“Take your pick.”
No. You go to the state site and read the statutes.
This came right off their site:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_l2000_0014.pdf
§ 31.106. Personal Watercraft
(a) No person shall operate a personal watercraft in the following manner or under the following circumstances:
(1) unless each person riding on or towed behind the vessel is wearing a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device;
(2) if the vessel is equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff switch, unless such lanyard is attached to the person, clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator as appropriate for the vessel involved;
https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/safety/vessel_requirements/
§ 31.1071. Operation Of Motorboat With Emergency Engine Cutoff Switch
(a) In this section, “engine cutoff switch” means an emergency switch installed on a
motorboat that:
(1) is designed to shut off the engine if:
(A) the motorboat operator using a lanyard attachment activates the switch by falling
overboard or otherwise moving beyond the length of the lanyard; or
(B) the motorboat operator or a passenger using a wireless attachment activates the
switch by falling overboard and submerging a man-overboard transmitter; and
(2) attaches:
(A) physically to the motorboat operator through the use of a lanyard worn by the
operator; or
(B) wirelessly through the use of a water-activated man-overboard transmitter worn by
the motorboat operator or any similarly equipped passenger on the motorboat.
(b) A motorboat operator may not operate a motorboat less than 26 feet in length and equipped by the manufacturer with an engine cutoff switch while the motorboat is underway and moving at greater than headway speed without first verifying that the switch is operational and fully functional and properly attaching the lanyard or wireless attachment, as appropriate for the specific motorboat, to the operator s’ body or to the clothing or personal flotation device being
worn by the operator.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/safety/vessel_requirements/
Texas law does not require the retrofitting of any vessel that has not come equipped with an ECOS. This does not allow for someone to remove the ECOS if the vessel was originally equipped.
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So, no boats has to have them even within the size description if they are not installed by the manufacturer. But if they boat has one, it must be installed by the manufacturer and be used.
One person was talking about making and installing one which would not qualify under Texas law. And there is still a lot of misinformation on the web as to the intent and description of the need taken by the state. For the state to put it on their site, is good. But there is confusion out there right now.
rwood