How many households will be in this community of avid skiers, including the rental properties, that will be competing for the use of so few boats on a beautiful Saturday? What if one boat breaks down? Not trying to be critical, I'm just struggling to understand how this will work without having a bunch of angry homeowners being told they can have 30 minutes in 3 weeks.
The community has approx 320 households. I think you'd be surprised how many of them won't use the boats. We've done a lot of research and at this density we expect the lakes to be overall at about 50% capacity.
Most times we can have 3 boats running at a time. Boat breakdowns won't be much of an issue as there will be 4 boats, two of which are brand new, and the other two held over from the prior season. Two boats will be rotated out every season and they will be professionally maintained daily.
At least half of residents won't ever get pulled by a boat; too young, too old, too out of shape, too busy... there are many things that get in the way. And when you have this at your fingertips to get a couple runs in any time you want, it changes your perspective. Everyone is no longer planning their weekend around travelling to the lake, spending 6 hours weaving in and out of other boats, then travelling back and cleaning up. The conditions are perfect most of the time, there are more hours in a day to ride, and the season is about 45-60 days longer.
The avid skiers don't ski in the middle of a summer day anyway. They get up before sunrise to get the smooth water before the other boats arrive. In a community like this, they are the ones getting picked up in their backyard at 6-7am every 2 or 3 days to get their set in before work, or under the lights 9-10pm. Kids also aren't waiting for the weekend so Dad can take them to the lake. They can get their sets in anytime, and when they aren't in or behind the boat, they are on the dock with swimming pools, hot tubs, volleyball, beach, etc.
Will there be beautiful Saturdays that are booked full? Sure, but what I'm suggesting is that with a good scheduling system it's not the inconvenience you have in your mind. Our target demo either owns or wishes they could own a new Wakesetter/Prostar/Air Nautique and hopes to get out to the lake twice a month during the summer to justify the $70-100k purchase. When they do get to the lake, the experience is mediocre as they fight all the other boats. In our community, this same family would get 2-4x more sets in a season for the same cost, and every set will be perfect or near perfect conditions.
Also keep in mind that here in the second driest state in the nation, there is otherwise no such thing as lakefront property. Many residents will buy here just for that waterfront aspect, without much intent of using the boats.
