Happy to oblige.
Houseboating is a great idea for a few days of family fun on the water. And Lake Mead is large enough for a grand adventure: Its 550 miles of shoreline offer everything from sandy beaches to sheer cliffs. Your houseboat is a floating campsite (without the dirt). From its deck, you can swim, fish, explore, and relax.
Seven Crown Resorts is the company that rents houseboats on Lake Mead. Its fleet of boats includes five sizes that sleep from six to 13. They're outfitted with full-size bathrooms (shower/tub combo), full kitchens, air conditioners, gas barbecues, wet bars, deck chairs for the large sun decks, and a variety of sleeping arrangements, from bunk beds to queens.
The houseboats are powered by outboard or inboard/outboard motors, depending on the model. They're easily navigable and no previous experience is necessary to rent them. You're given a short orientation (one to two hours, depending on your experience); orientations start at 7 a.m. and run continuously on a first-come first-served basis.
The houseboat that sleeps six has a fore deck, aft deck, sun deck, and walk-around deck. Two bunk beds and two pullout beds that sleep two each provide the sleeping accommodations (bring foam pads and sleeping bags if the boys don't want to be too cozy on one of the pullouts). Actually, bring all the bedding you need; Seven Resorts doesn't rent any (though they do sell some in their stores at Lake Mead Resort and Echo Bay Marina, where you rent from). The bigger houseboats have a queen, a double, and three pullouts.
The kitchens are well-stocked with appliances, pots, dishes, and utensils. There's also an ice chest; the eight-cubic foot refrigerator is small and a bit inefficient, running on propane; above about 90 degrees, the ice chest works better).
Depending on how far afield you putter, you can use a fair amount of gasoline and oil, up to eight gallons of gas per hour of operation, plus another couple gallons per hour to operate the generator, plus three-four gallons of oil for each 200 gallons of gasoline used.
Boaters insurance is another wrinkle to consider. Unlike car rentals, houseboat rentals are generally not covered by homeowners or umbrella policies. You can purchase short-term boater's insurance from your insurance agency or from Boater's Insurance Agency; you can also buy a damage waiver, which insures the houseboat, though doesn't provide liability coverage for you or your passengers, from Seven Crown.
You should also inquire about the requirement for a Nevada boating-safety class (for operating a vessel with 15 horsepower or more).
Prices for the six-sleeper boats June 11 to Sept. 3 are: $1,050 for two nights, $1,350 three nights, and $1,750 six nights.
For the 13 sleeper: $2,250 two, $2,550 three, $3,050 six.
Get more info at sevencrown.com and at 800/752-9669.
Bon voyage!
