Family-Owned. Locally Operated. Lake Travis Obsessed.

About Keep Austin Wet

A family-owned Lake Travis boat rental company built on hard work, local expertise, and 15+ years on the water.

Book Your Lake Day

2012

Founded in Austin

15+

Years on Lake Travis

3,200+

Five-Star Reviews

20K+

Trips Captained

Keep Austin Wet boat rentals on Lake Travis

Our Story

From a $15,000 Loan and One Pontoon to Lake Travis' Most Reviewed Fleet

Keep Austin Wet started in 2012 with a simple combination — a $15,000 loan, one used pontoon boat, and a website. What began as a leap of faith from founder Santos Ramirez quickly became something much bigger, driven by a goal to be self-employed and a lifelong love of the water that started growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Over the years, that single pontoon has grown into one of the largest, newest, and most-reviewed fleets on Lake Travis — Tiki Vibes party boats, Double Decker party boats, classic pontoons, and pro-grade wakesurf boats. But the core of the business hasn't changed. It's still built on hard work, attention to detail, and making sure every group has an unforgettable day on the water.

When you book with Keep Austin Wet, you're not dealing with a big corporation or a third-party booking site. You're booking with a local Austin team that genuinely cares about your experience and takes pride in every single trip we run on Lake Travis.

Santos Ramirez and family — owners of Keep Austin Wet boat rentals on Lake Travis

Meet the Owners

The Family Behind Keep Austin Wet

Santos & Meghan

Santos and Meghan have been together for over 15 years and are raising their three kids — Tiago, Silas, and Holland — right here in Austin, Texas. Together, they've built the foundation behind Keep Austin Wet.

Santos leads day-to-day operations on the water as the company's founder and Lead Captain, with thousands of charters and over a decade of captain experience under his belt. He knows Lake Travis, the boats, and exactly what it takes to make the perfect lake day — and he still works alongside the KAW crew on the dock and on the water.

Meghan is also a small business owner. She has owned and operated Salon Sway in downtown Austin for almost a decade, bringing the same hands-on, customer-first standard to both businesses. Together, the family runs Keep Austin Wet the way you'd expect a family business to be run — personally.

Leadership

The Crew Keeping Every Trip on Course

A big part of the day-to-day success at Keep Austin Wet comes from a small leadership team that's been with the company for years. Together with Santos, they're the reason every charter runs smoothly from booking to docking.

Kayla Remillard

Operations Manager

Kayla moved to Texas in 2014 from the Pacific Northwest, where she grew up boating and camping the rivers around Oregon. She earned her boater's education card at 15 — before she had her driver's license. She's been part of the Keep Austin Wet team since 2017 and brings a level of professionalism, organization, and consistency that keeps the whole operation running. If you're lucky, you'll meet her dog Harlow, who comes to work with her every day and even has a boat named after him.

With KAW since 2017
Pacific Northwest boating background
Boater Education Certified

Santos Ramirez

Founder & Captain

Santos is the founder of Keep Austin Wet and has been captaining boats for over a decade with thousands of trips on Lake Travis. He grew up on the water in Corpus Christi, Texas, and turned a lifelong love of boating into Austin's most-reviewed rental company. Hands-on and dialed in, Santos still works alongside the KAW crew every season — making sure every trip lives up to the hype.

Founder, 2012
10+ years captaining Lake Travis
Thousands of trips logged

Rudy Rousseau

Lead Captain

Rudy is KAW's full-time Lead Captain and the person responsible for keeping the fleet in top condition, training the rest of the captain crew, and running the company's social media. He combines expert boating skills with a welcoming style that puts guests at ease — and he knows Devil's Cove inside and out. You can count on Rudy for professionalism, local knowledge, and attention to detail on every single charter.

