Houseboat Adventures Inc Charter Policies

Houseboat Adventures Inc. Charter Policies

Full Charter Policies are available here.

Minimum Age Requirement

 Renters must be at least 21 years old.

 Payment Schedule

 At the time of booking: A payment of 50% of the total balance is required.

  • 2 months before rental start date: The remaining 50% of the total balance and an additional $750 consumables deposit is required. Read below for more information on the consumables deposit.
  • On the rental day (before boarding the houseboat): A security deposit (preauthorization) for potential damages amounting to $1500 is required. We accept this via Visa or MasterCard.
  • After your rental: Provided there are no damages, we will release the credit card hold. Your consumables deposit will be returned to you, with deductions for fuel, propane, or any excessive cleaning charges if applicable. Please see pricing section below for additional details.

 Cancellation Policy

 Up to 150 days before the rental start date:

    • You will have paid 50% of the total cost of the rental.
    • You will forfeit 50% of what you've paid (25% of the total rental cost).
  • From 150 days up to 2 months before the rental start date:
    • You will have paid 50% of the total cost of the rental.
    • Rebooking Opportunity:
      • If we CAN rebook your houseboat for all the original dates:
        • You will receive back 50% of what you've paid (25% of the total rental cost), forfeiting 50% of what you've paid (25% of the total rental cost).
      • If we CAN'T rebook your houseboat for all the original dates:
        • You will forfeit 100% of what you've paid (50% of the total rental cost)
  • Within 2 months of the rental start date:
    • You will have paid 100% of the total cost of the rental and the $750 consumables deposit.
    • You will receive a full refund of the $750 consumables deposit.
    • Rebooking Opportunity:
      • If we CAN rebook your houseboat for all the original dates:
        • You will receive back 50% of what you've paid (50% of the total rental cost), forfeiting 50% of what you've paid (50% of the total rental cost).
      • If we CAN'T rebook your houseboat for all the original dates:
        • You will forfeit 100% of what you've paid (100% of the total rental cost)
  • Additional Info – Rebooking
    • Your rental is considered rebooked if we have replaced your rental at full rate for all dates of the rental.
    • Upgrading an existing reservation to fill your boat does not qualify as a rebooking.
    • Refunds for rebooked houseboats will be issued at the houseboat rental start date.
    • For a cancellation or change request, please reach out to: info@houseboatadventures.com
  • Unforeseen Circumstances: Should a cancellation occur for any reason, our established cancellation policy will be enforced. This policy is applicable regardless of the cause of cancellation, which may include, but is not limited to, various provisions, specific terms, restrictions, adverse weather conditions, limitations on group sizes, or border closures resulting from Covid-19, other viruses, or illnesses. 
  • Changes to Booking: If you wish to change your booking dates or details, please reach out to info@houseboatadventures.com. Unless otherwise specified, changes to rentals will be treated as cancelling the original booking, subject to the original cancellation policy, followed by rebooking the new boat. 

Pricing 

  • Additional expenses like propane and fuel are not included in the listed prices. These will be deducted from the consumables deposit.
  • Cleaning charge – if required. Our houseboats are supplied clean, and we request you return them clean. We do not expect our guests to scrub floors, but a general tidy-up ensuring dishes and pots are clean and items are put away is expected. The cleaning charge is proportional to the boat size: 44' $250.00; 49' $375.00; 58' $450.00; 68' $650.00.
  • These costs will be deducted from the consumables deposit at the end of your rental. 

Insurance / Damages 

  • The Charterer and crew are responsible for the loss of any equipment and the full cost of any damage not covered by this policy. Any damages resulting from willful damage, negligence or illegal acts are not covered.
  • The Insurance policy included in the rental fee carries a $750.00 deductible per incident on the 44’ and 49’ and $1500.00 deductible on the 58’ and 68’ houseboats and covers below water damage to the hull, propeller, and lower unit of both the houseboat and fishing boats(s) caused by collision with a submerged object such as a rock or reef. It does not cover above water damage to the houseboat and fishing boat(s) including, but not limited to: hull, cabin, handrails etc. or damage to equipment such as, but not limited to; the anchor, chairs, generator or the loss of any equipment that is included in the rental package, no matter how the damage occurs. The Charterer and crew are responsible for the loss of any equipment and the full cost of any damage not covered by this policy. 
  • PROPELLER DAMAGE – We will show you the propeller(s) prior to leaving our dock. Should any damage occur including nicks or dings the Charterer and crew are responsible for up to the deductible of $750.00 per incident on the 44’ and 49’ houseboats and $1500.00 on the 58’ and 68’ houseboats to repair any damage. This is discretionary to Houseboat Adventures Inc., as, even though there may seem to be minor propeller damage, we are unable to fully access the entire lower unit, which could suffer hidden damage and is not visibly noticeable. Minor propeller damage may be charged $250.00 - $500.00 depending on the extent of the damage. The charge for such damage is at the discretion of Houseboat Adventures Inc. 

Miscellaneous 

  • For safety reasons we require that all rentals have an additional boat and motor. The motor must be - 25HP minimum on 49', 58' and 68' and 15HP minimum on 44'. The Charterer may bring their own boat and motor or rent one from us. The reason for the extra boat is that in the event of an emergency the Charterer can act immediately. Having an extra boat along also makes exploring, fishing and touring more enjoyable.
  • Due to the way sound travels on a lake, and out of respect to other users of the lake, no high-power speakers or amplified systems will be allowed on the houseboats. Systems such as portable sound docks are acceptable. Our dock is to be considered a quiet zone and no loud partying will be allowed.
  • Mosquito coils and candles cannot be used on our houseboats as they pose a fire hazard.
  • Full contact list of Charterer and Crew members 18 years of age and older is required. 

Small Business Considerations 

  • We understand that some may find our cancellation policy as strict. Once a booking is confirmed, we no longer advertise the availability of that particular houseboat, ensuring that it is reserved exclusively for you. As a small business, this policy is crucial for our operations. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us maintain our quality of our service.