous spaghetti, there is no question that food is a pleasure that easily ranks up there with boating and marathoning your favorite Netflix shows (in one weekend, no less). But, did you know that food was holding out on you? It’s true! Many foods you may have at your house right now can not only cure your hunger-related grumpiness but also may prevent and relieve nasty sunburns from your day out on the water.
Which Foods Assist in Sunburn Prevention and Relief?
Guavas: Vitamin C doesn’t just stave off scurvy, it also may help your skin from sun damage. Packed with more vitamin C than about five oranges, guavas are filled with antioxidant goodness that may help you stay medium instead of well done.
Strawberries: Though you may look like Carrie on prom night after smearing mashed strawberries on your sunburns, you’ll be thankful for the soothing, sting-reducing properties of tannin, which the berries are rich in.
Cucumbers: Already burned? If you’re fresh out of strawberries but just finished assembling a killer mixed salad, you may be in luck. Mashed cucumbers are an organic and well-known remedy for painful sunburns, providing over-the-counter relief without an unpronounceable list of chemicals.
Oatmeal: Looking for a reason to soak in the tub? If you’re already burned, grind up a cup of oatmeal and add it to a cool bath for full-body relief.
Potatoes: Cut a raw potato and rub the slice onto especially painful burns for some quality relief provided by the potato’s starchiness.
Pomegranate: As both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, pomegranates are not only delicious (and pretty fun to eat to boot) but help protect skin from UVA and UVB skin cell damage.
With this info in hand, check your pantry, plunder the fruit basket and inspect your veggie drawer for all you need (other than sunscreen) to help prevent or overcome a cooked-lobster-like exterior. Never forget, sun protection is serious business, especially when our passion keeps us spending hours in the great outdoors. We pulled much of this info from a very interesting article on Prevention.com, which you should check out if you want to learn more about these alternative sunburn prevention remedies. Enjoy your time on the water and make sure you don’t end up extra crispy.
FT. PIERCE, FL (July 18, 2016) — US Builders, a business-to-business trade journal striving to build strong connections within the many sectors of the U.S. construction industry, has recognized Hi-Tide Boat Lifts as an honoree for its 2016 Best of the United States awards.
Through the annual awards, US Builders recognizes companies across the country that have committed their enterprises to success, satisfied employees, and superior products and services. Hi-Tide Boat Lifts’ selection as a 2016 Best of the United States honoree is attributed in large part to its industry contributions and the forward-thinking nature of the company.
Hi-Tide Boat Lifts, in business since 1979, is one of the most established boat lift manufacturing companies in the industry. The family-run business, now in its second generation of ownership, prides itself on its exemplary reputation throughout the country and an unparalleled quality of workmanship.
“We place strong dedication on bringing in knowledgeable, experienced team members who match our high-quality product with service that is unparalleled in the boat lift industry,” says president of Hi-Tide Boat Lifts, Carlos Quinones. “This recognition is an incredible tribute to our team and their dedication to our customers.”
The 2016 Best of the United States segment and honoree list will be released in the upcoming year.
About Hi-Tide Boat Lifts
Hi-Tide Boat Lifts is a pioneer in the boat lift industry and the first manufacturer to design a product made entirely of corrosion-resistant aluminum created specifically for the marine environment. As the leaders and innovators in the boat lift industry, the company also developed a patented Gear Drive gear box, which guarantees years of low-maintenance service. Learn more at: http://www.hi-tide.com.
“Boaty McBoatface.” This is the name the internet chose in a poll for a $200+ million research vessel. Yes, sometimes the internet is a strange, wonderful place. Though the research council that held the poll decided to go for “The RSS Sir David Attenborough” instead (yawn), the sky’s the limit when it comes to naming a boat.
Though it’s definitely one of the more fun aspects of boat ownership, you may not have considered some of the nunces and benefits of naming a boat something memorable.
Facts to Consider When Naming a Boat
Worried about picking a name that’s already chosen? Don’t fret. There is no law dictating that your name has to be original.
You are not mandated to have your name on the hull of your boat, but if you do, lettering must be at least four inches in height.
Consider naming it after a person. Though it’s a cliche, applying a gender to your boat could have the psychological effect of making you take better care of it. You just may take better care of “Jessica” than you would “Torpedo Chaser 5000.”
Don’t pick a name that’s a play on illegal or reckless activity. Yes, police officers will notice and, no, they probably won’t find your pun on drugs, alcohol or speeding very funny.
OK, now this is more for those of us who still step over cracks and avoid the paths of black cats, but there is a time-honored tradition that you may want to follow: NEVER rename a boat without having a proper renaming ceremony.
Putting your name on your boat can make it more easily identifiable in emergency situations.
Naming a boat is not just fun — it’s a fundamental step towards making your boat truly yours. So, whether you go for “Boaty McBoatface” or “Betty,” make sure you pick a name that’s just right for you. We’ll see you on the water.
