Suggestions for Houseboat Timeshare

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Baggins

Member
Hello All,

Been houseboating on Lake Powell most of my life, and looking to jump back in with a timeshare. Grew up having access to a small houseboat when I was kid, then parents switched to a timeshare and then sold it about 12 years back. I have rented boats a few times over the last few years, and really miss having something preset that I can look forward to every year.

I am also hoping that over the long term the timeshare will be nicer and cheaper then renting houseboats out of Wahweap over and over. We just came back from this year and had the 59' Wanderer which was actually pretty nice, but we waited till shoulder season to make it affordable, would love to get back to a summer week (Early June) so it does not affect work/school as much.

Anyways, I am looking for suggestions on companies/management groups/private groups that are known to be solid. I have been boating my whole life and I try to leave things nicer than I find them, and I think being a part owner of a houseboat group would fit my style much better than the rental game.

I appreciate any suggestions that people have and the pros/cons of the different options.

Thanks
Matt
 
I have owned two Shared Ownership boats thru Laketime after 20 years of renting, I will never go back to renting. Both of my Shared Ownerships I sold for pretty much the same amount that I purchased them for.

Never even had a breakdown over 14 years of Shared Ownership, boats always worked and the ownerships groups take better care of the boats, along with not afraid of fixing small stuff on a trip.

Go to Laketime website, you can buy into an ownership cheaper than renting in some cases.
 
We have only done the timeshare/shared ownership route, so I can't speak fully on rental, but these are our perceived plusses and minuses for shared ownership.
Pros:
  • Consistency of boats. You know where things go, what equipment is onboard, how the boat drives, etc. There will be far fewer surprises dealing with a shared boat.
  • You can get weekly reports prior to your trip on locations to park, performance of the boat, lake conditions, etc.
  • Boats are generally nicer than rental boats.
  • You may possibly be able to keep some things on the boat permanently, depending on available storage and ownership.
  • A bit more flexibility in arrivals/departures (if you can work it out with the people who come before or after).
  • Opportunity to do a little work on the boat if you aren't afraid of it. I can get bored sitting around on the boat with nothing to do. With shared ownership, I can go and tinker with things and improve what's there.
  • Cheaper for those who go every year. The buy in can be about the same as a 1-week rental for some lower cost boats, which puts you in at the annual maintenance fee, which depending on the number of owners, is generally a fraction of the weekly rate. For boats with turnaround expenses, it eats a little of the cost, but you also eliminate the need to clean.
Cons:
  • If you have a maintenance issue or repair that comes up during your week, you are out of luck. Your ownership of the boat means you will have paid your maintenance fee and may even have an extra assessment but will not get the vacation you thought you were getting. This may mean you have to stay in the slip for a week, do without something working on the boat (like house power or A/C), or it may mean you can't use the boat at all. We have lost two trips in 11 years to boat related issues, leaving us scrambling to find alternative vacation sites that cost us additional $1,000s on top of what we already paid. If you rent a houseboat you won't have the same problem, since they will either find you another boat or your rental fee is refunded.
  • If you are buying up north, the opportunity to get a turnaround service is almost non-existent, so you will be on the hook for fueling, pump-out, and cleaning of the boat. It doesn't bother us much, but some people hate that part of the trip with a passion.
  • On-lake issues with the houseboat are your responsibility. Figure it out or pay A TON to get somebody out there to help you out. Rentals will send out somebody to help.
  • If you own the boat, you are launching out of one place every time. You can't pick a different marina based on what you want to see that year.
  • Sometimes other owners can be a PAIN. Whether it is someone who does a poor job of cleaning prior to you, forgets to pump out (or does a poor job), or crashes into something damaging the boat prior to your trip, you have to deal with the repercussions. I have also left a little damage (though I reported it) and everyone else has had to deal with a missing cleat. We have had all these happen. Additionally, we have been on boats where damage mysteriously shows up and is not reported and it becomes impossible to track down who did it, so everyone blames the person before them, resulting in the whole group paying out. The ownership group makes/breaks the experience.
  • The boat management can be a plus or minus. If your HB uses a management group, you will pay for the pleasure, but things are likely to go smoother. If you don't use a management group, your president had better have a good relationship with the maintenance resources at the respective marina, since those folks can either save or ruin a vacation due to a last minute maintenance concern. Additionally, if the group is not proactive about dealing with boat maintenance and upkeep, you can see a lot of problems. On our current boat, I was extremely delighted when we went for the first time and saw a full inventory of critical spare equipment and supplies. This was in vast contrast to our previous boat where if something went down, you had to call the next guys and hope they were able to get it when they came down and were capable of installing things themselves. Alternately, you were driving into the marina and driving around to find the equipment you needed.
Overall, I am happy with our shared ownership. Rental would likely be more trouble free though, but I appreciate having our own boat at a much more economical rate.
 
