45 Blogs with Great Boating Destinations for Your Family

Almost everyone loves boating. Each family member can play an active role in this enjoyable and exciting activity. With the variety of watercraft, there is just the right boat for every family. Embarking on a marine adventure is as easy as locating a rental establishment and making some inquiries. Perhaps kayaking or canoeing down a river sounds like fun. Lazing around on a pontoon boat as it makes its leisurely way around the lake is good for a novice boater. Maybe the thrill of a speedy Jet Ski or wave runner seems more invigorating. The boating newcomer and the seasoned sailor will both find something of interest in this list of popular boating destinations.

The Very Best Marina To Acquire Some Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters: Kent Island Marina offers touring and fishing charters for family groups.The Do’s and Don’ts of House boating: Practical information and tips about house boating. A short guide to California boating destinations is included.House boating on Lake McClure: The details of one family’s experience renting a houseboat and spending several days on Lake McClure.Lake McClure Marina: Fishing, wildlife and natural attractions make Lake McClure a popular boating spot.Forever Houseboats Offers Families a Unique Vacation Filled with Relaxation and Recreation: Reasons why family houseboat vacations are well liked. The post includes a list of popular destinations.Let’s Go Boating in California: The different kinds of boating opportunities in California. A list of popular waterways with brief descriptions and locations is included.Wilderness Tips: Water-Isolated Destinations: Camping areas accessible only by boat. Area descriptions include special features and tips about visiting these remote places.Boating Loves NYC: Presents some facts about boating in the waters around New York City. Links are included for more information on local boat rental, sailing lessons and fishing.Wisconsin Boating – Wolf River – South Beach: A family’s experience boating on the Wolf River is related. Included are a map and some very nice photos.Hamlin Lake Michigan: This man-made lake has much to offer the boating family. Natural beauty surrounds this lake as the Manistee National Forest and the Ludington State Park border it.“Low Bridge, Everybody Down”: Chronicles a couple’s two-week boat trip through the Erie Canal. There are descriptions and photos of each stop made along the way.This Summer: Discover Lake Michigan’s Beaver Island: This remote island is referred to as America’s Emerald Isle. Details of the various water-related attractions are provided.Great Boating Destinations: Torch Lake Michigan: Torch Lake is part of a chain of lakes and is noted for its turquoise water. This beautiful lake draws celebrities such as Kid Rock and Christine Lahti.Lake Austin Named A Top Boating Destination; But Be Safe While You’re There: This lake situated in a flourishing city make this a trendy boating spot. These safety tips will ensure a safe excursion.Down the Lazy River: The pros and cons of kayaking on the Fox River are explained. Good tips are provided for the novice along with information on renting a kayak.By the Banks of the Suwannee:  Natural North Florida: Boating opportunities abound on the beautiful, historic Suwannee River. Travel the 207 mile river from Georgia to the Gulf and enjoy the many accommodations along the way.Tanglewood Resort Is Just the Place for a Family Boating Vacation: Situated on Lake Texoma, it has something to offer children and adults. Various types of watercrafts can be rented just 10 minutes away at Texoma Rentals.Destination: New Bedford Harbor: Dock the boat and tour this celebrated Massachusetts seaport. Tour the museums, walk through the historic downtown area, enjoy a concert and choose from an array of dining establishments.The Delaware Bay Lighthouse Cruise: This seven-hour cruise to view the areas lighthouses leaves mid-morning. It also provides good whale and bird watching opportunities.Vermont to Long Island Just Another NY Canals Trip Reports Weblog: A family details their boat trip. Filled with descriptions of the sights along the way and the marinas where they docked for the night.Visiting the Stunning 1000 Islands: This natural wonder is a most magnificent boating destination on the St Lawrence River. There are many attractions including some of the best sporting fishing. No trip would be complete without a trip to Heart Island to see the Boldt Castle.Anna Maria, Longboat Key or Sarasota – Where is the perfect place to watch sunset?: Tells the best spot to view the sunset either on land or out in a boat.Fun Things to Do Off the Beaten Path in Carlsbad: Carlsbad Lagoon is just the place to learn any popular boating sport such as jet skiing, kayaking, and wave running. Rentals are available.Five Great Lakes in Southern West Virginia: Names and locations of each lake are given. Their best features are noted.Top 10 Best Boating Lakes: Deep Creek Lake in Maryland has been chosen as one of the top ten by Destinations for Leisure. The main draw for this lake is fishing, but recreational use is on the rise.Lake George: Beautiful pictures of Lake George and the Sagamore Resort are included in this blog post.Island Time – Boat Trip to the Keys – June 2009: This is the story of a family’s trip from Harbortown to the Keys and back. Details include navigational hazards and reviews of the places they ate.Maiden Voyage: This family’s first voyage on the Bogue Sound in a sailboat they built.Tidal Delaware Water Trail: Contains multiple posts about boating on the Delaware River. Included are kayaking programs and safety tips.Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Features of the refuge are noted along with photos.Our Trip to the Lake: Accounts are given of a family’s week long vacation on Lake Placid including their canoe trip.2010 Fishing Opener: Walleye fishing is one of the main attractions of Leech Lake in Minnesota.Leech Lake Fishing: This blog features multiple articles about Walleye fishing. Leech Lake is also a popular ice-fishing destination.Everything about Kayaking in Oklahoma: This is a series of posts about kayaking on different bodies of water in Oklahoma. Kayaking in different seasons, kayak fishing and choosing a kayak are some of the topics covered.Harbor Springs is Filled With Summertime Fun: A complete list of the many things to do in Harbor Springs along with contact information. It details the fishing and boating opportunities along with a map of the Inland Waterway.Where is the Beach? East Grand Traverse Bay, Bowers Harbor, Good Harbor, Michigan: A long list of the many area beaches is presented. Information about Power Island that can only be reached by boat.Memphis: Take a Mississippi River Boat Cruise: A to-do list for trip planning and some activities to enjoy before and after the cruise.Down the Mississippi: A list of 2010 Mississippi River trips with links to the associated blogs. A list of 2010 Group Paddle Trips, some of which are still open for registration.Karen and Jerry’s Great Grand Adventure: A series chronicling a 3-month boat trip on Lake Superior. One of the posts explains the importance of the supplies they packed.Know NY’s Boating Laws Before You Take to the Water: The clear, calm beauty of the Finger Lakes makes this a popular boating destination. It is important to be familiar with the state’s boating laws before launching the boat.A Good Weekend at Beaver Lake: A weekend of diving in different spots in Beaver Lake is detailed.Kayaking the Lakes of South Dakota: This is a series of blog posts each dedicated to a different waterway in the Sioux Falls area. Plenty of pictures and interesting information accompany this blog.Summer Is Here – Time To Go To The Lake To Cool Off: Broken Bow Lake located in the mountains of Southeast Oklahoma is popular with boaters. Beaver’s Bend Marina has slips and rental boats available.Have You Considered Lake Of the Ozarks Pontoon Boat Rentals?: Pontoon boats are good for the novice. Rent a pontoon and explore this 55,000 acre waterway.Gage Lake Geneva Cruise Line: Take advantage of the Family Sundowner Special each Thursday night. Children’s birthday parties can be hosted on board for a celebration to remember.

