One per person, on every boat
Every vessel must carry one Coast Guard-approved, wearable life jacket for each person on board - the right size, in good shape, and easy to grab. Yes, that includes canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.
Boating / Life jackets & gear
Life jackets and required gear.
This is the part that saves lives. The standards come from the U.S. Coast Guard, and TPWD enforces them on Texas water. Here's what every boat must carry - and what kids must wear.
Life jackets (PFDs)
Kids under 13 must wear one
Children under 13 must WEAR a Coast Guard-approved life jacket any time the boat is moving (underway) on a vessel shorter than 26 feet - unless they're below deck or inside an enclosed cabin. 'Underway' means not anchored, tied to shore, or aground, so drifting and trolling count.
A throwable on bigger boats
Boats 16 feet and longer must also carry one throwable device - a Type IV ring or cushion - to toss to someone in the water. Canoes and kayaks are exempt from the throwable, no matter their length.
Inflatables: not for everyone
Inflatable life jackets are comfortable for many adults, but they are NOT approved for anyone under 16, and not for jet ski riders. Kids and PWC riders need an inherently buoyant (foam) life jacket.
Other required equipment
What your boat must carry depends on its size and type. The common ones:
Fire extinguisher
A Coast Guard-approved extinguisher on most motorboats - especially with an enclosed engine or fuel space.
Sound signal
A horn or whistle others can hear, to signal and warn.
Navigation lights
Red/green side lights and a white light, used from sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility like fog or rain.
Backfire flame arrestor
On inboard gasoline engines (outboards are exempt).
Ventilation
For enclosed gasoline fuel compartments, to clear out fumes.
Visual distress signals
On coastal/Gulf waters: boats 16 ft and longer need day-and-night signals; smaller boats need night signals if out between sunset and sunrise.
Requirements vary by vessel length - check the official equipment list for your boat's size before you head out.
Keep going
Official sources
Life-jacket and equipment standards come from the U.S. Coast Guard; TPWD enforces them and lists what each size of boat must carry.
- Data vintage:
- Equipment rules as reviewed June 2026
- Last reviewed:
- June 15, 2026
- TPWD Life Jacket (PFD) Requirements - The official wear-and-carry rules
- TPWD Required Equipment
- U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety
Caution: Requirements vary by vessel size and type, and can change. The official TPWD and Coast Guard pages are the final word.
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