The YourNewBoat.com Story
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2022
Houseboating has always played a role in the YourNewBoat.com Family. YourNewBoat's founder, Travis, spent most of his childhood on the waters of Lake Cumberland near the Houseboat Capital of the World. It was there that his passion for houseboating took root on his family's first houseboat:
a 1973 42' Nautaline named "River Rat".
Many years and many boats later Travis saw an opportunity to open up a houseboat brokerage on the waters of Norris Lake. Travis's time on Lake Cumberland has given him many valuable years of houseboating experience.
Here Travis navigated "River Rat" whenever his Dad would allow. "River Rat" served the YourNewBoat Family very well and later at the request of Travis & his brother the name was soon changed to "Little Toot".
Like many houseboating families, Little Toot was outgrown one day, and the YourNewBoat family began working its way up the "houseboat ladder." Their next boat was a 1983 Sumerset 14 x 54 (Steel).
The Sumerset was a great houseboat that stayed in the family for many years. An added swim platform even kept the boat from being outgrown too soon, but the YourNewBoat family slowly worked their way up yet again to a
1990 Stardust 16 x 68.
Every time the YourNewBoat Family got their next houseboat, they were sure that it was the biggest houseboat they could have ever imagined and would definitely be the last one. But like many houseboating families the time came for the next (and currently) their last boat, a 1998 Stardust 17 x 84 WB:
Growing up in the Houseboat Capital of Lake Cumberland KY meant many summers on the water, which meant lots of water skiing. (You can see Travis skiing behind the family houseboat in the picture above.) Travis was raised as a 3-Event Water Skier (Slalom, Trick, & Jump) and took up wakeboarding when it first came on the scene in the 1990s (you can sometimes spot a photo of him during the early days of wakeboarding in Lake Cumberland Area Tourism Materials that are still used at Boat & Travel Shows even today).
When Travis began his college studies at the University of Kentucky he sought out the UK Waterski Club and discovered the joys of Collegiate Water Skiing. While skiing for UK he was introduced to Norris Lake, TN via the University of Tennessee Water Ski Team and loved everything about it. He later transferred to the University of Tennessee where he helped lead the program to a South Atlantic Conference Championship in his last season of eligibility. Travis was twice selected to represent the South Atlantic Conference at the National Collegiate All-Star Water Ski Tournament and still holds two school records for Jumping, one at the University of Kentucky and the other at the University of Tennessee. While at UT he also had the fortune of having a UT Water Ski Team Alumni and Sea Ray Boats' Executive as a professor who later became a mentor.
Travis's marine sales experience dates back to Lake Cumberland Marine where he spent several years during college working for the successful family business. At Lake Cumberland Marine, Travis spent time in every department - Sales, Parts, & Service in addition to starting and managing their Pro Shop. Travis is grateful for his experience gained during his years at Lake Cumberland Marine and maintains a great relationship with current and past employees there, even occasionally participates in a co-brokerage sale with the company today.
After running out of Collegiate Water Ski eligibility Travis transferred one last time to Eastern Kentucky University and finished his degree. During this time, he saw an opportunity to get back to Norris Lake by going into business for himself and founded YourNewBoat.com in 2007. After graduating, Travis worked three jobs to get the company going and pay for advertising.
In 2008, Travis's Mother, Margo Keller retired from a career of teaching & counseling and joined the YourNewBoat Team to better serve the Lake Cumberland Area. Travis's Father, David later retired (a second time) from a long & well decorated career in law enforcement and assists Margo with sales on and around Lake Cumberland (when he's not waterskiing that is).
In 2009, Travis's uncle, Brian Keller retired as an engineer for General Motors and took to the family brokerage serving the Middle Tennessee Area including Tims Ford Lake, Percy Priest Lake, and the Tennessee & Cumberland Rivers. Brian has since gotten back into the automotive industry as an engineer for the Nissan Motor Company but still participates in boat sales part time (that is until he decides to retire a second time).
Travis is grateful for his life experiences and all of the relationships he has built from Collegiate Water Skiing to his work on and around Norris Lake. Travis is also thankful for having had houseboating play a role in his life and has witnessed how boat ownership can keep a family close throughout all stages of life - from childhood to adulthood. And he continues to enjoy spending time with his family on the water whenever he has a chance.
Starting in 2016, Margo & David Keller are not as active with YourNewBoat so that they can enjoy their retirement on Lake Cumberland and only occasionally assist with showing boats in the area. Most days they can be found in Pitman Creek where David has taken the role as Commodore of the Somerset Boat Club or somewhere out on the lake water skiing. David's competitive water skiing has gotten better in his retirement and acheived a 2nd place finish in Men's 7 Trick at the 2017 National Water Ski Championship & finally earned a 1st Place finish in Men's 8 Overall at the 2022 National Water Ski Championship! He says he is retiring from competative skiing after finally placing at the top of the podium, but we'll believe it when we see it. Though in 2022, he has retired from his role as the Commodore of the Somerset Boat Club.
Today, YourNewBoat.com has become one of the most user-friendly websites for houseboat sales. We are proud to be a family company with our home office serving the Norris Lake area since 2007! We're excited to spread the joys of boating by assisting in the purchase of your new boat!
We look forwarding to working with you soon.
Travis & the YourNewBoat Family
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2020
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2019
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2018
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2017
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2016
The youngest member of the YourNewBoat Family on Norris Lake in 2016
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2015
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2014
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2013
December 2012 Update - YourNewBoat is featured on A&E's Shipping Wars 12/12/12 Episode - Click Here to View Announcement
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2012
YourNewBoat's Travis Keller & Family - Norris Lake - 2011
September 2010 Update - Travis is featured in Houseboat Magazine's September Issue - Click Here to View
On Water Houseboat Expo September 2009 Update- Brian Keller (far left) joins the Family Brokerage serving Middle Tennessee.
Houseboat Expo - Louisville, KY - February 2009
