Booking, Arriving and Leaving
House Boats
The cost of a vacation will depend on how many people you have on your boat and the duration. Typically most people go between 3 and 5 days and the cost for the houseboat is under $100 per person, per day, based on full occupancy. With fuel, food and drinks being the only additional costs for the boats.
Your costs are minimal. You pay for the gas you use during your vacation and septic pump out. Your gas costs will vary depending upon how far you travel, generator usage, as well as use of the remote fueling station. Septic pump-out fee is $100 flat rate regardless of how long you are out for, this is split between all your crew..
Security Deposit of $2500 pre-authorization is taken before sailing which must be paid for by one of the captains cards: The security deposit will be applied to any outstanding damage charges including but not limited to lost or damaged items, late returns, excessively unclean boats, or any damages. Deposit must be placed on the Captain’s credit card. CASH OR PERSONAL CHEQUES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
We recommend you reserve your houseboat 6-12 months in advance, but we can usually accommodate most requests, as long as you have some flexibility in dates and houseboat types. It’s also always worthwhile calling us even on short notice (1-250-724-4462), as we very occasionally get cancellations. If you are requiring very specific dates for your vacation, we highly recommend that you book 12 months in advance. Check out our online booking for to view immediate availability. Long weekends are typically booked 10-12 months in advance and most weekends are fully booked up by the end of February.
Yes. All you require is a deposit of $1000 to confirm your reservation. Your deposit will be applied to your charter fee and is required at the time of booking to reserve your boats Your deposit can be paid over the phone by approved credit card or you may enter it into the online booking software and pay by clicking the ‘PAY DEPOSIT NOW” button on your invoice.
Friends can join you in the middle of your trip as long as the total number of people on the houseboat does not exceed the maximum persons allowed on the boat. This includes people choosing to camp on the beach as they will still be using the toilets and showers etc and the systems are designed for a maximum occupancy. You will need to call a water taxi if you would like to have people come join you. We suggest using Fish and Duck Water Taxi as they leave from our dock. Their number is 250-724-4462 or speak to the boat office on arrival. Or the houseboat can return to Fish and Duck Marina to pick up guests if it is before the time you are supposed to be beached.
The ‘Captain’ of the houseboat must hold a valid driver’s licence and be at least 19 years old.
We are dog and cat friendly. There is a fee of $50 for a small pet and $75 for a large pet. Both are subject to tax. These fees are a 1 time fee for the duration of your trip. You MUST let us know at the time of booking and there is a limit to the number of animals allowed. We advise against bringing pets if possible but understand some people can’t leave their babies!
NO, please bring your own bedding and towels from home.
Yes you can bring your own SMALL bluetooth speaker but it must be no larger than a football. There are to be NO large speaker systems, there is a noise by-law on the lake and people who abuse this will be fined.
Some work quite well, others not very well at all or only at specific locations. You should still give family and friends our office number 1 (250) 724-4462, as this will be your best way of ensuring their messages reach you. If necessary we will advise you where the nearest telephone is to you so you can speak to the caller in person. (There is a new ROGER’S Cell tower in the area)
Yes, just make sure your family has our office phone number (250) 724-4462, and we will relay any messages to you via your V.H.F. radio, if within range. However, you must be monitoring your radio to receive the message. We require all guests fill out a Boat Manifest prior to leaving dock. This manifest ensures that we know which boat every guest is on in the event of a family emergency.
In the event of a medical emergency, call 911. There is a rescue boat on the lake, they will come get you. If you can’t reach 911 by your cell, call us via radio if within range. Cell phones do not work on all areas of the lake but 911 should be available. Use the VHF radios if need be to relay messages back to base
You must “beach” your houseboat at one of the assigned beaches only before dark OR before 7pm whichever of the 2 comes first – houseboats cannot be safely secured in the middle of the lake as it is too deep and we have no anchors on them.! You will be instructed on how to do this during your Captain’s Orientation. There are over 30 beaches to choose from down Two Rivers Arm and down Taylor Arm on Sproat Lake.
Your houseboat will travel up to 6 knots or 7 miles an hour. We do recommend a specific travel speed to allow you to achieve the best fuel consumption. For example the average cruising time from Two Rivers to Fish and Duck Marina is 1-2 hours.
The Captain’s Orientation covers all the operating systems of the houseboat. We also include a video on our YouTube channel that you may review at any time. It is a safety requirement of our insurance that every single person must, prior to sailing, complete an orientation regardless of how much experience they have.
Anyone over the age of 19 can drive the houseboat provided that they have completed the Captain’s Orientation, filled in the captains paperwork and hold a valid boat driver’s license.
PLEASE NOTE: WE NO LONGER ARE ABLE TO ISSUE A TEMPORARY LICENSE