Image Credits: dental ben

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Top 3 Worst Celebrities to Be Shipwrecked on a Desert Island With

From the time Daniel Defoe penned his classic tale Robinson Crusoe, we’ve been enamored with the idea of being stuck on a deserted island, away from civilization and all that comes with it. Television shows like Gilligan’s Island, Lost and Survivor have only piqued our curiosity more, as have movies like The Blue Lagoon. We wonder if all of those imaginary ships had boat insurance before they stranded their passengers. More than that, though, we wonder what it would be like to be the one stranded.

There’s a reason why those kinds of stories keep recurring in popular media. They resonate with something deep within in, that desire to get away. But the fact that no one is ever truly stranded alone speaks to our desire to have at least some companionship (unless you’re Tom Hanks in Cast Away, in which case you spend half the movie talking to a dolled up basketball). So, if you had to be stranded with someone, who would you want it to be? Here’s our top 3 list of people we definitely would NOT want it to be:

Roseanne Barr. Can you imagine anything worse than the constant barrage of smart assed comments by someone who won’t get off her own ass and contribute to whatever attempts at survival you’re managing? Let’s just hope she doesn’t start singing the National Anthem. We might have to drown her ass.Fran Drescher. Honestly, can you imagine living with that voice? We nearly disowned our kid when he started watching reruns of The Nanny. On top of that, we have the feeling she’d be completely useless in a survival situation. Let’s face it, the only reason she’s not number one is that, despite all of her annoying qualities, she does have nice coconuts.

Jim Parsons. OK, we’re sure he’s not as bad in real life as his character Sheldon is on The Big Bang Theory. Or maybe he is. We don’t want to find out. Let’s face it, there are only so many spots you can sit in on a desert island, and we don’t want him claiming one of them. On the other hand, if he’s anywhere near as smart as his character, he may be able to explain the best ways to manipulate the boat insurance actuarial table to receive the best possible rates.

Photo via therainstopped

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Where Do These Kids Come From?

Laura Dekker. If you’re not familiar with the name yet, you will be soon, especially if you’re part of the boating community. The 14 year old Dutch girl has just received permission from her mom and the Dutch court system to set sail in an attempt to become the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe. It appears she has everything she needs: a state of the art sailboat with new equipment, boat insurance, a lot of sailing experience, and the support of her family and government.

The crazy thing is, even if she succeeds, she might never get credit for the accomplishment. With the increasing scrutiny of young sailors vying for record setting circumnavigation voyages, the record keeping organizations have stopped recognizing such records. Unless something changes, the “official” record will always belong to Mike Perham, who was seventeen when he completed his voyage a year ago.

Despite the formal acknowledgements, young sailors continue to make attempts to be the youngest ever to sail around the globe. Jessica Watson unofficially shattered Perham’s record in May. In turn her record was almost beaten by the ill fated Abby Sunderland, who would have completed her trip around the world at the ripe old age of 16 if she had not run into equipment problems and rough seas.

Abby Sunderland’s parents have come under a good deal of harsh criticism for allowing their 16 year old daughter to attempt to sail around the world by herself, something that was no doubt on the minds of Laura Dekker’s mother when she originally told her daughter that she wasn’t allowed to attempt the long journey. The Dutch courts agreed with mom that the then 13 year old Laura should not be allowed to go on such a dangerous journey.

So, Laura Dekker did precocious 13 year olds anywhere on the planet do when parents or the legal system tell them they can’t do something. She tried to do it anyway. The crazy thing is that she almost got away with it. She wasn’t caught until someone recognized her on the Dutch Island of St. Maarten. When this kid runs away, she really knows how to do it right. That’s over 4,000 miles from the Netherlands. We wonder if her parents kept the boat insurance up while they were looking for her.

So what difference does a year make? We don’t know, either. Apparently, though, it makes all the difference in the world both to young Ms. Dekker’s mother and the Dutch court system, both of who now approve of Dekker’s current bid to become the youngest person to solo circumnavigate the earth.

It’s good to know that the Dutch government approves. I wonder how the US government feels about such trips? I caught my 3 year old playing with a toy sailboat in the bathtub yesterday and have been thinking the kid just might have a shot at an unofficial, unrecognized record. At the very least, it’d be worth some publicity.