Full-time Lead Captain
Fleet maintenance & captain training
Devil's Cove specialist

The KAW Captains

15+ Years of Combined Experience on Lake Travis

Every Keep Austin Wet charter is led by a vetted, USCG-aware captain who knows Lake Travis the way locals know it. They handle the wheel, the route, and the safety — so your group gets to enjoy the day. Here's the full crew.

Captain Billy

Over 13 years navigating Lake Travis, with a deep well of local knowledge and an approachable style. Based in Thailand in the off-season, Billy spends his summers on the lake making every charter both seamless and memorable.

Captain James

A New Jersey-born adventurer who first fell in love with boating on Lake George, NY. Four years ago he traded the Northeast for the Texas Hill Country and never looked back — now he runs charters built around community and good memories.

Captain Derek "D-Rock"

An experienced Lake Travis captain who calls this his best job ever. Deep local knowledge, the perfect balance of professionalism and fun. Off the boat, he runs Catch512, a fishing guide service focused on getting people off their phones and onto the water.

Captain Cat

A triple-threat captain who can drive any boat in the fleet. She grew up in an Arizona lake town and has called Lake Travis home for nearly a decade. With a water-sports and gymnastics background, wakesurf coaching is her specialty.

Captain Tyler "Kool"

Seasonal charter captain and one of Austin's best wakesurf instructors. Professional, personable, and Lake Travis obsessed — Captain Kool delivers nonstop fun with serious skill behind the wheel.

Captain Matt "A"

Five years learning the ins and outs of Lake Travis, and it shows. No matter what your group wants out of the day, Captain Matt makes it happen — and you'll see why guests love him by the time you hop off the boat.

Captain "Shaman" Derek, Keep Austin Wet boat captain and breathwork guide on Lake Travis

Captain Derek "Shaman Derek"

Not your average boat captain. Owner of a former doggy daycare, student of shamanic practices in Peru, and currently a breathwork guide and life coach. Be ready for an epic day — you might leave a little transformed.

Captain John

Easy to talk to, fun to be around, and a master of reading the room. From family days on the lake to wild Devil's Cove afternoons, Captain John is on point and ready for anything you throw at him.

Captain Eli

Your go-to captain for Devil's Cove. Years of experience finding the best spots, anchoring with skill, and keeping things safe, fun, and stress-free for every guest from kids to adults.

Captain Brandon

A true gentle giant with a lifetime of experience on the water. Top-tier customer service, killer personality, and a knack for making every group feel like VIPs.

Captain Dominic

Skilled charter captain known for his easygoing style. Smooth, safe, and tailored to your group — Captain Dom delivers a great day on the water no matter the occasion.

What KAW Was Built On

Why Booking Local Matters

You Book Directly with Us

No call centers. No middlemen. Our booking system keeps things simple, while our team handles everything that actually matters—making your day on the lake unforgettable.

15+ Years on Lake Travis

Our captains know the lake. From Devil's Cove to Hippy Hollow to Cypress Creek, they know where to go, when to go, and how to make the most of your time on the water.

3,200+ Five-Star Reviews

We're Austin's most-reviewed boat rental company. That doesn't happen by accident — it happens by treating every group like our only group.

The Newest Fleet on the Lake

Tiki boats, Double Deckers, pontoons, and wakesurf boats — all maintained in-house by Lead Captain Rudy and the KAW crew. No surprises, no breakdowns, no excuses.

Captain & Safety Equipment Included

Every charter includes a vetted captain, fuel, life jackets, and the gear you need. Just show up, hop on, and enjoy the day.

Departing From Volente Beach

We operate from Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark — the easiest entry point on Lake Travis, with parking, food at Beachside Billy's, and free waterpark access for guests.

Where to Find Us

Departing Daily From Volente Beach Resort

Keep Austin Wet operates from Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark — Lake Travis' most accessible launch point. Every rental includes free waterpark access for your group, on-site food at Beachside Billy's, and easy parking just steps from the dock.

6410 Hudson Bend Road Ste A, Austin, TX 78734

(512) 815-5935 Email Us