How can I save money on my Rainy Lake Houseboats vacation?

It is quite obvious that times are changing quickly, gas prices are increasing among other things. How can I better control cost without sacrificing the quality of my vacation?

All of our houseboat customers receive a briefing once all gear is loaded and you are ready to embark on your houseboat vacation. Paying close attention to your briefing is critical even if you are a repeat customer. Our houseboats travel at rates between six and eight miles per hour. The rpms (engine revolutions per minute max out between 2500 and 3000). By reducing your rpms to say 2000 will reduce fuel consumption at least 20% or more. Your cruise may only increase by a half hour. Just by renting a houseboat you save money compared to resort vacation. By using a houseboat you are staying close to the fishing, beach and hiking areas, negating the amount of travel time to and from resorts.

Our guides just completed a three day trip on the Chairman II with customers from Muskegon Michigan and San Jose California. The guides decided to operate their boats in the 30-34 mph range. Travel times to and from fishing areas increased by about five minutes each way. We had four guides on the trip running Lund Pro V’s with 2 140 HP Suzuki’s a 250 HP Suzuki, and a 150 HP Yamaha, all four stroke engines. By reducing speeds the guide boats consumption was 14.2 gallons per day. Last year the guides consumed 21.6 gallons per day. We fished three days on the trip. By reducing speeds the guides boats reduced their fuel consumption 88.8 gallons. You can do the same by running your houseboat and fishing boats at reduced speeds.

All but one of our houseboats is equipped with a generator that provides electricity to your houseboats. The houseboats also have a 12 volt or DC electric system. It is not necessary to run your generator twenty four hours. During your briefing our staff will tell you what signs to watch for and how long or often to run it. We generally shut them off at nights and often during parts of the day. If you have fishing boats that need to be charged we suggest that you run your extension cords and plug in whenever you are at the houseboat. By doing this anytime your generator is running you take advantage by putting a charge into your trolling batteries. Our generators are very fuel efficient but anytime they are not running you save fuel.

Good pre trip planning is a great way to reduce vacation costs. Planning all meals in advance will reduce the amount of food you purchase. My wife gives me grief but I like to everyone to eat a meal before you go to the grocery store, a full tummy spends less money!

If you don’t have a reservation yet you can save money by taking advantage of our midweek specials or our late summer specials which are 20% off regular rates or four days for the price of three during midweek late summer time periods. Don’t forget about Rainy Lake Houseboats Ambassador’s Club, which was featured in our last newsletter. Ambassador’s can save between 20 and 40% on a second trip during the 2008 season. Already men who have been on trips this spring have scheduled a second trip for their family, and also for a couple’s trip.