Vacation Planning Guide
Gathering Your Group Sharing The Planning
What To Bring
Frequently Asked Questions Insurance
1- 877 - HOUSEBOAT (468-7326)
Lakes Shasta & New Melones
Gathering Your Group
With 6 models to choose from and sleeping capacities ranging from 12 to 22 people, there is a houseboat for every kind of group and budget imaginable.
Family & Extended Family
Some people have a large enough family that they can fill a boat with family members, which can be a lot of fun and can create some really meaningful experiences among siblings and/or cousins. If children are of varying ages, you may want to consider allowing them to invite friends as it may increase their enjoyment of the trip. You might just decide to make it an annual reunion, as many people do.
A Group of Friends
Inviting a group of all single adults (which can be all male or all female), or adult couples, can be loads of fun. Enjoying the water by day and a lively card or board games in the evening are some of the favorite activities of our guests.
A Group of Co-workers
Inviting your friends from work can build bonds beyond the workplace and create memories you love to reminisce about when you return to the
drudgery of your job! Think of inviting a group of colleagues with their families, or an entire department from your workplace.
Two or Three Unrelated Families
Often great friends make a tradition out of an annual houseboating trip together. Their children have lasting memories, and the adults have fun, too.
There are no limits to who you might invite, and many times your friends might bring their friends and new friendships are formed!
Four Legged Companions
We welcome pets on most of our houseboats. Pets are part of the family and find houseboating & exploring the shoreline extremely fun.
Sharing The Planning
Planning your houseboat trip includes contacting everyone you'd like to have participate, getting commitments from them, organizing transportation, planning the food and additional activities (such as sight seeing or hiking around the surrounding area), arranging for ski boats or other toys, and making provisions for the payment of money.
Setting a Date
How you go about organizing the group will depend on the type of group, but there are lots of things in common. If you know exactly who will be going on the trip, you simply talk to everyone and find out what dates they are able to go, and select dates that work for everyone*. Have your group agree on a second and third choice of dates in case you're planning on vacationing during a popular time. As soon as you have the dates
established, you should make a reservation. Even though there may be last minute availability, early booking increases your chances of the most desirable dates. If you don't know who is going on the trip, reserve the houseboat for the dates that work for you, and then invite other people until you have commitments from enough people to make the trip possible.
*With seven different "seasons" and 3, 4 or 7 night voyages to choose from there's bound to be vacation dates that agree with your group's calendar and budget.
The $$$ Aspect
If everybody going on your houseboat trip will be paying their own share of the cost, our reservation system is capable of taking multiple payments (on each participant’s credit cards), simply forward your email confirmation to each group member. They can simply click on the payment link and remit their portion. It is a good idea to have people pay for their share of the rental cost at the time they make the commitment, as there is less chance they will change their minds. If someone drops out at the last minute and hasn’t paid, it puts a burden on everyone else who is going on the trip.
Upon making a reservation, a deposit is required to hold your selected vacation dates. The full amount of the rental is due 75 days prior to your trip. You will get the deposit back after your trip, less the cost of any vessel damage/loss should it occur. Keep in mind our rental payment terms require that the person making the reservation is responsible for timely payment. The trip can be paid for as early as you want, so once your group members have paid, you can relax and look
forward to your trip!
Planning the Food
Dining on your houseboat vacation is one of the biggest pleasures you'll experience. There are several ways you can plan your meals, depending on the type of group. You can make them as elaborate or as simple as you wish, since the gourmet galleys on our vessels have everything you need. Besides a good variety of cookware, bakeware and utensils, all houseboat models have a stove top, oven, microwave and barbecue. Here are some suggestions to make your meal planning easier:
#1 Have one person prepare entire menu for the trip. Post a written menu indicating what food is for what meal.
Advantages: Minimum of excess food, efficient food storage, everyone knows what to expect.
Disadvantage: If someone eats the wrong food at the wrong time, it may upset the plan and could upset some people!
#2 Assign meals to various people, making each person responsible for one or more specific meals.
Advantages: Meal preparation is fairly distributed, everyone participates in the planning. Cleanup is distributed too!
Disadvantage: You risk having to eat Aunt Emily's meatloaf!
#3 Let each individual or family take care of their own food.
Advantages: If you have special eating demands, such as vegetarian preferences, you control your diet.
Disadvantage: You may miss the joys of preparing the food and dining together with others in your group.