Photo via mikebaird

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Young Sailors

These days it seems like any young kid with a sailboat, boat insurance, and a dream can haul anchor and set out to sea to sail around the world. After all, the earth has been circumnavigated several times by teenagers, the youngest being barely seventeen years old. Had Abby Sunderland completed her voyage without losing her mast, the age to beat would have been sixteen. And Dutch girl Laura Dekker is currently getting ready to try at the age of 14.

So what kind of parent in their right mind would allow a teenager to leave home, get on board a sailing ship and sail across the ocean? While the thought drives most of us parents crazy today, the truth is it really wasn’t so long ago when fourteen to sixteen year olds routinely left home to start their sailing careers.

Before steam ships and diesel liners sent the Age of Sail to Davey Jones’ Locker, most sailing ships had a cabin boy. This cabin boy, whose duties included running messages for the Captain and other officers, swabbing the decks, helping the ship’s cook, and even trimming the sails and manning the helm, generally started his career between the ages of fourteen and sixteen.

Often times, cabin boys were groomed for future leadership aboard sailing vessels. Who better to serve as a ship’s officer than someone who had been sailing since he was a teenager? So, from the 1500s through the mid 1800s, sending your teenager off to sea was often a good way to start him off on a promising career path. Kind of like sending him off to college early. By the time he was a young man, he knew a little bit of everything from how to steer the ship to what kind of boat insurance was needed to cover an ocean voyage.

So next time you shake your head and wonder how any parent could let their teenaged sons or daughters get on a sailboat by themselves to cross the world’s oceans, stop and think about it. As little as one hundred fifty years ago, parents might have shaken their head about how most of us could allow such an opportunity to pass us by.

Photo via ePi.Longo

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Day 3 of BassMaster Elite Cancelled

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BassBoys Updates

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Up Close and Personal

Whale watching is pretty popular stuff off the coast of South Africa. In some coastal towns, criers are employed spreading the news of whale sightings so boaters can find them. Whale watching can provide one of the most fascinating nature encounters available, and a close encounter with one of these gentle giants is an unforgettable experience. But, make sure your boat insurance is paid up before you go looking for them.

One South African couple recently got a bit of a closer look at a 40 ton whale than they had bargained for. The couple, sailing the 33 foot steel sailboat the Intrepid first spotted the whale about 100 meters in the distance. When the whale dove, they assumed they had seen the last of it, but it resurfaced close to the boat, slapping its tail in a form of communication common amongst large whales.

Had it ended there, it would no doubt have been the boating experience of a lifetime. Unfortunately, it didn’t. We’re sure the whale probably intended no malice, but whales, like any other wild animal, can be unpredictable, especially during mating season.

Whales are supposed to be pretty intelligent, so we’ll assume the whale didn’t mistake the Intrepid for a pretty, fashionable girl whale. We’ll never know what the whale was thinking. We do know what it did, though.

Leaping almost completely out of the water (a pretty damned impressive feat at 40 tons in and of itself), the whale, whom the boaters describe as being “as long as our boat,” flopped itself onto the deck, tearing the mast down completely and making a general mess of things before managing to wiggle its way back into the water.

Luckily, no one was seriously hurt during the encounter. Had the boat been made out of fiberglass or wood, it probably would be at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean right now. Fortunately, the steel hull withstood the shock. The couple, both experienced boaters, were able to use the sailboat’s engine to get back to shore. The two boaters were given the scare of their lives, but managed to walk away from it unhurt.

The most remarkable thing about the whole encounter? Someone managed to get pictures of it. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. The boat insurance agent adjuster will have no trouble at all verifying exactly how that boat was damaged.

Photo via mikebaird

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Thank you

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Job Opening

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FYI #25 – Cheaters Never Prosper

Dave Mercer brings more news, views, and info you can use with another edition of FYI!

Don’t miss your chance to win a ZipCut Pro! Contest winner will be announced Saturday morning!

July 29, 2010 by Jonathon Marshall

Filed Under: Culture, Entertainment, Fishing, Freshwater, Incredible, Largemouth Bass, Oddities, Reports, Smallmouth Bass, Tournaments, Videos
Tagged: canadian open, cheaters, contest winner, Dave Mercer, Facts Of Fishing, FYI

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Fun Boats Which Don’t Require Boat Insurance

Summer time is here, and everybody wants to get out on the water for some fun. Of course, owning a boat means having a lot of fun, but it also means a lot of peripheral expenses. Not only do you need to pay for routine maintenance, fuel, cleaning, and storage, but in most cases you should also be paying for boat insurance. It protects both your investment in your boat and your liability should you accidentally hurt someone in a boating accident.

If you’re looking to have a good time on the water, but don’t want to pony up money for boat insurance, you still have some good options, though. Here are some of the best boats for those who don’t have boat insurance:

Kayak. These come in several varieties nowadays, including one and two seaters, and kayaks that are designed for river or open water travel. The original kayaks were built by the Eskimos and Inuit, of course, and used to traverse the frigid Arctic waters in search of seals and other game. A decent kayak can be obtained for about $400 and probably doesn’t warrant investing in boat insurance.Canoe. A slightly less cool version of a kayak, originally used by Native Americans in somewhat more temperate climates. Today’s canoes come in wood, fiberglass, or aluminum. Generally speaking, two or three people can fit in a canoe. Make sure the whole crew knows how to paddle one, though, or the guys sitting in front might need medical insurance to cover what the man trying to steer from the back will want to do with his paddle.Row boat. There probably isn’t a more exhausting way to get from one place to another on the water, and the only reason we can think of for wanting to spend any time in a rowboat these days is to impress a date (and we question how much fun your date is if the rowboat ride impresses her).Inner Tube. OK, it technically isn’t a boat. It is, however, a much better date idea than the rowboat. And who doesn’t like tubing down a river? There’s hardly anything more American or more fun. On top of that, the rubber inner tubes are both reasonably inexpensive and unlikely to damage anything when you collide, so boat insurance is unnecessary, which is fortunate, since no one would sell it to you to cover an inner tube anyway.

