The powerboat angler's kit: required gear, a breakdown kit and first aid for hooks and blades

A powerboat adds speed, an engine, a battery and a lot of hooks in a small space. That means two kinds of kit: the gear the law requires so you can be found and stay afloat, and the practical tools that turn a dead motor or a hook in a hand into something you can handle. This guide covers the required items on the TPWD page for powerboats from 16 feet to less than 26 feet, then the tools you add yourself. Other length classes have different lists, so read TPWD's page for your boat.

What TPWD requires on a 16-to-26-foot powerboat

The engine cut-off switch

An engine cut-off switch is a lanyard (or a wireless fob) that shuts the engine off if you are thrown from the helm. The U.S. Coast Guard says the federal rule applies to recreational vessels less than 26 feet with an engine capable of 115 pounds or more of static thrust (about 3 horsepower), that operators must use the link while running on plane or above displacement speed, and that the link is not required when the main helm is inside an enclosed cabin, or when docking, trailering, trolling or in no-wake zones. It says manufacturers were required to install the switch starting in December 2019.

TPWD's page says that in Texas, if the boat is equipped, the switch, lanyard or wireless device must be attached to the operator, their clothing or their life jacket and worn when the boat is above headway speed. The operator must confirm the system works before operating on public waters. Texas does not require adding one, and an original switch may not be removed.

The breakdown kit you add yourself

The law lists what keeps people afloat and findable. These are the practical items that keep a small problem small. This list is our suggestion, not a requirement:

Hooks, fish and a crowded deck

First aid: hooks and bleeding

First-aid notes here come from MedlinePlus and other pages named at the bottom, and they are for information only. They are not medical advice and do not replace a clinician, 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. If you are unsure, get medical care.

For a hook just under the skin, MedlinePlus describes the line method or pushing the point through and cutting it behind the barb. It says not to try if the hook is deeply embedded or near a joint, tendon, eye, eyelid or artery, that a hook in the eye needs the nearest emergency room, and to keep tetanus shots current, with boosters every 10 years.

For serious bleeding from a blade, a prop or a deep hook wound, the American Red Cross says to call 9-1-1, place a dressing and apply steady, firm pressure directly over the wound, and hold it until the bleeding stops or a tourniquet is available. It lists signs of life-threatening bleeding as blood loss about the size of half a soda can, blood flowing continuously or spurting, and signs of shock, and says to use a tourniquet only if trained. It also says not to try to remove an embedded object, because that can make bleeding much worse. If you want a tourniquet in the kit, take a class first; Stop the Bleed offers training.

Carbon monoxide

The Oregon State Marine Board says carbon monoxide can collect in enclosed spaces such as under swim platforms and in cabins, that early symptoms include irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness and dizziness (often mistaken for seasickness), and that anyone affected should get into fresh air at once and get medical care. It advises keeping fresh air moving through and around the boat, installing a carbon monoxide detector, and turning engines with transom exhaust ports off when people are swimming behind the boat, and never swimming under the platform.

Weather and cold water

The National Weather Service says to move to shelter as soon as you hear thunder and stay there at least 30 minutes after the last thunder. For wind and waves, see reading a buoy report, which explains the National Weather Service's small craft advisories. In cold weather, the NWS says to dress for the water temperature, not the air, and that cold water can take away muscle control within seconds. TPWD's card says non-swimmers should wear a life jacket.

Keep reading

This is general information from the pages named below, on the dates shown, not legal or medical advice. Equipment rules depend on your boat's length and type and where you operate; check TPWD's required equipment pages and the Coast Guard for yours.

For more reading, we suggest these articles

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