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AT THE HELM First Time By Brady L. Kay Concerns? Houseboat vactions are for everyone Did you know that nearly a third of houseboat rental vacations are planned by first-timers? For those who might have the slightest amount of doubt or concern about renting a houseboat for their next vacation, I’m here to put those fears to rest. I’ve personally witnessed first-timers as young as college kids going out on their own and have also seen re- tired couples who were just looking for a new adventure. Houseboat vacations are all about charting your own course and doing those activities that make being away from the craziness of our own lives even more enjoyable. The time on a houseboat rental and out on the water is your time and your day doesn’t necessarily have to start with the quiet sunrise or end with the colorful sunset over the lake. This is your time to take back the days and make them your own once again. It’s true that part of the fun of houseboat- ing is organizing your houseboat vacation by gathering your family or group together and planning the food, activities and fun. Nothing outdoor adventure—comfort and freedom. Actual rental costs vary depending on the time of year, location and availability, but you can split the rental cost by inviting a few family members and friends to join you. An interesting thing happens when people break the typical vacation norm and try a houseboating vacation—they create a new family tradition! For families that don’t have a lot of extra time in the warmer months, renting a house- boat makes a lot of sense versus owning one. Plus, unless you have a trailerable houseboat, renting allows you to explore many different “I’ve personally witnessed first-timers as young as college kids going out on their own and have also seen retired couples who were just looking for a new adventure.” brings a family closer together than a vacation, but unlike being elbow-to-elbow with your sis- ter in the back seat of a car as you travel across the country, you’ll actually enjoy this kind of togetherness. Plus, with room to spare, you can invite other families or friends to join you. And talk about creating long-lasting memories for your children: this will give them bragging rights at school for the next 10 months! There is a large variety of houseboat models to choose from and even more marinas to rent from than you could ever imagine, from economical and easy-to-navigate crafts that are perfect for a family of four, to luxury models that sleep an entire crew of 10 to 12. And yes, some houseboats come complete with a hot tub, satellite television and a GPS. But, no mat- ter which model you choose, all houseboats come with what you need for an extraordinary 4 Houseboatmagazine.com regions, providing an endless list of different and unique activities that can only be done on that particular body of water. The frequently asked questions section in this issue should help remove any doubts that you might be having when pondering, “Could our family really do this?” But there are a lot of great houseboat rental companies out there that would love the chance to answer any questions you might have. Now is the time to venture out and do some- thing a little different with your time off. This is how family traditions begin and the only decision you need to make now is where to go on your next houseboating vacation and this rental guide can help. And of course first-tim- ers are not only welcomed, they’re encouraged! Staff PUBLISHER Greg Larsen EXECUTIVE EDITOR Brady L. Kay ASSISTANT EDITOR Brandon Barrus EDITORIAL STAFF Erin Hong EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS Dan Armitage Gordon Groene Janet Groene | Gary W. Kramer Gini McKain | Ted Thompson ADVERTISING/EVENTS DIRECTOR Greg Larsen ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Brad Anderson | Steve Sargent PRODUCTION MANAGER/ART DIRECTOR Janet Chase DESIGN Chris Searle PRODUCTION Janet Chase | Jim Donovan R.D. Dye | Chris Searle PUBLISHER ASSISTANT Terri Duncan DIGITAL MAGAzINE MANAGER Chris Searle MARKETING DIRECTOR Robin Black CIRCULATION MANAGER Yvonne Young CONTROLLER Clayton Ward ACCOUNTING Laura Rafferty IT DIRECTOR Chuck Harris WEBMASTER Darrin Steffler Copyright 2010, published by Harris Publishing, 12 per year, sub rates, back copies, foreign, reproduction prohibitions, all rights reserved, not responsible for content of ads and submitted materials, mail permits, printed by Falls Printing, Idaho Falls, ID. CORPORATE OFFICES Harris Publishing, Inc. 360 B Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (208) 524-7000 • Fax (208) 522-5241 President - Jason Harris Vice President - Chuck Harris Vice President - Ryan Harris Vice President - Steve Janes Treasurer - Clayton Ward Secretary - Janet Chase ALSO PUBLISHERS OF: P ontoon and Deck Boat & Boating Sportsman