Let’s get serious. If you plan on doing any boating in anything more substantial that these, protect yourself and your investment. Buy boat insurance, and make sure your coverage will replace your boat if it gets damaged as well as protect you from liability if you have an accident out there.

Photo via Threat to Democracy

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ZipCut Pro Contest: Avatar Showdown

That’s right, here is your chance to win a free ZipCut Pro rod mounted line cutter!

The comments on our blog have really picked up over the past few months and it’s always great to see new people finding our site. However we’ve noticed in most of the comment threads that Clive and I are the only ones with avatars! Well get your jpg’s out because this contest is an AVATAR SHOWDOWN!

How does this avatar showdown contest work? Well for this contest all you’ve got to do is register for an account if you haven’t already, then visit your profile page and upload an avatar. Once you’ve done that, come back here and tell us why you deserve a free ZipCut Pro. That’s it!

Remember to have fun and please no NSFW stuff. The contest winner will be chosen on Friday, July 30th.

Update: The winner is… ctom! Congratulations!

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Houseboats For Sale - US citizens buying a houseboat in Canada?

by Sue

Houseboats For Sale - buying a houseboat from USA and Canada

When it comes to looking at houseboats for sale, is a US citizen capable of buying a houseboat in Canada?

What I mean is, can a US citizen buy a houseboat and keep it on a Canadian Lake, and how long can I stay in BC each year. I have family living in BC so my tentative plan is to be near them for the summers if possible.

If you are unable to answer these questions would you be able to direct me to someone who can. I thank you for your time, and I am sorry if this causes any inconvenience.

Sincerely Sue

Reply - Answer
Well Sue, you can buy a houseboat in Canada, however there are a few requirements that need to be met. How long you can stay depends on the lake that is of interest.

If you want a definitive answer to your questions, I would recommend going directly to some popular houseboat manufacturers in BC.

Three Buoys Houseboats

Waterway Houseboats

By speaking to their houseboat sales departments, they should be able to give you the answers to your questions.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their USA and Canada cross border, buying a houseboat for sale experiences. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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CT Hikes Non-Resident Fishing License Fees

Somehow, during all of the economic turmoil of this past year, some Connecticut politicians got it in their heads that maybe they could skim a few extra bucks from non-resident anglers who fish in CT.

I don’t know all the background information yet, but sometime during the past few months the cost of a non-resident CT freshwater fishing license jumped from $40 to $80, a 100% price increase.

I don’t have proof yet to back up my opinion, but I’m more than willing to bet that this makes CT one of the most expensive states in the country to buy a non-resident fishing license. Heck, I’m even willing to bet that they’re THE most expensive state in the country.

Obviously, as an angler, I find this to be completely ridiculous, and even offensive.. Believe me… I fully understand that the state government needs to raise much-needed income, but to force a 100% price increase in license fees and try to squeeze it out of anglers is one of the most moronic things I’ve seen in a long time (except for Obama’s so-called healthcare reform. But that’s another story.)

I’ll be doing some research during the coming weeks to get more information on this. I’ll also be formulating a plan to combat this and make the voices of non-resident anglers heard in CT. This obviously slid through the greasy halls of lawmakers unopposed by anglers, apparently due to ignorance on the part of the anglers. Chalk up another sneaky, underhanded law on the part of our wonderful state legislators.

Stay tuned for more info on this subject during the coming weeks. I hope to be able to put together an effort that will, at the very least, give us a means of signing a petition that can be sent to CT lawmakers to express our opinion on this issue.

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Living on Floating Home type Houseboats

by Matt
(Bowie, MD, USA)

Are they Floating Homes, or Barge Style Houseboats?

I've seen house-like homes built on houseboat pontoon decks. Are there any considerations to building these regarding their ability to actually travel on water? Or is the fact that they look like houses just an aesthetic thing?

Thanks for any help, Matt

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Reply - Answer
Great question Matt, since these Floating Home Houseboats are starting to appear in more and more areas because of the price of waterfront properties.

You will find that many of them are "non-motorized" and strictly stationary style houseboats. When you factor in the cost of an engine(s), transom assembly, steering & throttle controls, fuel tanks, navigation lights etc..., many people decide to just use a "tow boat" to move it to it location and use a small boat for personal day use.

Possibly some of our readers will post comments/pictures of other example Floating Home type houseboats in their areas or marinas.

Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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Fishing Reel Reviews

After many weeks of research and development, my new fishing reel review site is almost ready to roll and be launched!

ReelReporter.com will feature reviews of hundreds of different brands, styles and models of reels from all of the major manufacturers.

Actual user feedback from real anglers will highlight each reel model, providing unbiased and legitimate reel reviews. Each reel will also feature a rating of 1 – 5 stars, based on the sum/average of the feedback provided by actual buyers of these products, providing readers with instant access to valuable information about each reel.

These things alone will save you a lot of time researching and digging around on the web.

As soon as the site is launched and live I will post a new mesage here letting you know.

