Trip Schedule & Information:

Dates:   

On hold for now (due to 2 year old terrorist)...

Information / What to Expect:

• Group Effort
  • At the start of the trip, houseboat loading, orienting, and departing takes
    about an hour of group effort.
  • At the end of the trip, houseboat cleaning, refueling, docking, and unloading
    takes about 2 hours of group effort once we have arrived back at the Wahweap marina.
  • Except for the Captain (me!), we are all equal, and a group effort is required. 
    Everyone has to help out with some tasks.  Expect to share some work -- cleaning up,
    helping to beach and secure the houseboat, cooking, etc.
  • Typically, one couple or person will take primary responsibility for preparing
    dinner each night.  This task rotates each night.
  
  
• Rules & Suggestions
  • Do not put anything in the toilet except biodegradable toilet paper.
    (No feminine products, paper towels or tissues in the toilet -- it will clog it up...)
  • Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer doors too often in hot weather.  These
    are cooled by propane, and they don't cool down inside as rapidly as your
    electrical frig at home.   Keep stuff that will be accessed often (sodas, beer, etc.)
    in the ice chest.
  • Everyone is invited to drive the houseboat once we are out in open water --
    after some instruction from the captain.
  • No smoking on board.
  • At night, if you wish, you can take your mattress to sleep up on the top deck of
    the houseboat.  It is cooler on summer nights, and incredible sleeping under the stars. 
  • Congeniality: Being on a houseboat with a small group in relatively close quarters
    means that everyone needs to be easygoing and friendly -- even downright mellow.
    Even so, people differ, and a times people might disagree about plans and
    priorities -- as to be expected. If you are unhappy about something or someone,
    either compromise or try to resolve it privately. If you need some time alone, a
    swim or short walk will put you in total isolation in a natural setting.
  • If you want to skinny dip, or tan in the buff, find a secluded spot away from the
    houseboat to obviate the possibility that someone might feel uncomfortable.
  • Playing music: If someone is playing music too loud for you, just
    ask them nicely to turn it down a notch.  (A good idea: bring a pair of head phones
    for your CD, MP3, or tape player --  rock out without worry.)
  • Houseboat anchoring / de-anchoring -- these are potentially stressful times. Be helpful
    and pay attention to hand signals, obey the captain, and
    stay cool if he/she barks orders at you (i.e., don't take it personally).
     
•   As usual, there is the possibility that some things might not go well
  • The weather can get hot (upper 90s or even 100+) on summer days, but it is
    usually comfortable and warm at night.  Swimming or lounging in the lake is a
    good way to keep cool.
    Wet down your clothes if needed to keep cool.  Bring
  a spray bottle to mist yourself.
  • Thunderstorms are a possibility, but are fairly infrequent.  They usually pass
    over quickly, but can be briefly intense.
    
  • Houseboat systems might malfunction.  If so, we may have to spend some
    time getting something fixed.
  • Someone might get sick or injured, and they may need to be shuttled back
    to the marina.

Here's how it works:

• Houseboat trip costs will be shared equally by everyone. 
  After the trip, we will tally up the costs (for food, gas, etc.), and each adult will
  contribute their portion, as well as an additional $125 to help to offset the houseboat
  maintenance and repairs fees.
   

Additional info:

• Jet ski or ski boat expense pot.

  If someone brings their own jet ski or ski boat, we will set up a separate expense pot for that.  Each person who wishes to share use of it during the trip will contribute $100 to the expense pot for gas/oil expenses.   At the end of the houseboat trip, what remains in the expense pot will be refunded equally (minus $50 per person that will go to the owner to help to offset their general maintenance and repair costs).  Additional info for power boat or jet ski owners:  If the houseboat is scheduled to depart on a Sunday, you might consider arriving on Saturday.  Your boat can can be launched from the launch  ramp on Saturday afternoon, tied up to the houseboat, and we can be ready to go earlier on Sunday.  You can spend Saturday night either on the houseboat or ata hotel/motel in nearby Page, AZ. Gas transfer pump.   There are no marine gas stations out on the lake, except the one at Dangling Rope Marina at mid-lake.  To refuel boats or jet skis, we will need a gasoline transfer pump (hand operated is much safer than an electrical pump) to transfer gas from the houseboat gas tanks.   For example, see this gas siphon pump  or see this Han-D Pump.

