Words by Steve Fennell
Spending time with family and friends, idly cruising to a lakeside destination on Shuswap Lake, creates a thousand Kodak moments and great experiences on the water.
Yet, whether you’re underway or moored for a few days, safety should always be a priority when enjoying a houseboat vacation. With an average length of 60 to 80 feet and multiple levels with groups of four, six or more, houseboating requires responsibility by those driving the vessel as well as everyone on board.
Houseboating affords many opportunities for adventure with many activities and it’s vital to practise the utmost safety during your trip.
While relatively easy to handle with maximum cruising speeds of just 8 km/h (5 mph) and a host of standard systems, there’s still many “do’s and don’ts” aboard a houseboat to ensure a trouble-free vacation. Knowing your environment, weather patterns, adhering to boating regulations and just using plain common sense are some of the key aspects to understand. Remember it’s always important to:
- Understand all boating safety regulations set out by Transport Canada.
- Become familiar with all features and systems on the houseboat including the radio/communications.
- Ensure life jackets and all safety equipment are always easily accessible.
- Have more than one person (commonly known as “the captain”) that knows how to operate the vessel.
- Read manuals and or houseboating guidelines for the lake.
“A lot of the boaters on Shuswap Lake are very safe, they take all the precautions and understand safety regulations, while some people just don’t,” says Cpl. Chris Manseau, Division Media Relations Officer, BC RCMP Communication Services. “You have to be safe at all times for all the passengers on board and they need to be fully aware of their responsibilities on the water.”
If you plan on renting a houseboat this season, you’ll be glad to know that all houseboat rental companies in the area hold safety and operating procedure orientations. According to James Hodgson operations manager for Twin Anchors Houseboats in Sicamous, the one-hour orientations (in addition to all the points listed above) include understanding the propulsion and charging systems, the driving and handling of the boat, how to safely beach the houseboat, and securely tie it off. It also stresses the importance of ensuring all engine systems are off while moored at a beach and doing a thorough walk-around before departure.
“We always conduct a detailed orientation with the clients, then do a physical walk-through to ensure they are familiar with all of the systems and features,” says Hodgson. “The orientations are approximately 60 minutes and we make sure they are 100 percent comfortable with everything. If there are any concerns, we have 24-hour radio assistance and a service boat to help them on site if something goes wrong.”
As inclement weather commonly arises on Shuswap Lake, Hodgson says that storm procedures are also addressed and if the weather turns ugly it’s vital to:
- Stay on the lake during bad weather if you’re already underway.
- Always turn the bow of boat into the wind.
- Don’t attempt to beach as heavy winds will push the houseboat sideways against the shoreline.
- Always wait until the winds or storm have passed before heading to shore.
- Ensure the boat is securely tied down when moored on shore.
“Like anything else, people have to be responsible while having a good time whether you’re on a houseboat or even using a regular boat,” says Manseau. “But sometimes people take their adventures a little too far and that’s when they can get into trouble.”
Houseboating is great way to explore the Shuswap with a group of friends or family. By practising common sense, being aware of the surroundings, and abiding by the federal safety and boating regulations, enjoyment on the water can be enjoyed season after season without incident.
Jen