Beginners are welcome. None of us had ever driven a houseboat before, and that turned out not to be a huge deal, although we wouldn’t have minded a little more instruction on anchoring. Dock coordinator Joshua Keene helped us out of the marina, giving guidance about basic maneuvering and operation before jumping off onto a power boat. All of the adults on the trip had driven a power boat before, however, which did turn out to be helpful.
Bigger isn’t necessarily better. It’s nice to have some breathing room, but remember that you’ll have to move it around and moor it. If you have a large group, then get a big houseboat. If you have four people and two of them are kids, you probably don’t want the extra work of a 75-footer.
Houseboats move really slowly. We averaged about 6 knots, or 7 mph. Getting out of the marina requires passing a long no-wake zone, which means moving even slower. For our three-day visit, we decided it made more sense to quickly get the houseboat settled and then explore with the power boat, which is much faster.
You’re not alone, but you sort of are. We wound up having a problem but were behind a canyon wall that blocked the radio, which meant we couldn’t call for help. Luckily we had the power boat and were able to use it to go get someone, but that easily could have happened with the power boat elsewhere. There are a lot of people on the water, but during the day many of them are off exploring, and we had to search for a while before finding someone. Know how to signal and read a map.
Get a good map. Stan Jones has created a user-friendly version that sells for about $4-$5 (“Boating and Exploring Lake Powell Country,” Sun Country Publications). The map in the brochures is rudimentary and should be used only to scout the largest bays and inlets; otherwise, you’ll spend a lot of time scratching your head. Also, there’s a pretty topographical map on the wall in the hallways of the houseboats, but unless you like to run back and forth from the windows to the hallway, having one in your hand (especially while you’re driving) makes more sense.
Check that you have a manual on the boat. Keene’s instructions and run-through were excellent and thorough, and I took copious notes. But once we were underway we had more questions, and we forgot stuff. No one had mentioned a manual, the existence of which I found out about later, after we had torn the houseboat apart trying to find one.
The lake is always changing. Even if you have tightly anchored the boat, the water rises and falls, which can unmoor the boat. Check it often. Also, the idea that you have to sink anchors 2-3 feet into sand is nice if there is sand — but right now, the water is so high that many of the so- called “beaches” are gone. If it’s solid rock, you’ll have to get creative.
Let the porters do the heavy lifting. Keep your eyes peeled for the very friendly porters who drive mini-tractors back and forth from the parking area to the docks; they work on tips and will make it all happen on both ends of the trip. Kyle Wagner