Stay warm,

Curt <><

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Badass Boats

You can’t buy boat insurance for military ships, for obvious reasons. And frankly, we doubt that anyone who saw these boats on the horizon wasted much time on worrying about it:

Viking longboat. Designed for over sea travel long before it became fashionable, the Viking longboat was designed for one thing: carrying bloodthirsty Swedes and Danes to wreak havoc wherever they happened to land. The longboats managed to explore the new world long before that Italian guy who gets all the credit for it, but that’s OK. They weren’t after credit, they were after plunder. And that, they got plenty of.Athenian trireme. With 75 oars to a side, each manned by slave power, the trireme was the baddest-assed thing on the Mediterranean for three whole centuries, and the Athenians were the best when it came to knowing how to use them. Don’t believe me? Just ask any of the Persians who survived the Battle of Salamis. Over 200 Persian ships were sunk by the badly outnumbered Greek naval forces, and the rest of them went rowing back to Persia as fast as their oars could carry them.Barbary Corsairs. What do you get when a pirate converts to Islam? For anybody who got in their paths, it wasn’t pretty. 1,600 or so Barbary pirates caused entire villages along the Mediterranean Coast of Europe to close up shop, board up the windows, and get out of Dodge. Striking as far north as Iceland, they captured over a million Europeans and sold them into slavery in Africa.Queen Anne’s Revenge. OK, it isn’t the ship so much as the captain on this one. Anyone who is badass enough to put lit fuses in his beard to scare his prey into submission is no one to mess with. Actual historical accounts don’t really give any evidence of Blackbeard killing captives, making anybody walk the plank, or any atrocities beyond piracy itself, but we suspect maybe that’s because dead men tell no tales. I wonder if any of the victims had boat insurance. C.S.S. Hunley . One of the first functional submarines and the first to score a kill in naval combat, the C.C.S. Hunley may have only made one kill, but can you imagine the reaction from the crew aboard its victim, the U.S.S. Housatonic? The union blockade ship’s crew probably had no idea that a functioning submarine even existed. At the time, submarines were the domain of fanciful novelists like Jules Verne. The Hunley rammed an explosive charge on the tip of a 20’ pole right into the bottom of the Housatonic’s hull. Unfortunately, the Hunley’s crew never got the opportunity to savor the victory, as she sank on the way back to Charleston Harbor.

Photo via Smudge 9000

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Homemade Pontoon House Boats

by Scotty
(Sydney , Austrailia)

Homemade Pontoon House Boats

Basically a Pontoon Houseboat Log Cabin on the water. After a years worth of weekends, lots of aluminum and sweat later... the "Nuthouse" was born.

Since we couldn't find the design we wanted, we decided to build this when we saw the base hulls for sale. We wanted something different looking and with a full house size shower, kitchen, bed etc...

Fully solar powered with all 12v LED lighting and 12v fridge/freezer (permanently running) 240 v inverter for accessories, mains pressure water, full size electric toilet, continuous gas hot water, full size gas oven, BBQ, sleeps 4 (1 x double, 1 x Queen sofa bed in lounge) with a dinette yet to be built to allow small adult/children's bed.

Powered by 2 x 90hp TLDI Tohatsus/Nissans. Economy is the big surprise 6.5-10.0 litres/hr (total for both motors combined) at 6 knots cruise (depends on whether its with or against the tide) usually run at 2000-2400 rpms. Will get 4000 rpms but not sure what speed it is doing then, quicker than most!

Weighs 7.5 tons all up with 1000L of water. All alloy construction with rustic ply cladding. At present, the central pontoon is HDPE pontoons with central one as black water/grey water holding tanks.

These will be removed and substituted with 3ft diam HDPE pipe. This will give better buoyancy (reduce draft from 500mm to 400mm) and with a sloped front may even get me to semi displacement speeds if required.

I hope this helps, Scotty.

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Reply - Answer
Well Scotty, I wanted to thank you for sharing your homemade pontoon houseboat photo and plans with us.

There is plenty of folks that are interested in the possibility of building a pontoon boat for those great weekend getaways.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers and visitors will share and post comments about their homemade pontoon houseboat plans, dreams, and experiences.

Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

If you're still looking for information, you can try our search function, found at the bottom of the left Nav bar.
To show our deep appreciation to all of our readers and visitors, here is the link to our free houseboat magazine, the INSIDER

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SeaArk Voyager and Nomad Houseboats

Trailerable Nomad Houseboats - boats that you can trailer

Looking to buy a used trailerable houseboat. I owned a SeaArk Voyager ( now called Nomad Houseboats ) and I liked it. Used it for several years and sold it with little depreciation.

What I didn't like was the high front to the wind when towing (used lots of gas), and the interior was somewhat 'cheap' looking, (though later models looked better).

The sleeping loft was too cramped for adults, but fine for kids. It had a 90 hp, 4-stroke Honda which was adequate. Would like to find a used Adventure Craft Houseboat or 26 ft. Lil Hobo Houseboat for a reasonable price.



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Reply - Answer
When it comes to houseboats that you can trailer, these are definitely worth looking into. They are not the biggest boats around, but than again, you can trailer them just about anywhere, and easily back them down into a lake or river.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers and visitors will share and post comments about their trailerable houseboat experiences.

Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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Catamaran Aqua Cruiser Houseboats

A typical Catamaran Aqua Cruiser Houseboat

Does anyone have a picture of a houseboat, a 1998 Catamaran Aqua Cruiser 12 x 38?

What is the value of this houseboat?

When did ownership change for the Catamaran Cruisers?

Is 1998 too old for a houseboat?

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Reply - Answer
I have posted up above a picture of a typical Catamaran Aqua Cruiser Houseboat, I think it's a 35 foot, year 2000.

According to the NADA Guides, the value appears to be @ $30,000 dollars, but then again the used houseboat market decides what selling prices are.

I am not exactly sure when ownership changes occurred for Catamaran Cruisers.