I didn't take time to read all nzaugg had to say but from my point of view the BEST Choice for a Multiowner boat is with Laketime. We've been houseboating at Powell since 1983 and often two weeks a year sooo lots of experience. Our first adventure (3 boats worth) was with self managed boats in the slips. The hassle of loading the boat, getting it out of the slip and having to bring everything including bedding, etc was doable but a laborious pain. Self managed boats were always deficient in maintenance and ease of operation.
On the other hand, we have been on two different Laketime boats and think the world of their operation. Many of the necessitates are already on the boat when you arrive including anything you order (ice, food, etc) in advance. The boats are cleaned very clean and ready to go. You do not have to refuel on the lake or pump sewage and refill water tanks and propane-it's there and ready. The boats are wonderfully maintained and only once did we have any problems with one engine which did not impact our trip. The boats are launched and retrieved every trip so fuel prices are Page not Lake. All their boats have Starlink. Many other advantages like staying on the boat the night before launch. The whole operation is just SO much better than a lake based operation. Much more but check it out. Talk to Belinda or Bill.
Chuck Fulton, Tuscan Vista
 
cfulton said:
I didn't take time to read all nzaugg had to say but from my point of view the BEST Choice for a Multiowner boat is with Laketime. We've been houseboating at Powell since 1983 and often two weeks a year sooo lots of experience. Our first adventure (3 boats worth) was with self managed boats in the slips. The hassle of loading the boat, getting it out of the slip and having to bring everything including bedding, etc was doable but a laborious pain. Self managed boats were always deficient in maintenance and ease of operation.
On the other hand, we have been on two different Laketime boats and think the world of their operation. Many of the necessitates are already on the boat when you arrive including anything you order (ice, food, etc) in advance. The boats are cleaned very clean and ready to go. You do not have to refuel on the lake or pump sewage and refill water tanks and propane-it's there and ready. The boats are wonderfully maintained and only once did we have any problems with one engine which did not impact our trip. The boats are launched and retrieved every trip so fuel prices are Page not Lake. All their boats have Starlink. Many other advantages like staying on the boat the night before launch. The whole operation is just SO much better than a lake based operation. Much more but check it out. Talk to Belinda or Bill.
Chuck Fulton, Tuscan Vista
Click to expand...
I think Laketime seems like a great way to go. We are in Bullfrog though where similar services are basically non-existent.
 
nzaugg said:
I think Laketime seems like a great way to go. We are in Bullfrog though where similar services are basically non-existent.
Click to expand...
Another benefit of owning a share on some boats that I’m not sure Lake Time has is using the boat on off-season weeks. Our group has the boat slipped in Bullfrog. We are able to book the boat on any off season week, there are many, and pay a small fee to the LLC per night used. Makes shoulder season fishing trips so easy!
 
We have been partners on 4 boats, plus the one my family had when I was younger. Some groups are huge, even having half shares where people only go every other year. My opinion is that the more owners you have, the higher the likelihood of issues is. Our last boat had 4 owners, the current boat has 5. I would never be on a boat with more than 5 owners again.

Lots of advantages of launch and retrieve. The biggest disadvantage is if water levels drop again, there is the potential to have your boat unusable.

I like having a boat in the slips. Makes it easier to load. And if you have a small group that is unable to safely anchor, you can stay in the slips and use it as a floating condo. There is also the social aspect of "slip life" if you are into that kind of thing.

We go to the lake somewhere between 2-5 trips/year. We only take the boat out of the slip once or twice.
 
