By Tim Plaehn, Marinefuel.com News
houseboat rental
Houseboat rentals are a great idea for families or groups of friends looking for a getaway vacation. Although there are many boaters who own a houseboat, houseboat renting is an adventure activity enjoyed by millions. If you are contemplating a houseboat rental vacation here are some considerations to consider and a quick listing of some of the most popular houseboating destinations.
A houseboat vacation can include slowly sightseeing around your selected lake or waterway. Anchoring in a cove or on a island and spending time swimming, jet-skiing, BBQing and enjoying a relaxing time with your friends and family. This great type of getaway is a little more about relaxation and having a good time and less focused on driving or navigating a boat. I found one rental company on the Mississippi River that offers dockside houseboat rentals where you can enjoy this laid back lifestyle and never leave the dock!
Although the first step is to pick the location for your houseboat rental, I will discuss some of the ins and outs of houseboats first. Rental houseboats range for 36 ft. models with room for six up to over 70 ft. with accommodations for 12. Amenities can include DVD and CD players, satellite TV and even a hot tub. According to AAA’s Via magazine, houseboat rental can cost from $1,500 to over $6,500 per week. Taxes and the fuel you use will be the major extra charges. Rates are usually highest in the summer and vary by location, size of boat and amenities. Spring and fall rates can be significantly less than peak season and rental companies may through in extras like free jet-ski rental or free gas.
A rental should be fully equipped including kitchen hard goods, linens, safety and boating equipment. The main categories of stuff you need to bring are clothing, food and beverages and sunscreen. Here are a couple of items from a writer’s personal experience I want to pass along:
- Pack lightly: Those new to houseboating bring too much stuff. The houseboat will be well supplied and the renter just needs to bring food, a few clothes and bedding.
- Bring toys: Time on the water is much more fun with a bunch of rafts or inner tubes.
- Bring Ice: There is no such thing as too much ice, and also your favorite beverages.
For a complete listing of what should or may be included in a houseboat rental and what you should consider bringing on your vacation check out this Houseboat Rental FAQs from Houseboat Magazine.
Do not be worried about renting even if you have little or no boating experience. Each year, 25% or more of houseboat rentals are by first-timers. The rental company will provide a one to three hour training cruise to insure you can safely pilot your houseboat.
To get you even more excited about a boat rental vacation, here are some of the most popular locales to try houseboating:
- The Florida Keys
- California: Lake Shasta, Trinity Lakes and the Sacramento River Delta
- Lake Powell, Utah and Lake Mead, Nevada on the Colorado River
- The Mississippi River
- Lake of the Ozarks
- Kentucky Lake
Check them out and enjoy your houseboat vacation!
Sources: Houseboat Magazine, Via Magazine, houseboating.org