Is 1998 houseboat too old, definitely not, I have seen some houseboats that were from the late 60's that were impeccable, yet I have seen some from the 90's that were badly neglected. A marine survey is always recommended, irregardless of the age of the houseboat.

If your contemplating purchasing a houseboat, you will find these dvd's with 60 tips, purchasing, and survey of houseboats.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their Catamaran Aqua Cruiser houseboat experiences.

Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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Top 7 Fictional Boats

Fictional boats have some advantages over real life boats. Any time you want to, you can curl up with a good maritime adventure novel, or spend a couple of hours watching movie at the theatre or at home. And you can do so without fear of running out of gas (unless it’s dramatically expedient), needing to pay boat insurance, or spending time and money maintaining the boat.

While I suspect all boat lovers have their own favorites, here are our top 7 boats that never were:

The Love Boat. OK, it’s cheesy, but it was the ‘70s, and everything was cheesy. And, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to spend some time on a boat where all of your romance problems could be solved in an hour?The Red October. I don’t care who you are, if you love boating, you’ve dreamt about being aboard a submarine. And being aboard a defecting Russian submarine during the height of the Cold War is just plain bad ass.St. Vitus’ Dance. Sonny Crockett’s sailboat home for the duration of the Miami Vice series. Of course, if you prefer to go a little faster, the Chris Craft Stinger-390 or the Scarab 38 KV that the Miami Vice used over the course of the series are pretty cool, too. And if you’re in the market for a special Don Johnson Signature Series Scarab Excel, it’ll only set you back $300,000. Not bad for a boat powered by twin Lamborghini V-12 engines.Orca. In all reality, it was just a modified commercial fishing boat, and there wasn’t much of it left by the time the credits rolled, but in the end, the crew of the Orca killed the 40’ great white shark.H.M.S. Bounty. This admittedly was a real ship, but the accounts of the mutiny aboard have certainly been fictionalized, or at the very least, exaggerated. C’mon, though, admit it. Everyone who has ever had a boss has had that moment where you would have liked to lead a mutiny and set him adrift.The Hispaniola. If you’ve never dreamed of sailing to distant uncharted islands to recover buried treasure, then get the hell of the boat and leave the water to us dreamers. Do remember, though, that loose lips sink ships. And never, ever hire a cook with one leg. We don’t care what the Disability Act says. Wonder what the boat insurance looks like on a treasure expedition?Tom Sawyer’s raft. What could be better than spending day after lazy day drifting down the river helping a runaway slave escape? Tom Sawyer couldn’t think of anything, which is why he didn’t bother to tell Old Tom that he had been set free until after the journey was over.

Photo via Global Jet

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Do houseboats need a marine refrigerator, won't a regular fridge work on house boats?

by Louis
(Michigan, USA)

What's best, a regular fridge, or a marine refrigerator?

I'm new to house boats, but wondering why a marine refrigerator is so expensive on houseboats? Won't a regular fridge work in its place?

To save some money, couldn't we just use a regular home fridge, and just connect it to an 12volt inverter, and plug it in at the dock?

The other thing is, those boat marine refrigerators are so small, that my wife would like me to put in a regular full size one with a big freezer.

There must be a reason why, I just don't see it. Maybe someone can explain it.

Any information would really help, Thanks Louis S.

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Reply - Answer
Well Louis, I can understand your confusion about marine refrigerators and regular home type fridges.

There is no simple answer, yet marine refrigerators can make a substantial difference in regards to performance and power consumption. Yet they do cost more, and generally are smaller in size.

If your houseboat has a marine fridge already installed, however it is not functioning properly or needs repair, I would recommend trying to get it serviced or repaired.

The marine refrigerators have an automatic voltage control system that toggles between 12 volts DC or 120 volts AC. What this means is that there is no difference between operating it at the dock on shore power, or out on the lake and running it off of your house batteries.

Also, generally speaking, the marine models used a lower consumption compressor which will pay for itself in longer run times, which means longer anchor times away from the dock.

If you don't presently have a fridge on board, and want to try and save some money, you can used a home style fridge, yet you will require a 12v to 120 v inverter to convert your house battery power to your regular 120 v household current needed by the regular refrigerator.

In closing, if you're looking for more information on marine models, or where to get one serviced, have a look at these following page.

Houseboat marine refrigerators, what kind of fridge to buy, and where to get them serviced?

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their regular fridge and houseboat refrigerator experiences. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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Fantasy Houseboats, these house boats are beautiful fantasy yachts!

by Harry
(Fairdale, Kentucky)

Fantasy Houseboats are luxurious Fantasy Yachts!

There was Fantasy Houseboats at the house boats show, and these are beautiful fantasy yachts for anyone with the budget.

Our family was at the show to get a feel for the lower priced, budget houseboats, but we couldn't help but fall in love with these huge floating palaces.

There's flat screens and bedrooms everywhere, and it's more luxurious than our home, so naturally you can quickly dream about pulling this beauty in to your marina.

Mind you, our present marina couldn't handle a boat this big, but I guess if this boat was ours, we could always "pack up" and move to another marina that can handle these big houseboats :)

While at the show, I asked my wife to start buying lottery tickets, just in case we go to next years show :)

I hope our "lottery numbers" come in before next years show... Harry



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Reply - Answer
Well Harry, welcome to the houseboat forums, and I also hope your "lottery numbers" come in before next years houseboat show.

I agree with your statement about these boats being fantasy yachts, as my wife and I gave the Houseboating Seminars right next to this boat at this years show.

One of the features that I really liked about the Fantasy houseboats is the "retractable helm" which really opens up the space and layout.

I guess my wife and i should also start buying lottery tickets, and maybe all our numbers will come in before next years show. We'd be willing to relocate to another marina also...

Now, maybe some of the current Fantasy Yacht owners will share their own experiences with us all, and hopefully help us make the decision to sign the "title papers".

