OUR HOUSEBOAT VACATIONS

At first glance, taking a boat this size out on the water can be intimidating. Let us walk you through a few things about a houseboat vacation to ease your mind and explain exactly what it is. Houseboating is a unique way to get close to nature while still having all the comforts of home. Looking from the front deck of your houseboat, you’ll see thousands of acres of beautiful, pristine Lake Cumberland, while on the inside, you have the best luxuries. No waiting in lines. No stressful crowds. Just you, your family, and a lake waiting for your adventure.

What Can We Do on the Lake?

Lake Cumberland is 101 miles long, so there’s no shortage of things to see and do. Cruise on down to take in the splendor of Wolf Creek Dam, 76 Falls, or stop by one of the fantastic marinas on the lake. Choose one of our amazing auxiliary rentals to go along with your houseboat and open a new world of fun! You can’t go wrong with one of our super-fast, super-fun Waverunners. You can also try your hand at fishing or tubing and add one of our small rentals to your houseboat vacation package.

Piloting Made Easy

Operating a houseboat is easy, and no previous houseboating experience is required. Before you set out, we raise your comfort level by giving you complete instructions on operating your vessel. Our experienced captains will even drive you in and out of the marina. And if you have any questions along the way, we’re just a radio call away.

Safety is Paramount

State Dock features a fleet of diesel and gas-powered houseboats on Lake Cumberland, all equipped with carbon monoxide detectors as part of our unwavering commitment to your safety. Enjoy a serene and secure getaway on the water, where the well-being of you and your family is our top priority. Our modern gas engines not only provide a safe and pleasurable journey but are also designed for efficient fuel usage to maximize your enjoyment while minimizing expenses. Sail confidently, knowing that every measure has been taken to ensure a safe and memorable experience on the lake.

HOUSEBOAT SAFETY ZONE LAKE MAP

HOUSEBOAT SAFETY MAP

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Lesson One

DRIVING AND STEERING

The throttle has forward, neutral and reverse. You have five full rotations on the wheel from one side to the other. To find center, you can go all the way to one side and then go two and half turns to the other side. To steer from up top, place the throttle in neutral at the helm, then upstairs, press the control button on the throttle here.

Lesson Two

FRESH WATER AND LAKE WATER

You have 255 gallons of freshwater on the boat. This is city of Jamestown drinking water, and it goes to all of your sinks in the bathrooms and kitchen. At the helm, leave the Fresh Water Pump tab flipped forward at all times, unless you have run out of fresh water. Leave the Lake Water Pump tab flipped forward at all times. Filtered lake water goes to your showers, toilets and hot tub. Do not flush the toilets, fill the hot tub or take a shower while the boat is in motion as this might air-lock the pumps.

Lesson Three

THE GENERATOR

You have 100 gallons of generator fuel on your boat. This is enough fuel to leave your generator running for your entire trip, but you do have the option of turning it on and off at the helm. To do this, first flip main load switches to the off position, and then it is safe to turn off the generator. If you notice that your generator is running, but you are not getting power to your appliances, you may have tripped the breaker on the generator itself. If that occurs, you will want to go to the back of the boat, open up your generator hatch and flip your main breaker switch back on.

Lesson Four

TIE-UP PROCEDURES

Tying up a houseboat properly is essential to any houseboat trip. Most houseboaters beach the boat to tie up overnight. The best locations are in a cove and out of high-traffic areas. Look for a gradual bank with trees, stumps or large boulder to tie to. Approach the bank very slowly. Once you have made contact with the shore, put the boat in forward to hold the boat against the shore. The driver should stay at the helm throughout the tie-up process. Rope should now be run from the rear of the boat at an angle of 30-45 degrees to objects on shore. Tie the upwind side first.

Lesson Five

MARINE RADIO

You want to be on channel 18 when you are inside the no-wake zone. Once you go outside the no-wake zone, change the channel to 24. Channel 24 is our maintenance channel. If you ever have any problems with the boat, you are going to want to call in on channel 24 and let us know.

Lesson six

BOATING SAFETY

We want everyone to have fun on a houseboat vacation. However, it is important to remember a few things to keep everyone safe. Never drive your boat with swimmers in the water. When jumping off the top of the houseboat, always jump off the side; never jump off the back of the boat.