Helpful Hint: If you're houseboating for a week, consider packing meat and frozen goods for the second half of your trip in an ice chest with
dry ice, taping the lid shut. After 4 days, everything will still be frozen and you won't have maxed out the refrigerator/freezers on your vessel.
A Word on Beverages:
Usually it is easiest to have everybody bring what they want to drink. Use the ice chests provided on the houseboat for drinks, they'll stay colder on ice.
Also, frequent opening of boat's refrigerator door to access drinks may prevent the refrigerator from performing adequately.
Note: Expect to buy at least a couple of bags of ice per day during your trip.
The exact amount you'll use will depend on the outside temperature.
Wakeboard & Ski Boats, small boats, towables and toys
Having a small boat along will enhance your houseboat vacation.
Watersports add an exciting dimension to the trip. Personal watercraft (PWCs) are not only exhilarating, but are an ideal way to explore our scenic California lakes. In addition, inflatable rafts, tubes, air mattresses, flotation cushions, canoes, kayaks, wakeboards, water-skis, kneeboards, stand up paddle boards (SUP’s), and anything else that floats can add variety to your experience. Most of these items can be rented by the day or week from our marina stores.
Helpful Hint: Whether you rent or bring your own ski boat, don't forget to plan for everyone to contribute their share of the fuel.
Clubs & Groups
We suggest that you consider a houseboating trip the next time you are in charge of coming up with a new idea for your club, association, or church group outing. Several church youth groups make this an annual event, and rent many houseboats at a time. It’s a great outdoor adventure for kids of all ages. And, it is an activity that will delight even those hard-to-please
teenagers.
What To Bring
Here's what you should bring to make your houseboat vacation more enjoyable:
Bath soap/shampoo
Bath/kitchen towels
Bedding/sleeping bags/pillows
Binoculars
Blow dryer
Books & magazines
Insect repellant
Camera
Cell phone
Fishing gear
Flashlight
Games
Hats & visors
Inflatable rafts or tubes
Personal sundries
Sunscreen
CD's and DVD's
iPod/MP3 player
What Not To Bring
For your personal safety and the protection of the vessel, tiki torches, water balloons and golf clubs are not permitted.
Equipment on board a typical houseboats.com vessel:
BBQ
Beverage Pitcher
Bakeware
Blender
Bowls-serving
Broom
CD/DVD system
Chairs-deck (6)
Cleaner-all-purpose
Coffee Maker
Coffee Mugs
Dish Soap
Dishware- for 10-22
First Aid Kit
Ice Chests
Microwave
Mop
Paper Towels
Pots/Pans
Silverware- for 10-22
Television
Toaster
Toilet Tissue
Trash bags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a houseboat difficult to operate?
Our state-of-the-art houseboats are surprisingly easy to operate. Our professional staff will explain the operation of your rental "from bow to stern" before you leave the docking area.
Do I need a license to operate your houseboats, or is a skipper provided?
There is no special license needed to operate our houseboats. There are rules for operating houseboats on the waterways, and we will explain them to you upon your arrival.
However, if you'd like to plan ahead and review the "ABC's of the California Boating Law," try this web site: http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Education.asp All charter parties receive a personal orientation, so please plan your guest's arrival accordingly. In addition, we will drive your houseboat out of the marina and then dock it for your upon your return. Once you are on the wide open lake, you'll find driving a houseboat quite easy. Most of our boats have a flying bridge, so you may pilot the vessel from the top deck or main cabin. We provide you a safety and orientation DVD of the training you receive, so you can brush up once you are out on the lake. And you can call us via cell phone with any questions while on your trip.
How long of a trip can I take?
You can choose between three or four night weekend, a mid-week four night trip, or a weeklong trip (seven nights).
How old do you have to be to rent a boat?
Charter Captain and Co-Captain must be at least twenty-five (25) years old.
How many people can a houseboat sleep?
Depending on the model you rent, and the location you choose, our houseboats comfortably sleep from 12 - 22 people. You can even bring extra guests (maximum capacity depends on model) and they can throw out a sleeping bag and sleep under the stars. There is plenty of room inside and out for dining, dancing, fishing, sunbathing, and relaxing. You will be provided a life vest for each guest.
How safe are the houseboats for children?
Our vessels were designed with kids in mind. Our boats have safety latches on all gates and sliding glass doors. All of our houseboats are equipped with a 3 ft.
railing around both the upper and lower decks for safety and privacy. We have child-sized PFDs (personal flotation devices) available at all marinas.
