Behind the Scenes: Media Session with Austin Rental Boats

Howdy local Austinites!

We recently completed a TFP Media Collaboration with Austin Rental Boats serving up tours and boating experiences on Lake Austin.

It was a pleasant working experience meeting the team at their dock where we were able to get a close look at their growing fleet of rental boats.

WOW! Now, we’re moving into the Winter season which typically slows down as far as patrons enjoying the water but they operate year-round taking guests on beautifully guided tours.

Get Local Social founder, Ashley Rodriguez, capturing footage on Lake Austin.

Words from the Team

When asked why guests should choose their experiences over others, the team collectively shared that they prioritize safety and enjoyment.

The team of captains have been chosen carefully to offer these experiences in the fullest for patrons seeking.

The Owner of Austin Rental Boats taking our team on a tour of Lake Austin.

Shawn Smith (Owner / Operator)

“ So what we like to do on Lake Austin is try to provide an experience for everybody.

Whether you're wanting to come out with friends to go out and, you know, go to the cove and have a good time. Or if you're just wanting just a nice leisurely sunset cruise. And our captains, we've curated the best captains in my opinion across all the lakes here in Austin. So we want to keep everybody safe while having a great time out on the lake and our captains do a great job of that.”

Captain, Chris Galindo, sharing his background and the rental boat industry.

Chris Galindo (Captain)

 “I work on Lake Austin, driving boats straight out of high school. I joined the military, spent four years and then after the military, I spent six years as a government contractor. And then after that, I got into boat rentals in 2014. And I've been driving boats ever since.

I've been with the Austin rental boats for about five years. Myself and the owner, we're from the same hometown. We've known each other since we were at a very young age. And that's pretty much how I got into it. One experience I had in the past was, I used to teach wake surfing and the ability to teach a person a new skill or activity - it's gratifying to share that experience with someone. As far as career goes, the boat rental industry is growing and there's a lot of longevity in this industry. One of the key aspects of choosing Austin rental boats is that safety is one of our priorities.

For a day on the lake where you have your friends and family, you want to know that you're on a boat with experienced boat drivers that keep you safe and show you a great time.”

Captain, Anna Bruns, sharing her story with us and why she loves working with the team.

Anna Bruns (Captain)

 “I actually started driving boats at a very young age. Um, I learned how to water ski up in Indiana on the Ohio River. My dad actually lived on our houseboat growing up so we were on the water all the time and he didn't want to pull me skiing anymore so he actually taught me how to drive a boat.

And today I am still doing that and that's, um, kind of how I got started with Austin Rental Boats. Now I feel happier than ever that I get to do this job. Um, it's so much fun and it's awesome and very rewarding being the only girl out here. I love that they gave me the opportunity to drive boats, um, with all these guys and it's super fun.

I've been driving boats for about 15 years now and I've been a boat captain at Austin Rental Boats for three years.  

What I love most about this job is that I'm literally getting paid to love what I do. I love driving boats. I love being out on the lake. I love being out on the water and to make a job out of it and to meet so many people is just the cherry on top. It really is such a fun job. I love the people that I work with.”

Captain, Reed Mosley, sharing insight on experiences with Austin Rental Boats.

Reed Mosley (Captain)

 “I grew up on Lake Travis. Learned boating out there in my family lake house in Wisconsin. Went to college at Texas State and, Had a friend that worked here at Austin Rental Boats for a few years and kept telling me how good of an opportunity it was, so I finally decided to give it a shot and ended up loving it, so this is what I've done every day for the past four years.

I continue to show up every day because I enjoy meeting all the different people that I get to meet every day. Groups are from all over the place and it's cool to show on the lake and kind of figure out what they're into. Make new friends. Met my girlfriend out here so that's been a perk so far.

This job is perfect for me because I really enjoy being out on the water. If I ever move anywhere else a stipulation that I have is that I need to be close to the water. So, you know, having a job that puts me on the lake every time I come to work is pretty fortunate in my opinion. But I stay with Austin Rental Boats opposed to other companies because I feel like we're one of the few that actually have it figured out down to a science, for the most part, a well oiled operation - we can make it the best time possible.”

Where to Find the Team

Are you seeking a lake experience here in Austin?

Visit Austin Rental Boats to learn more.