THREE BUOYS HOUSEBOAT RENTALS SICAMOUS BC 
Houseboat Rental Policies, Packing Suggestions & Tips
“Preparation is Half the Fun!” Preparation will increase excitement about your forth-coming houseboat vacation!
Research your entire houseboat trip before you arrive... we highly recommend this resource & it's Free!
Suncruiser Magazine - Shuswap Lake ... website www.suncruiser.ca
... click on “Our Magazines”
... click on “Shuswap Magazine” & flip the pages... enjoy!
The Suncruiser Magaze - Shuswap allows you to research the entire Shuswap & Mara Lakes so you will know exactly where you want to sail during your houseboat vacation. This will not only save you time & money on gas, but preparation also reduces stress & will enhance your entire houseboating experience. Know the location of the Provincial Parks, where to purchase groceries & liquor up the lake, scenic hiking trails, fishing hot spots, all the busnisses located on the lake & their hours of operations, skiboat & seadoos rental info, water depths, shoreline description, how to access beutiful golf courses on the lake from your houseboat ... & so on!
Houseboat Rental Policies - Three Buoys Marina & Storage Sicamous BC
Reservation Deposit: Reservations will be confirmed upon availability of requested dates and receipt of a $1000.00 reservation deposit per reservation made by VISA, MasterCard or cheque. A reservation package will be sent to acknowledge receipt of reservation deposit and to confirm vacation dates. Three Buoys reserves the right to release any temporary hold for which the full reservation deposit has not been received.
Full Payment: The final balance is due no later than 60 days prior to vacation date. Three Buoys reserves the right to cancel any reservations Without Notice for which full payment has not been received 60 days prior. The total payment is due and payable if booked within the 60-day period.
Cancellation Policy: Reservation payment is refundable less $500.00 administration fee per week if the reservation is cancelled prior to 60 days before check-in. Cancellations made less then 60 days prior to check-in will be refunded the full amount less $500.00 per reservation if the houseboat is re-chartered. All cancellations must be in writing.
Security Deposit/Insurance Buy-down
- $30/day insurance buy-down will reduce amount of security deposit required
- pay $30/day for a $2000 security deposit
- if declined a $4000 security deposit is required
- applicable security deposit will be processed onto debit or credit card(s) at check-in
- security deposit is fully refundable less charges due to damages, lost inventory, late returns, excessively unclean boats & so forth
Additional Fees:
- taxes
- fuel - budget $125 to $200 per day... depends on how far & fast you drive the houseboat & the price of premium fuel at the time
- early departure option - $350.00... board houseboat afternoon prior to departure date between 3:00pm & 5:00pm
- septic extraction - $50.00 per reservation for unlimited pump-outs
- propane - $75.00 per reservation/ per boat
- complimentary 90 liters of bottled water included
- damages to houseboat, accessories, equipment, inventory, propeller, skeg etc
- late returns
* Check-In Time: Check-in at Three Buoys Office street address 709 Riverside Avenue in Sicamous B.C.
Three Buoys will provide further directions upon arrival.
Regular Board - Boarding time is 8:00-9:00am PST of the day of check-in.
Early Departure (additional fee) - Boarding time is 3:00-5:00pm PST afternoon prior to departure date
* Check-Out Time: Please have houseboat back on our dock by 9:30am and completely unloaded prior to 11:00am PST
* Please remember that Sicamous BC is PST (Pacific Standard Time) *
Maximum 14 people allowed on Sunseeker Houseboats at any time… strictly enforced due to stringent insurance regulations.
Captain & Co-captain must be 21 years of age with valid drivers licenses & must attend the on-board training.
General Information & Packing Tips:
Drinking & Driving is a Federal Offense. Drinking & driving any boat is treated the same as driving a motor vehicle while impaired.
Garbage & Recycle: there are large bins provided at the top of Three Buoys Docks.
Allergies: No compensation will be paid due to allergies of any kind.
Quiet Time on the lake & on our docks is 11:00pm PST. Violators after 11:00pm can be fined by Provincial Park Officers or RCMP. Three Buoys will not be responsible for any tickets or fines.
Medical & Emergency Services – Please be aware that the Shuswap Lake area is remote and medical help is limited & not close at hand. If any passenger has a health issue we recommend staying close to base in case of an emergency. Safety procedures will be discussed in detail during the on-board training.
Refrigeration: The houseboats are equipped with a refrigerator (size varies). It is important to note that these refrigerators are not as efficient as the ones in most homes due to:
- change overs… when you board your boat the fridge has been shut off & cleaned, so it takes awhile to cool down (up to 6 hours)
- overfilling.. air must be allowed to circulate properly at all times
- frequently opening the door for extended periods of time
- please use coolers for beverages etc. ... we sell ice on our docks
- Three Buoys will not be responsible for thawed or spoiled food due to any malfunction of the refrigeration system
Bedding: Please bring your own bedding, pillows and towels as these items are not supplied. No rental bedding packages are available.