In my opinion there really is no right or wrong way to enjoy Lake Powell. A few of us have gone over these kinds of questions in other posts but to offer help to the questioner we can offer some opinions.

On lake rentals, Aramark and Antelope, sound expensive by the week but are well supported and if you have problem on the lake they are in the best position to help you. Houseboats are complex operations. They are huge RV's welded to twin engine boats. They have all the complexities of a self sustaining off grid home and all the complications of a boat; What could go wrong? Lol 😂 Also as a retail operation rentals they are most likely to negotiate with you at the end of your sour trip if you had problems. If you feel acted find be shy to complain and as for something towards next time. I know someone who worked in rentals fir 10 years, he said they were generous if you'd just state your case.

Time share boats are typically old(not always but more than not) 20 to 30 years on and are very well used. They are only as good as their owners group, manager and maintenance crew. They are the most prone to breakdowns and disappointment but they aren't too far behind rentals. You can stay in your slip or take it out on your week, many people enjoy timeshare houseboat as float Mg conditions s it motels. Timeshares usually have lots of fees, annual fees, take out fees, captains fees that mostly make them near or equal in costs to rentals per week.

Then there are off lake "timeshares" like Lake time. They are probably the most reliable option but they are a launch and retrieve operation. That means that you don't have a slip on the lake to hang it it, to depart from and return to or to hide out in.

However, if you crave adventure and won't to go uplake in a reliable boat with some support should things go wrong possibly I think that Lake Time is your best bet in my opinion. The only down side us that you don't have a slip as a backup plan that includes a slip.
 
Last edited:
Shared ownership is the best. We have had "Nauti Nuf Time" since 1995. We are self-managed and have a great group of owners. The interior has been refurbished. The forward hull "doubled last year. Repowered about 5 times. Most of the owners are original. Some have "aged out" or kids have grown up and no longer have available crew. We just snagged a slip at wahweap.
 
FrankF said:
Shared ownership is the best. We have had "Nauti Nuf Time" since 1995. We are self-managed and have a great group of owners. The interior has been refurbished. The forward hull "doubled last year. Repowered about 5 times. Most of the owners are original. Some have "aged out" or kids have grown up and no longer have available crew. We just snagged a slip at wahweap.
Click to expand...
Can I ask why you've had to repower 5 times?
 
Gem Morris said:
Can I ask why you've had to repower 5 times?
Click to expand...
Cause they wear the engines, drives and generators out from sheer hours. Very active going out timeshares put lots of hours on everything. 1995 will soon be 30 years ago, if each of your 15 members puts 30 hours a year on the motors that's 450 cumulative hours per year. In 30 years that's 13,500 hours.

Even worse, It's easy for a big active group to put thousands of hours on a generator each year. Fifteen members, Two weeks a rear each. If you run the generator 5 days a week that's about 120 hours time 2 is 240 x 15 is 3600 hours a year. 12 to 15 thousand hours on a Westerbeke and it's getting very tired
 
Marina Bum said:
Cause they wear the engines, drives and generators out from sheer hours. Very active going out timeshares put lots of hours on everything. 1995 will soon be 30 years ago, if each of your 15 members puts 30 hours a year on the motors that's 450 cumulative hours per year. In 30 years that's 13,500 hours.

Even worse, It's easy for a big active group to put thousands of hours on a generator each year. Fifteen members, Two weeks a rear each. If you run the generator 5 days a week that's about 120 hours time 2 is 240 x 15 is 3600 hours a year. 12 to 15 thousand hours on a Westerbeke and it's getting very tired
Click to expand...
I love you Marina Bum but…

You’ve overstated your hours by about 5 times

If 15 owners go 3 hours one way to say Last Chance (and back) that’s 90 hours per year (not 450).

Your generator hours are similarly inflated.

5 repowers seems excessive to me - I was just curious.
 
Gem Morris said:
I love you Marina Bum but…

You’ve overstated your hours by about 5 times

If 15 owners go 3 hours one way to say Last Chance (and back) that’s 90 hours per year (not 450).

Your generator hours are similarly inflated.

