Houseboat – How?
If you’ve never been houseboating, it can be a real treat. It’s a total escape unlike any other! The houseboat capital of the nation is Shasta Lake, Calif. where hot, dry summer weather provides the optimum environment for lounging around on the lake. This week it has been a bit cooler –around 90 degrees– but next weekend promises warmer days at 99-101 degrees F. and as of this search, houseboats are available, including the smaller sizes at houseboats.com. They are the biggest, main provider of boats and they offer a great piloting service in which they command the boat out of the marina for you and bring it back in again as your vacation ends.
There are some basic tips that the majority of houseboaters agree on. Here’s a short list to help you get started:
- If the boat sleeps 12, take 10 people. Overcrowding is the biggest bummer.
- Collect everyone’s share of expenses prior to trip. It’s hard to collect afterwards.
- Organize with lists and share some items. You only need 1 bottle of ketchup, 1 salt shaker, 1 blow dryer, etc.
- Assign a specific color of towel to each person or put names on towels & washcloths with permanent marker.
- Pack only casual clothes and night-time cover-ups with long sleeves.
- Bedding is usually not provided. Fitted full sheets are ideal for the full size beds, usually covered in plastic.
- Organize all food/meals in advance and check before boarding to see it’s all there.
- Pre-cook and freeze some meals requiring baking. The ovens in houseboats tend to be small.
- Let each individual bring their own drinks.
- Consider booking the optional first night in dock. It’s a quiet, cool and easy time to board your stuff.
