Private Boat Lake
 

A friend of mine owns a 50 acre lake in the Houston area and is looking into turning it into a private boat lake. I know this is popular in other parts of the county. How much are you paying in fees, how many members, what are the rules/ stipulations? What would you change if you could?

I'll try and find out some info for ya. Have a few friends who belong to clubs.

$2600 a year. Limited to 20 members on 2 lakes. There is one more lake not finished. One boat at a time, 15 minute sets if there are other boats on the lake. The lake is covered under USA Waterski insurance so you have to be a member to ride. Minimum 500k liability on your boat. I would make it longer if I could!! Its about 2400' long. You get 4-6 tricks in, but you cant beat getting to the lake at noon on Labor Day and riding 3 buttery sets!

What state is tht in??

We pay $1,260 a year and there are 300 members for a lake that is roughly 1,800 surface acres. The state boating rules apply and you are required to have $300k liability insurance.

Texas, Here is the address

4820 meadowglen dr pearland tx

I live on Lake Houston.

If that water is fresh (which I'm guessing it is), and you can reasonably control the water level (it won't get too shallow), then that could make a sweet set up!

Will there be a dock, covered with lifts?

It is going to depend on the number of members you allow on the lake, and whether or not it is going to be a club (ie, club boat), or it is going to be a "bring your own boat" type thing.

For 50 acres, I'd suggest no more than 10-20 members @ somewhere between $2k and $3k per member per year.

There are usually restrictions on boat length, and length of rotations (if more than one person is trying to use the lake at the same time).

Somewhere between $300k and $1m in liability coverage required.

I have seen and heard about private lakes around the country but I never thought it would work in Texas because there are just so many lakes! In most areas of Texas (even Houston), there are 2 or 3 lakes or rivers to ride on within an hour's drive. Why would people pay to be on a private lake when you can go to a free one?

Just bringing up a point/question, not trying to bash you or anything. I would just like to know.

^^^bc people want perfect water conditions. Especially skiers. I know people who drive 1-2 hrs to their club lake, they keep their boats there and sometimes wait 2 hrs btwn sets to have perfect conditions.

I think he wants to do it just to pay for access not a club boat. I assume just a gravel driveway and boat ramp and small dock.

Drnate: There are some good riding spots within 45 minutes of us here but it is salt or brackish water a lot of boat owners don't want to put the boats in salt water. Good question though.

Here is a screen shot of the lake. Looks pretty sweet.

LOL.... Here in Minnesota we have about 50 different lakes to ride on within 10 minutes, from almost anywhere in the state. :D

Here in Iowa like half the lakes here are either no wake lakes or private lakes and they are all really tiny!!

Sure...you can enjoy them yr round if you icefish as well:)

That lake looks pretty small. I don't think you could get more than 4 hits in after you turn around, and even for a slalom course it looks like it wouldn't work. A 50 acre lake could be a dream lake but it would have to be 1/3 wide as that and 3 times longer. For me a half mile is about the shortest you can go for wake boarding and you need almost 2000 feet for a slalom course. If you could put some rails on that lake and pull with a jet ski you might get some interest.

According to google earth there are a number of private lakes in the area that i have measured using the ruler tool and all the private lake are around 2,000ft from shore to shore. This body of water measured 2,000ft also. So it looks like it could work and i know right where that body of water is. I know someone who lives in those apartments on the nort side.

Jason how deep is this lake? Has your friend ever ridden on it?

please say at least 15ft, which i doubt. i too know where this is.

We wakeboard on a ski lake thats 1/2mile long and easy enough to turn around each end. (similar size to one of The Projects lakes in orlando) We dont ride anything bigger than a 210 due to erosion & only so much wake to creat when its 8-9' deep.

That lake is big enough for wake or slalom.. its about the same length as OWC boat lake so you could probably get 4-6 tricks in each pass.

It's definitely only big enough for one boat at a time. The runs are too short having 2 boats would just be riding in the other boats chop the entire time.

With the right structure it could work. Same as what some others said, 20ish members would be about the most it could handle without getting too much scheduling conflicts. The majority of people are still going to be after 5/weekends typically

That lake is big enough, but not ideal. Max 20 memebrs $1800 a year. There a bunch of private lakes in Texas by the way.Mainly for skiing though. Texas, Cali and Florida have the most private sites in the country.

The owner said it is 20' deep it use to be a sand pit. The length is approx the same size as HWC and I think you can get in 5 tricks per pass if you don't screw around. Travis we can probably go ride in it right now but we have to launch my boat or his with a tractor.

Wow! 20' is nice. Id say go for it

man thats ahhhsome. can i come surf in it? i like to wakeboard too. travis i havent forgotten about ya.

Jason do you have a depth finder on your boat? Id like to go out and ride this lake if it is possible. 20ft is good depth.

John-Not a problem man

Travis, Yes I do. BTW I also have about 70% of my internal ballast system and probably operational enough by this weekend if you want to ride Sunday.

Friend pays $500 a yr, 30 members, on 2 private lakes, has 7 boat lifts and everyone stores there own boat on property. We can ski/wakeboard here yr round:)

With that development/cult surrounding the lake I'd be concerned about the noise complaints you'll be sure to get. Could become a legal nightmare if you're trying to run this as a business and have loud boats out at sunrise on weekends or until sunset on weeknights.... all the time.

If I had something like that, I would keep it to just friends and family. Isn't that a dream of all boat owners, their own private lake!

I totally wish I had a private lake, I enjoy being out at my local lakes, the scenery is great, nice being out there at sunset, that kinda stuff...but on days when I just want to ride, which is most of them, I would totally take a private lake. It means NO yahoos to deal with at the ramps, on the water, driving too close while in tow, no jet skis swarming around....the list goes on....