• If you bring a sailboat, or a non-inflatable kayak, you get a $100 credit
  from the houseboat expense pot if you are willing to share usage.
• If no one brings a jet ski, ski boat and/or kayak for the trip, but a group
  of us wants to share the cost and expenses of renting one in Page, AZ,
  we can discuss doing this and make arrangements before the trip.  (See
  the jet ski rentals at DooPowell, as well as the other rental links on
  the "Links" page).
• Alcoholic beverages are not included in the expense pot -- it is BYOB.
• Leftover food is divided among the (surviving :-) crew at the end
  of the trip.
• If you bring personal food or supplies (a “private stash”) of any kind,
  that’s fine.  Just keep it with your stuff, or mark it as yours if you put it
  in a public place. 
  

Clothing:

Most people bring too many clothes for a summer houseboat trip. You
probably won’t need more than 2 swim suits for the trip.   Light, long sleeve
shirts and long pants help provide sun protection.  Add a few T-Shirts and 3 pairs
of socks, thongs, tennis shoes, and hiking shoes, and you should be set.  
Clothes can be washed by hand with biodegradable dish soap on
board (or in the lake).

Footware: 

• In-water footware: Water shoes (sometimes called "water socks") are
  great to protect your feet at the lake because they are made to get wet.  
  An old pair of tennis shoes, that you don't mind getting wet and dirty,
  is good to bring too. 
• Hiking footware: Bring hiking shoes if you plan to take long walks or hikes.
• On the houseboat: Thongs are usually most comfortable.

If the trip is scheduled for September or October, evenings can get cool, so
bring some extra clothing, or a pair of sweats, that you can layer on.

Definitely bring: 

• Sun protection:
  • Sun Screen Lotion: Bring lots of SPF 30 (or higher) waterproof sunscreen lotion.
  • Sun Clothing: sun hats, sun clothes (light colored and lightweight, but
    long sleeved shirts and long pants), swim shirt, dark glasses.  Bring a couple pairs of
    hats and sunglasses (they sometimes accidentally end up at the bottom
    of the lake).   Consider buying sun protection clothing with an SPF of 30
    or above.  See:  SunClothingEtc.com,  SkinSavers.com, Coolibar.com,
    SolarEclipse.com,  SpFashions.com, NoZone.ca
  • Sun Shade:  If you want to sit out on the beach, consider getting a
    Sunstopper Sun Shelter.  Also bring a beach towel.
• Small flashlight (one that uses 2 AA batteries).
• Batteries for whatever you bring that uses them.  Rechargeable
  batteries are good, too.
• Bathroom stuff:  Towels, shampoo, toiletries, meds, etc. 
• Bedding: Sheets, pillows, blankets (or sleeping bag).  If you are flying
  in, you can purchase these at WalMart in Page (or arrange to have someone buy
  them for you before the trip).  In summer, you don't need a blanket, just
  a sheet (it rarely gets below 68 degrees at night).
• For more restful sleep:  ear plugs, eye mask blindfold (especially if
  you are not used to the bright light of daybreak), a battery operated
  "white noise" sound generator if you are not used to the sound of absolute
  silence.  You might consider getting a Chillow pillow -- helps to keep you
  cool while sleeping on warm nights.
• For July or August trips, bring a water spray bottle that you can use to spray
  yourself down when you get too hot (especially good on hikes).
• Portable CD, MP3,  or tape player (that can run on batteries) with headphones
  for private listening.  There is also a CD player on the boat, and we will be bringing
  a pair of battery powered speakers which can take input from CD and MP3 players.
• Satellite radio if you have one.  (E.g., XM Satellite Radio or Sirius Satellite Radio)
• Camera & film.
• If possible, bring a comfortable ski or life vest (even if you are only going
  to use it for lounging in the water).  There are the bulky, orange life vests
  on board, but they probably won't appeal to your fashion sense and you
  won't look good in the photos...

Note: You may wish to wait to buy some of the above items at the
Wal-Mart in Page, AZ the day before the trip (saves trying to pack some of
this stuff for a flight or a road trip).

