So I'm a fairly new father... Levi is 15 months old! My wife and I were just talking about the age he will be able to not wear a lifejack 100% of the time while on the boat. At what age did y'all start letting your kids strip the life jacket off while just fishing(he will wear a jacket anytime the big motor is on)! My wife says 15... I was thinking like 8ish!

I grew up with boats all my life. I think the age was 9, legally. I had my license to drive any boat under 42 feet at the age of ten. I don't think those same rules apply today, but I think you're more close than your wife.

Nevermind I can�t read

.

You may be correct, I did not grow up in Texas and my license was issued by the State of New York. I just looked up current regulations and they haven't changed.

My thoughts on it is better safe than sorry. Looking back on it, it's a little scary what I was able to do at 10. I think parental responsibility should trump all else. I was driving the boat with my dad's supervision well before the age of 10.The first and most important thing to teach regardless of age is to always be examining your surroundings. You could drive a boat flawlessly and some idiot who doesn't know how to operate or may be impaired can cause more mayhem than people realize.

Your wife is right.

Even if she's not, she is. You're taking her most precious possession in the world out on a boat to go fishing. If she would feel better about him wearing a life jacket, then have him keep one on.

I have a 3 year old and 7 year old and I wouldn't dream of having either out on the boat without their life jacket on 100% of the time. In reality, if I had a 12 or 13 year old and I knew they were a good swimmer, I'd consider letting them go without it while fishing, but they'd always have it on when the bit motor is going. 15 is not unreasonable IMHO.

It is clearly spelled out in the book. It is an actual law not a parental judgment. I don�t have time to look it up but it was at least somewhere between 12 and 14 when the didn�t have to wear it ALL of the time and then until 16 they have to wear it under power.

Law says 13 .. must wear at all times

Per TPWD -12 and under have to wear them anytime the boat is not anchored or docked

In my opinion it�s not an on/off thing based on age, it�s more a person, situation-specific judgment call.

No matter what age they are, if they�re not a reasonably strong swimmer, it�s not coming off. Also got to consider how deep of water you�re in, calm water vs. rolling white caps, how long it would take you to reach them...etc.

Just think thru penalty if you�re too protective vs. penalty if you�re not cautious enough.

Last thing I�d say is take the time to explain to them why you made whatever call you make vs. just saying �because I said so�.

I�m far from 15. My son is 21, so I�ve got a few years in. I wear a PFD near 100% of the time on the water even though I can swim just fine and grew up in the water. What I can�t control is if I hit my head or become injured or incapacitated before I hit the water. Since there are no do overs when it comes to the water, I figure it�s best to take out having to swim to survive and let the PFD do its job.

please read the law. Anyone under 13 must wear it at all times. My son wore it and it was HOT at times. My girls wear theirs all the time because the don't swim good even though they are old enough NOT too.

See my wife and I had talked about there being a legal age! I just hadn't done the research! So it's settled... 13 no matter what!

Guess I�m a loose cannon I let my son take his off at 6. I�m aware he can not swim more then 100 yards. But he has been in swimming classes since 3. So if he fell out he would be able to swim to boat easy. He wears it at all times when motor is on. I wear mine also teaches him a lesson, I also let him drive the boat but not too speed just idle. He knows how to start , put in gear( fastly) He operates trolling motor while I retie lures and such. Not all kids are the same. I�m not bragging or gloating. You have to judge them by there abilities. I believe in protecting your children and sheltering then from other people. I don�t shelter him from normal things he will do later in life. I think learning soon as possible helps them to see problems coming.