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By John Bechtle (Published 9/04)
Buoyed by the waves of excitement and energy created on one of the country's most popular recreational bodies of water – Clear Lake – the Texas Powerboat Association has done more than just fill a niche for more than 100 enthusiasts.
As the association prepares for its third poker run of the season over the Labor Day weekend, founder Jeff Eubanks admits he and many of his friends have created something truly special.
Over the past couple of decades, the body of water that is Clear Lake has become both a work and play home for hundreds of thousands of boating enthusiasts. Several of the nation's biggest powerboat races have been held on the lake, and today there is an estimated 80,000 registered recreational boat owners in a 50-mile radius within the area.
Eubanks, who grew up in the Houston area and did quite a bit of his boating as a youth on the San Jacinto River, figured he could draw up enough interest to fire up a boating association in the area. There are of course many others, but Eubanks had an idea for a more relaxed version. His idea has been a big hit as the Texas Powerboat Association has gone from zero to 108 members since its inception about six months ago. In turn, the association has formed friendships and business relations with many local business owners and their operations.
"I simply tried to surround myself with experienced and successful business people when I started the association," Eubanks said.
"They all have great ideas and know how to get things done. That's been one of the keys to the success of things so far."
Yet as popular of a recreational destination as Clear Lake has become over time, even Eubanks admits he has been a bit surprised by the response. In starting the club, those involved simply spread the news by word of mouth. Although the Texas Powerboat Association promotes boating safety strictly, there aren't any guidelines to membership. Simply pay the $125 annual fee, and you're in.
"I really saw a need for an association like this," Eubanks said. "Most of the boating organizations around town have a set of guidelines or specs that members have to follow. We don't have that. By no means are we against any of the other clubs, but we were looking for a relaxed situation in which anyone and everyone would feel comfortable. Any power boater can join our club, whether it is a cruiser, a fishing boat, runabout boats or a performance boat. It doesn't matter. It's about having fun and contributing to a great lifestyle in the Clear Lake area."
Because the association grew so quickly from 60 members in the first 60 days to more than 100 after four months, Eubanks has established some higher goals now. The association leaders hope to welcome as many as 250 total members by the end of 2005 and 500 over a five-year span from inception. In the meantime, it's all about having fun and helping people along the way.
As for the fun, perhaps the most popular events of the season for boat association members are the poker runs. Texas Powerboat Association will host three each year, and judging by the success of the first two, their popularity will only grow larger. In a nutshell, boat owners and their guests board their crafts and leave from Clear Lake for a predetermined day or weekend of fun on the water.
Eubanks and his closest helpers in the association which includes his wife Dee and Lucky Kilmer as vice presidents and Pat and Michelle Patrick as officers as well as numerous volunteers such as Marcia Davenport, Lucy Bucio, Phil DeBusk, Bill Heck, Donna Deihl, John Rihn and others, have been careful to cultivate great "partnerships" with restaurants and business, some of which extend discounts to members. Sites such as Outriggers, the Seabrook Beach Club, the Sundance Bar and Grille, Turtle Club, the 3 Amigos fuel dock, Blue Water Ship Store and Parkwood Eye Doctors are some of the association's favorites.
"Many of these businesses have been great in extending their patronage to us during our existence, so we always try to give something back," Eubanks said. "It's all about having fun and being safe out on the water for us."
As for the poker runs, the association's first was held back in May as TPAers departed from Clear Lake for Lake Charles, Louisiana.
During the second weekend in May, the Lake Charles area is home to the Contraband Days festival, which the local association attended. It was so much fun that one of the country's top boating publications, Hot Boat Magazine, profiled the association.
In July, the TBA enjoyed a mini poker run to Galveston, where members enjoyed an outing at Stingarees as well as Port Bolivar. As for the Labor Day event (see sidebar), more fun is planned. "We've been working day and night to prepare for the Labor Day weekend event," Eubanks said. "It's a lot of work, but we're also going to have a lot of fun along the way."
During all of this, the association also holds events and raises funds during the poker runs for its favorite charity—the Victory Children's Center, which raises underprivileged children in the area. "We're very happy with the growth of the club to date, and feel fortunate in the way that local business owners and their businesses have been receptive to us," Eubanks said. "Along those lines we have incorporated, we have a web site (www.texaspowerboatassoc.com) and we also work to promote the businesses which kindly extend their operations to us. In our association we are fortunate to have a solid group of successful businesspeople. Thus, we are great at networking and trying to get things done."
Eubanks was running his first boat at the age of 6 and has nearly 40 years of experience on the water. A third-generation boater in his family, Eubanks previously headed one of the country's largest powerboating associations before starting his own. He knows what it takes to make exciting things happen on the water, but admits it's all about Clear Lake and its amenities.
"I grew up running on the San Jacinto River and have also been on Clear Lake for much of my life," Eubanks said. "There is no doubt Clear Lake has grown into one of the top recreational bodies of water in the country. I knew we would get some response but was thinking 10 to 20 at least early in the process. We have a lot of people out here who like to have fun on the water. They want to share those times with others."
Those seeking more information about the Texas Powerboat Association may visit the web site listed in the story. In addition to the poker run events, the association also takes part in fundraisers, celebrates many major holidays, birthdays and more. They also mix in the occasional crawfish boil.
"We're excited about the Labor Day event after the success we have seen with the others," Eubanks said. "This has been great so far and we encourage others to come join us."
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TPA Poker Run • Sept. 3 & 4 (Labor Day Weekend)
The Texas Powerboat Association presents the Darryl Moore's Marine Formula and Mercruiser Poker Run Sept. 3-4 in celebration of Labor Day weekend.
Festivities begin Friday, Sept. 3 with the Calcutta at the Seabrook Beach Club, followed by the Poker Run Sept. 4. The awards ceremony for winners will be held at the Moonwater Grill at a date to be announced, Association founder and president Jeff Eubanks said the day will include a trip to Offats Bay in Galveston, just around the corner from Moody Gardens. A live band will be part of the festivities.
Eubanks said as many as 60 boats and 300 enthusiasts are expected to take part in the event. The group will dine for lunch at the Sundance Grille and enjoy swimming in the pool before an evening banquet at Eden Pointe.
Although the association is in its first year, two successful poker runs and many other events have been held. More than 100 members are in the association that seemingly grows each month.
"Darryl Moore of Darryl Moore's Marine has been supportive of our group from the start, and he has been more than gracious to sponsor our event in his name," Eubanks said. "We are grateful to him and his organization as well as the other sponsors of the event. We are looking forward to a great weekend of fun."
Other sponsors of the event include Parkwood Vision Center, Wendy and Bill Pope, Blue Water Ships Stores, Gary and Lissa Johnson, Bay Runner, The SCENE, Aqua Clear Pools, Inc.,The Wet Spot, Menchaca's of Bay Oaks, Sign Quick, Van Sant Landscape Management, Solar-Tech Mechanical Systems, USA Staffing and Moon Water Grill.
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