Optional stuff to consider bringing:

• Reading you always wanted to get to, but didn't have time: books, magazines.
• Guitar, harmonica, tuba, etc. (but, only if you play well!).
  Karaoke machine
(but only if you sing well!).
• Games:  if you have a favorite game, bring it along (there are several
  games already on board the houseboat).
• Telescope or binoculars.  The night sky is spectacular -- you'll see planets,
  the milky way, shooting stars, and if you have a keen eye, satellites passing
  overhead just after dusk.  Even when we are anchored at night in a narrow
  slot canyon, even that tiny patch of sky still has more stars in it than the
  whole sky at home.  
• Walkie-talkies if you have a set, or handheld VHF/marine radio.
• Cell phone (but there is only Verison  on the lake itself, and then
  only if you can see Navaho Mountain, and if you have an analog "Tri-Mode" phone). 
  • Powell Electronics (928-645-6664) in Page rents Verison analog cell phones
    for use on houseboat trips. A cell phone signal booster will increase chances
    of getting a strong connection.   But check with us first -- we may have
    already arranged to have a cell phone on the houseboat.
  • Another option is to consider renting a satellite phone for the week (costs
    about $40/week and up, and about $1.50 a minute for phone time) -- see 
    OutfitterSatellite.com, GlobalCellularRental.com or WorldCell.com.
• Internet connection using wireless phone:  if you have a laptop and need
  internet access consider getting broadband wireless phone service and the
  Aircard. This is 15 times faster than dial up and as long as you have
  digital service you can get access and has a large coverage range across
  the country. For Lake Powell as long as you can see Navajo Mountain you
  will have this service. See: http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&action=viewPlanDetail&sortOption=priceSort&catId=409
  If you have Sprint mobile broadband, you might check to see if they have
  service in the area.
• GPS (if you have one) -- we'll have one on board too.
• Laptop computer (if you can't leave work at the office...)
• DVDs (movies can be played on our laptop computer on board).
• Wet suit (if going in late September or October).
• Water toys (blow up water mattresses, float toys, kayaks, etc.)
.
• Day pack / fanny pack for hiking.

Electrical power on board:

• There are standard 110v electrical outlets on  board, but they
  only operate when the generator is on (which is not too often
  because the generator is very noisy).
• Houseboat 12 volt outlets (like a car cigarette lighter) run off of the
  houseboat battery and can be used most anytime.   We'll have on
  board a 12v to 110v converter, but that uses up the houseboat
  battery pretty quickly, and won't run with anything that uses
  too much wattage (like a big fan).
• Battery powered speakers -- we will have a pair on board that can
  be used with MP3, CD or tape players.  (You don't need to bring
  bulky speakers).

Stuff that is already on the houseboat:

• Marine radio.
• CD player & Radio.
• Maps of Lake Powell.
• Board games.

 ...and they said "no man is an island."

Mud and sand:

Tracking sand onto houseboats can be a nagging problem.   To keep sand
and mud out of the houseboat, dunk your bare feet in the water as
you walk up the gangplank.  Remove shoes, and put them on the boat
by the gangplank.  Wwe might put two square plastic pails of water
at the top and bottom of the gangplank.   The routine when boarding is this: 
dip your feet (with water shoes/socks on) at the bottom of the gang plank,
then walk up gang plank to the deck and take off the water shoes/socks. 
Dip bare feet in the water pale there, and either stay barefoot or switch to
thongs or shoes on the houseboat. Make a rule to leave all water socks or
shoes on the front deck for best results. 

That is, you should have a pair of shoes or thongs that you only use on
the houseboat -- never off the houseboat in the sand or water.

After dinner clean up and dish washing:

This task will be rotated each evening.

Trash:

Please clean up trash quickly and put it in the trash bin.

As you can see below, the typical high temperature in July is quite hot -- typically
in the mid to high 90s (sometimes over 100), with low temperatures in the evening
of about 70.   It is usually desert-like dry heat (low humidity), and a swim in the
lake is a good way to cool down.   By mid-August, the high temps start to become
a bit more comfortable.  Typically starting mid-September the low temps at night
become cool enough to start layering on clothing on top of a T-shirt.

The lake water temperature is in the mid 70s or above from July through September
(up to 80 in August!).  The October average water temperature is 67 (cooler,
but still swimable).

 

Average Daily High Temperature (oF)
Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
42	51	58	68	80	91	97	94	85	71	55	46
Average Daily Low Temperature (oF)
24	30	36	43	53	62	69	67	58	47	35	27
Average monthly Precipitation (inches)
0.47	0.43	0.73	0.34	0.43	0.20	0.47	0.67	0.54	0.78	0.59	0.71
Average Lake Surface Water Temperature (oF)
46	46	54	54	64	71	77	80	75	67	61	51

• A Guide to Visiting Lake Powell
• Houseboating 101
• Houseboating 101 (for the Wildwind Houseboat)
• Personal Watercraft Safety Tips
• Tips from Greg's Showtime Houseboat website