Will I get seasick on a houseboat?
Houseboats are on pontoons and there is very little motion. Seasickness is basically unheard of on fresh water.
Do you rent other boats in addition to houseboats?
We rent all types of boats to tow along on your houseboat vacation. See our website for information and rates.
Most guests take a small boat of some sort, it increases everyone's fun. And with so much area to explore, you'll find a ski boat or waverunner comes in handy.
We also rent water-skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, and a multitude of other 'water toys' at each of our marinas.
Do you offer discount rates?
We offer seven different 'seasons' and 3, 4 and 7 night trips to choose from to provide a selection for every budget and schedule.
What is the best time of year to go houseboating?
It is always a good time to go houseboating! Summer is the most popular and busiest season. Fall offers “Indian Summer” days and cooler nights. Springtime is good for viewing abundant wildflowers, waterfalls, and wildlife. Winter is
favorable for the anglers, when fishing is at its best. And the rates are significantly lower between September and May. All our vessels are climate-controlled with air-conditioning and heaters - some even have a fireplace!
What type of fuel do the houseboats use and how fast do they go?
The houseboats run on regular gas. You will be provided with a full tank upon departure, and you will be charged just for the fuel you use on your trip. If you need to fill-up mid-trip, we have gas pumps at our docks. Remember, we'll drive you in and out of the marina, and get you on your way as fast as possible.
Generally, the houseboats travel at about 10 mph.
Where and how do we 'park' at night?
Our houseboats are designed so that they may be secured to the shoreline using
two stakes (we provide), or simply tying to a large tree stump. Just choose a secluded cove and stay for as long as you like. Some may prefer to discover their own private spot, others can request a member of our staff to guide them to some of the popular hide-a-ways.
During your orientation, we'll show you how you'll stake your houseboat to the shore at night and provide you with suggestions for good locations. You may also find it helpful to view our “orientation video” available on our website prior to your trip.
What is there to do?
Our luxurious vessels have all - and sometimes more - of the comforts of home. With tracking satellite and state-of-the-art sound systems, you can watch your favorite sporting event or movie. The fully equipped gourmet galleys provide the perfect venue for preparing memorable feasts - a definite highlight of houseboating!
The photo opportunities of your loved ones enjoying nature and watersports and the picturesque landscape and breathtaking sunsets are endless.
There is a multitude of recreational opportunities at each location. Choose from swimming, hiking the trails, fishing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kayaking, boating, visiting local caverns, dam tours and dining out.
Both lakes offer mountain biking trails, so bring your bike for exploring the shore. There are nearby historic towns for shopping and site-seeing, and golf courses are near to each of our locations.
Or simply relax with a book, lounge in the sun, soak in the hot tub, enjoy a board game, or watch a movie in the comfort of your luxury houseboat.
How far in advance do I have to make reservations?
So that you are assured the boat model and time you desire, you should make your reservations as far in advance as possible. If you are flexible, and can depart from either of our two marinas, you may find a houseboat available just about anytime. The summer months are the most popular, so if you have a particular location, date and boat in mind, then booking early (4-8 months in advance) is recommended. There is always the possibility of a cancellation that may open up a time frame or houseboat model that you desire so don't hesitate to call at the last minute.
Insurance
Property Damage Insurance
Our rental boat is insured for its replacement cost in the event of an accident. As the renter (or driver with permission) of our boat you are insured by our policy.
You are responsible for a $2,500 deductible on houseboats or a $1,250 deductible on small boats. In other words, if there is accident damage to our boat, you will be responsible for the first $2,500 or $1,250 of damage and the insurance company will cover the balance. We offer to waive your responsibility for the deductible on a houseboat for a charge of $20 per day. If you pay the $20 per day charge you will not be responsible for any deductible. We do not offer to waive the deductible on small boats. This insurance and deductible waiver does not cover any damage to a propeller and does not cover the damage resulting from your beaching the boat in a manner that causes the flooding of the engine compartment. Damage that occurs to the interior of the boat caused by inappropriate or negligent behavior is not covered by insurance.
Travel Insurance / Charter Protection Program
Plans change, sometimes for reasons you can’t possibly foresee. That’s why you might want to consider a Trip Protection Plan. For more information, visit http://flipkey.berkelycare.com/product/home.jsf or call 1-866-808-7385, or 1-516-342- 2720