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their experiences with Fantasy houseboats. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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All about Houseboats has daily Tips, Guides, Articles for House Boats

After a lifetime of boating, my wife and I simply love living on houseboats.
We have rented, built, bought, live on them, and now can share it with you.
The website is created for all the new, beginner, and experienced boaters.

There is over 780 pages of unbiased, real-life Tips, FAQs, Guides, Articles.

You can read new articles daily, so join now and get a free Magazine -->

You can search our site, watch video, read our forums with 1000's articles.

There's tips and answers on building, renting, buying, living on, and more.

Do browse around and enjoy the site,

Ian & Manon
   Building a BoatFree building plans for small trailerable DIY pontoon boats. ManufacturersThe past and current listing of houseboat models and builders. Living on a BoatArticles, tips, stories on how, where, why to live on the water. Houseboat ForumsPost or read 1000's of helpful tips & articles on real houseboating. Vacation RentalsReview Lake Powell, Trinity, Shasta, lake Oroville, Florida ... Classified AdsSearch boats for sale, find, buy, or sell with our free classified ad Office on a Boat Work from your boat office with computer, internet, fax, email. Boat AuctionsWatch or bid on used, new, boats, or items by owners & dealers Questions FAQ'sFind helpful answers for all your questions about houseboating.

Still looking for info? Use Google to search our site.

We Welcome You to
All-about-Houseboats
To show our appreciation for visiting us, you get a free gift.

It's our free online magazine,
it's filled with Cold Hard Facts
that you want & need to know!

This short video is an excellent piece done by Julie, who hosts the show at www.boaters.tv, and they do a weekly segment on everything to do on boats, and this episode is called "Julie's got a CRUSH on house boats".

A SPECIAL NOTE:
When they do their episodes, they sometimes give a special mention to recommended websites to learn more on them..., and GUESS WHAT?
YES, they gave their recommendation to come here to learn more. ;) Thumbs up to Julie, and we appreciate the testimonial recommendation.

The 1st part is the actual episode from their site, and is @ 4 minutes.
The 2nd part is showing a new Water Bicycle, don't ask me why, so you
can just close it after the 1st part, unless you're enjoying it. ;)

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Boat Winterization Tips – Final Chapter

So… let’s wrap up the boat winterization series before we actually get deep into Winter!

We discussed maintaining our trailers at length in one of the previous posts, so we’ll leave that subject alone.

Let’s talk about winterizing the rest of the boat.

First of all, lets take a look at the batteries. These tend to get ignored or misunderstood when it comes to how to maintain them and store them.

Deep Cycle and Marine starting batteries need to be charged to 100% levels before being stored away for the winter. Batteries should never, ever be left outside during the winter months. Doing so will allow the battery acid to freeze and the battery will be useless afterward.

Once the batteries are fully charged they should be stored in an area that stays at least 45 – 50 degrees. Basements are ideal for this. Garages are good too, provided they stay above the required temperatures.

If you have batteries that aren’t maintenance-free, be sure that the water levels are topped off before you store them away.

Leaving the charger attached to your batteries isn’t a good idea if the charger doesn’t actually shut off completely when the batteries reach a full charge. Even if it is fully automatic, disconnecting it is still a good idea. If you’re worried about the batteries discharging while they sit, don’t worry about it. They won’t discharge. If you’re still worried about it, just connect a charger about half way through the Winter and bring it back up to full. In reality, if you do connect the charger half way through the winter, it will probably only charge for a few minutes before being back up to 100%.

Oh, and one last thing about batteries. The old myth about not storing batteries on a cement floor is just that… a myth. Setting your batteries on cement floors will not discharge your batteries.

Now let’s look at the heart of winterizing your boat… the outboard and the fuel system.

I’m assuming that you already added fuel stabilizer to your gas tank way back in the late part of fall. If you didn’t, and the boat has been sitting idle for any longer than a few weeks, the gas is probably already starting to get stale. Add stabilizer anyway! You absolutely don’t want your fuel to go completely bad and cause gum to build up in your fuel system.

The absolute most important part of winterizing your boat is making sure the outboard has been fogged in preparation for the long idle time during the winter months. Fogging the motor protects the cylinder walls, pistons, carburetors and other internal parts from corrosion, which can be caused by condensation or any other kind of moisture that may occur. The fogging oil will also prevent problems with the carbs and injectors, keeping them from getting clogged or gummed up.

Fogging your outboard motor is a pretty basic procedure, but it will vary from one manufacturer to another and may even change from one size motor to another. Some outboards have special connectors built into them that allow a can of fogging oil to be screwed directly to the motor, while others require you to spray the fogging oil directly into the carburetors.

Either way, its critical to use enough fogging oil to be sure that the internal parts of the motor are fully protected. Do not take shortcuts in this area. Saving a few minutes or a few bucks now will cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars down the road.

If you’re not sure how to do this, consult an authorized dealer and ask them for advice. If you’re not comfortable with doing it, pay an authorized dealer or service center to do it for you. It is absolutely critical for your motor to be fogged and prepared for the winter months.

Basically, though, here’s the fogging procedure in a nutshell.

Connect a motor flusher and garden hose to your outboard and turn the water on. Start your outboard and verify that water is squirting out of the motor to show good water circulation.

Now let the motor run for a minute or so at just above idle speed. Once it has done this, you’ll need to start spraying the fogging oil into the carbs. This procedure will vary from one motor manufacturer and motor size to another. But basically, what you’re trying to accomplish is loading the motor up with fogging oil until it just about stalls out. Typically, this will require you to keep spraying fogging oil and moving the spray from one carb to another repeatedly.