Practical Packing Suggestions: Sunglasses for everyone on board as the white decks are very very bright, cameras, all bedding and pillows, towels, beach towels, beach chairs, infant life jackets, salt, pepper and all condiments, tin foil, blender, favorite Teflon frying pan, specialty steak knives, paper towels, face tissues, bio-degradable shampoo, DVDs, water toys & air pump, suntan lotion, binoculars, insect repellent, flashlight, first aid kit, paper & pens, games, cards etc.
Inventory Provided: houseboats are fully furnished, dishes, pots & pans, glasses, wine glasses, drip coffee machine (12 cups), toaster, cutlery, BBQ utensils, tea towels, dish cloths, dish soap, hand soap, toilet paper, bath matt, oven mitts, large black & small white garbage bags are supplied. A more detailed list of what is on the houseboats will be provided soon.
Frequently Asked Questions:
“I have never driven a houseboat before!” No worries! Three Buoys will fully train the captain, co-captain and any other interested crewmembers on how to operate the houseboat. This lesson will take place on-board the houseboat and will cover everything from how to start the engine, on-board systems, battery charging procedure, hot tub maintenance, VHF radio operation and so on. Navigational procedures such as beaching, water safety, boating courtesy & boat maneuvers will also be discussed. At this time you will have the opportunity to ask all the questions you want! Captain & Co-captain must be 21 years of age with valid drivers licenses & must attend the on-board training.
"Do we require a special boating license to operate a Houseboat?" No.
“Are pets allowed?” Sorry, no pets allowed… no exceptions.
“Do cell phones & internet work up the lake?” There is good coverage up the lake, however there are areas where you may encounter some difficulties. There is a VHF radio on board.
“What is the Smoking Policy?” The cabin of the houseboat is a smoke-free area. Smoking is permitted on the front & top decks only. Smoking is strictly prohibited on the back deck, as this is where the propane tanks are located. Smoking is also prohibited on our docks.
Do not discard your cigarette butts in the Lake as this is littering & harmful to the lake's fragile eco system.
“Where can I launch my boat?” There are numerous public boat launches in Sicamous and when you arrive we will direct you to the most convenient boat launch.
“Is Parking for vehicles & trailers included?” Parking is free for all our houseboat rental customers. We will provide a secure & well-lit extended parking area for all vehicles & trailers; however we cannot be held responsible should any damage or theft occur. There are designated parking areas at Three Buoys and at check-in we will inform you as to where your parking area is located. Each vehicle and trailer must be tagged with Three Buoys identification, which we will provide you at check-in. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed. If you are unsure as to where our designated parking area is located, you must contact Three Buoys staff for clarification. Three Buoys will not be responsible for any parking tickets, fines or towing fees.
“Can I tow my skiboat behind our houseboat?” Yes. During the on-board training our staff will show you & your crew the proper procedure on how to tow a boat or pwc. You must provide the towrope(s). A u-bolt is provided on the back of the houseboat for towing… never tie a towrope to a railing.
“How much fuel will the houseboat use?” It depends on how far & fast you drive the houseboat every day & of course the price of fuel at the time. Please budget around $125 to $200 per day of your houseboat vacation. The fuel tank will be full when you board (please double check) and when you return to dock we fill up the tank… so you only pay for the fuel you have used. The fuel tanks are very large on the houseboats so weekend and midweek vacations will most likely have plenty of fuel for their whole vacation, however full week trips may have to return midweek for gas, propane & septic extraction.
“Can I drive my houseboat at night?” Houseboats are required to be securely moored before dusk.
Important: The more we know about your individual circumstances... better the customer service we will be able to provide you & your crew. Let us know prior to your arrival if you have any special requirements such as:
- late arrivals
- crew member with low mobility
- require parking for large RV, campers or motorbikes
- & so forth!
Please call or email if you have questions or concerns regarding your houseboat vacation. There are no silly questions… and chances are we have been asked them all before! We want to alleviate any & all of your stress before your arrival, so please contact us anytime.
All the Crew at Three Buoys look forward to welcoming you aboard for an exceptional houseboating experience!
Three Buoys Marina & Storage
Box 709 - 709 Riverside Ave
Sicamous BC Canada
Toll Free # 1.800.663.2333
Office: 250.836.2403
Fax: 250.836.40004
Email: info@threebuoys.com
Website : www.threebuoys.com“All Our Rooms Have a View!”