how old do you have to be to drive a bass boat?

here is the TX boating license rules

Who May Operate a Vessel

Operators must meet the age and boater education requirements shown below in order to operate any of the following vessels legally in Texas:

A powerboat powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or more or …

A personal watercraft or …

A windblown vessel over 14 feet in length.

A person less than 13 years of age may operate only if he or she is accompanied on board by a person who is 18 years of age or older.

A person 13 through 17 years of age may operate only if he or she:

Has passed a boater education course approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or …

Is accompanied on board by a person who is 18 years of age or older.

All persons required to have passed a state-approved boater education course must carry with them on the vessel:

Photographic identification, such as driver’s license or student I.D., and …

A boater education certification card issued by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department upon successful completion of a boater education course.

hope this helps

Just what part of the rules that clearly state YOU MUST BE 16 TO OPERATE A BOAT in Tennessee? What part of YOU MUST BE 16 is it that you can't quite understand?