When you have thoroughly sprayed each of the carbs or when the motor is just about to stall, turn the ignition off and then turn the water off from the hose.

Once the motor has been fogged and shut off, you’ll need to remove each individual spark plug and spray a small amount of fogging oil into each cylinder, and then reinstall the spark plugs. This gives added protection to your cylinder walls and pistons.

Reinstall your motor cowling and secure everything down snugly.

Once this is done, it’s just a matter of making sure the boat’s storage compartments are emptied and the boat is covered securely for the winter. If you’re prone to getting mice or chipmunks in your area, you might want to throw a liberal dose of mothballs around in the interior of your boat to keep the pests away.

That about covers it. Remember… the more effort you put into winterizing and maintaining your boat, the less trouble you’ll have during the spring, summer and fall months, when you’d rather be using the boat than repairing it.

Keep your boat maintained and it will keep you boating

Now… go bag a hawg!

Curt <><

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Tall Ships

We don’t know what it costs to put boat insurance on them, but there’s no better way to spend a day on the water than aboard a tall ship. Tall ships, in case you weren’t aware, are large sailing vessels. The ships are wooden, with wood masts and square rigging, and are generally modeled after the ships of yesteryear. Some of the more popular models of tall ship today include brigantines, schooners, barques and brigs.

Tall ships have been with us since man first ventured off familiar shores and inlets to sail the open ocean in wooden hulled, tall-masted ships, though the name “Tall ships” has only been applied since the early 1900s. Originally, the ships were designed to cross the oceans, and today they often still do.

So, why would anyone continue to sail, especially across the ocean in a tall ship when modern technology has given us more efficient means of travel? If you have to ask that question, chances are you’ve never been sailing.

These days, tall ships serve many purposes. While their days of carrying cargo and passengers for profit are over, they continue to be sailed in ceremonial, educational, and recreational programs.

Many of today’s modern navies continue to maintain a tall ship or two in their arsenal. This includes the US Navy, which still has Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution under sail. Of course, as with all other tall ships, she’s seen all the combat she ever will, but the tradition lives on in the American Navy, and in several other navies around the world. We’re not sure whether or not the lack of chain shot being hurtled at them helps their boat insurance rates, but we’re pretty sure it doesn’t hurt them any.

Many tall ships are used for educational purposes. An example of this are the Appledore IV and Appledore V, docked in Bay City, Michigan, USA. Both two masted schooners are typically used for educational and team building sails. The professional crew consists of a captain and three crewmembers, with many of the typical crew tasks being performed by students.

Other tall ships offer recreational cruises ranging from a couple of hours to several days. Depending on the ship, passengers may be allowed to perform some of the sailors’ duties, or may simply enjoy the cruise.

If you ever get the chance to sail on one of these tall ships, whether it be in the Great Lakes or the open ocean, take it. There really is no better way to enjoy the wide open blue water than aboard a tall ship.

Photo via mikebaird

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Houseboats on the Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

by Brenda
(New York)

Houseboating on the Rideau Canal, Ontario, Canada

The Rideau Canal system is one of Ontario's most beautiful and unique places to go houseboating.

The canal or winding river goes from Ottawa and goes south for @ 200 kms, till Kingston, Ontario. On our travels through the canal, we noticed boats from all over North America, some of them doing the "Great Loop".

The system has 45 locks, and helps boaters work their way through some major cities, and some of the most picturesque little towns anywhere.

We found the canal system to be very clean, safe, and full of friendly marine services along the way. At some of the locks, there is small towns which offer a wide range of local goods. Gotta love that "fresh baked bread".

We highly recommend the trip to anyone who wants to houseboat in one of the most beautiful areas in the world.

Any others out there who have travelled the Rideau?

Thanks, Brenda.

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Reply - Answer
Well Brenda, I can definitely understand your point of view, as we have travelled the Rideau also, and we found it to be one of the most beautifully maintained waterways around.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers and visitors will share and post comments about their Rideau Canal, Ontario houseboat experiences.

Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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Boater Reviews of the IN WATER Houseboat Show, State Dock Marina

by Bre
(Chattanooga, TN)

In Water Houseboat Show at State Dock Marina, Lake Cumberland

When it comes to Houseboat Shows, the In Water show that was held at the State Dock marina has to be the best ever show for us. We loved it all, the people, the houseboats, and the surroundings.

My buddy Randy and I were having a conversation about my dad talking about an ad he'd seen in Houseboat Magazine for the IN WATER house boat show at Lake Cumberland, Kentucky (September 2009).

Randy said yeah I remember your dad talking about that, call him and get the number so I can call and get the info.(Called dad got the number and gave it to randy) Randy called and said, bre, it's this weekend.

We said damn maybe next year. Talk atcha later. He called back not 10 minutes later and said hope you aint made plans cause I just booked us.....It's on!

It was the first IN WATER houseboat show for seven of us boaters. (Well 5 boaters, me and Corey just like hangin with my Ma and Pa and good friends) we had a blast!! Good people, great music (me and corey got there friday night and the band was puttin on a hellova show) some amazing houseboats that made for great dreaming!!!!!!!

As for State Dock marina... Beautiful!!!!! Gorgeous!!!!!! More like a marina resort. I would rather spend my vacation or weekend getaway at State Dock marina than at any beach.....And I love the beach!!!! By far one of the best weekends of my life!

Look forward to doing it all again in march!

Bre, Corey, Dad, Mom, Randy, Kendall, and Bob.
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Reply - Answer
Well Bre, glad to hear that you all enjoyed the show. The IN WATER houseboat show was a great success, and was the first of its kind.

Like you, everyone is looking forward to next years show, and hope to see you there again.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers and visitors will share and post comments about their experience with the IN WATER houseboat show. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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