Today we’d like to introduce you to Landry Urquhart and Alex Larramendi.
Landry and Alex, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Alex Larramendi. ACL Boat Rentals is a start-up company consisting of two ambitious college roommates that have always talked about starting an official business together. The vision was blurry as to what industry we would engage in, however, we knew that with the city of Austin growing as fast as it is, there was plenty of opportunity for us. I am currently working on my last year of graduating from Texas State University with a degree in finance. One summer day me and my partner Landry were celebrating a birthday out on Lake Travis and began to notice all the boats that were in the cove anchored out. The more we looked, the more we noticed that the majority of the boats were in fact, boat rental companies operating commercially out on the lake. After doing some quick research of what the average rental rates go for, we knew by the time we were got off the water that this was something we wanted to be a part of. Together, me and Landry went on to purchase a MasterCraft wake boat, contact the city on requirements to operate commercially, and begin to take on bookings. This summer of 2022 has been our first boating season and we have gotten bookings as soon as we started. Our customers have enjoyed seeing all that Austin’s lakes have to offer such as party cove, while also engaging in wake surfing and wakeboarding. Getting people up on a board has been one of our favorite parts of the job, as well as being out on the lake from sun up to sun down. ACL Boat Rentals has plans to grow as we are looking into purchasing a pontoon boat to our fleet so that we can cater to as many groups as possible.
Landry Urquhart: In the early stages of my life I was unaware of what field I wanted to pursue for my profession and unsure where to narrow my focus. Years ago when I entered college at Texas State University, I made a decision to further my knowledge in business hoping to find a passion that I could eventually make a profession. As time passed, I had come to the conclusion that I was for sure about one thing: I wanted to build a business of my own, create a brand, and most importantly a lifestyle I was passionate of while encouraging others along the way. The question at the time is, “What business can I build that will fulfill the life I want to live?” Growing up with a family in the car business, I was positive I wanted to build a life that didn’t require me to sit behind a desk. In my sophomore year at Texas State, I founded a small business, ATX Barrels based out of New Braunfels. ATX Barrels was the start of my entrepreneurial journey helping me gain knowledge on how to start and run a business. I had found a way out from behind a desk, but the next step was how to grow my entrepreneurial vision and incorporate a lifestyle I wanted to live.
Growing up in a small town an hour north of Dallas known as Pottsboro, TX. I spent all of my time on Lake Texoma. During the summer, my family was on the lake every weekend, teaching me to drive boats at an early age. My dad started to teach me boating safety and how to operate a watercraft at the age of 13. Starting at the age of 13 and now being 22 years old I have driven a wide range of boats from 24-38 ft. long. While spending every weekend on the water, I had picked up the sport of wakeboarding and went on to participate in training camps and competitions in Fort Worth, Texas all the way to Orlando, Florida. Being on the water has always been something I love to do. In the past few years, I spent time out on Lake Travis with friends for our personal enjoyment. After several weekends on the water in Austin and recognizing the growth of the city, I started to have a vision of how I can establish a business and build a brand that can grow in Austin and tie my love for lake days into the loop.
By surrounding myself around self-driven people who are looking to further their experience in business, I came across my current partner Alex. With both of our entrepreneurial mindset and the experience, I have on the water we were able to form ACL Boat Rentals. Since we have launched ACL Boat Rentals in May 2022, we have been taking bookings all summer with the pleasure of meeting new people and giving customers an unforgettable experience on Lake Travis and Lake Austin. Offering wakeboard/wakesurfing lessons has been a thrill to be able to teach others who have never stepped foot on a board and to those who are trying to take their skill to the next level. Alex and I have big visions on how we can grow ACL Boat Rentals and make it the top boat rental company in Austin.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Originally we did not realize that in order to operate commercially, there were certain requirements to be met. Such as proper commercial insurance and commercial livery sticker from Travis County Parks and Wildlife. We also have had issues trying to get a boat slip out on Lake Travis to make things easier on us, but have realized there is about a 2-3 year wait list for most of the wet boat slips out on Lake Travis. Our solution has been trailering the boat in a dry storage unit just off the lake. This summer has been our first which has come with plenty of learning curves, however we have found an answer to all of them.
We’ve been impressed with ACL Boat Rentals, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
ACL Boat Rentals is a private boat charter company that gives customers a chance to enjoy Austin’s lakes without having to purchase a boat. Not only do we captain the boat so our customers don’t have to worry about driving it, but we also offer wakeboarding and wake surfing lessons for our customers. Many people we have taken out are first-timers, so oftentimes we teach beginners at no extra charge. ACL Boat rentals cater to all as we also offer services for customers looking to just relax on a water pad and enjoy the scenic views surrounding the lake. We pride ourselves on our variety of services perfect for bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, sunset cruises, and those looking to engage in water sports.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Landry Urquhart: To be honest, I wouldn’t give luck any credit for the position we are at with ACL Boat Rentals. Due to being on the lake my entire life and learning the ins and outs of boating and how to operate water vessels it has given me the proper knowledge to be able to start a boat rental business and make sure that we operate with correct safety. The experience I have gained with creating my small business ATX Barrels at the age of 21 has played an important role to given me the proper knowledge needed to form another business.
Pricing:
- 175/hr on weekdays (3 hr minimum)
- 225/hr on weekends (4 hr minimum)
- 250/hr on holiday weekends (4 hr minimum)
Contact Info:
- Website: aclboatrentals.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aclboatrentals/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aclboatrentals