5 repowers seems excessive to me - I was just curious.
Click to expand...
We were in a group that had 3500 hours on the drive engines and they were still running fine. Current boat had 850 and developed a knock so the group decided to repower. Current boat is a 2002.

The boat my folks were on probably did repower 3 times in 20 years. It was used hard.

I personally would recommend staying away from any group that uses the boat that hard.
 
Gem Morris said:
I love you Marina Bum but…

You’ve overstated your hours by about 5 times

If 15 owners go 3 hours one way to say Last Chance (and back) that’s 90 hours per year (not 450).

Your generator hours are similarly inflated.

5 repowers seems excessive to me - I was just curious.
Click to expand...
I enjoy you too, maybe a bit exaggerated but I think you only counted one trip a year, I counted for two per member.

Also I don't know how fast your houseboat boat goes but in mine towing my runabout in the straights on a busy choppy day I can get slowed down to 7 mph. It's over 30 miles to Last Chance from Wahweap without the cut. Between no wake zones, traversing Antelope, hitting the potty dock and fuel docks, scouting for a spot etc it can be 5 hours on the Hobbs from the time we start out until we shut the motors off tied off on a beach somewhere up
In last chance.

Unlike motors and drives generators can run 24/7 while you are out. Everyone is different but I love AC,(I'm from Flagstaff) ours westerbeke runs constantly while we are out. If you only ran it 12 hours a day it would still really add up between 30, 5 day trips out a year.

I don't know why we are bothering to surmise about this but I find it interesting to think about how houseboats get so many hours on them and how they could be best maintained. Most houseboats will fall out of fashion or become obsolete based on floor plans, features and decor long before they wear out mechanically.
 
cfulton said:
I didn't take time to read all nzaugg had to say but from my point of view the BEST Choice for a Multiowner boat is with Laketime. We've been houseboating at Powell since 1983 and often two weeks a year sooo lots of experience. Our first adventure (3 boats worth) was with self managed boats in the slips. The hassle of loading the boat, getting it out of the slip and having to bring everything including bedding, etc was doable but a laborious pain. Self managed boats were always deficient in maintenance and ease of operation.
On the other hand, we have been on two different Laketime boats and think the world of their operation. Many of the necessitates are already on the boat when you arrive including anything you order (ice, food, etc) in advance. The boats are cleaned very clean and ready to go. You do not have to refuel on the lake or pump sewage and refill water tanks and propane-it's there and ready. The boats are wonderfully maintained and only once did we have any problems with one engine which did not impact our trip. The boats are launched and retrieved every trip so fuel prices are Page not Lake. All their boats have Starlink. Many other advantages like staying on the boat the night before launch. The whole operation is just SO much better than a lake based operation. Much more but check it out. Talk to Belinda or Bill.
Chuck Fulton, Tuscan Vista
Click to expand...
Hey Chuck,
I am also a Tuscan Vista owner and I love that boat. I couldn't agree more with your description of the operation at Laketime. I rented from Aramark at Wahweap in September of 2015 and decided after returning from that trip to get a shared ownership....it's not the same as a timeshare since you actually own a part of the boat....and in 2016 I bought a share in the Tuscan Vista for 15K. I paid about 6K for the 6 day rental trip so about a thousand a day. I now get 15 days on the lake plus 2 days of preboarding for about 10 K per year. The rental boat was a 75 footer as well but far inferior to the Tuscan Vista. Maintenance on the rentals is haphazard whereas the Laketime boats are very well maintained. We have never lost more than an hour of vacation time with boat issues on the water. We often go to Oak Bay on our 6 day trip and up to the Escalante on our 9 day trip and twice we've gone further up even to the Rincon on one trip. We appreciate the massive fuel tanks(and the working fuel gauges) that let us go far up lake even without the Dangling Rope facility.
 
Thanks everyone, really great information to consider.

I am happy to see only positive reports about the lake time operation and I think that is the route we will go down. We will be lucky to fit in 1 trip a year and for owning a specific week that operation seems like the most reliable and enjoyable.

I retire in 10 years and the kids will be out on their own, a small ownership group shared ownership on a slip sounds like the best at that point as I know I will want to spend far more time on the lake.

Regarding Lake time, anything specific regarding their different classes of boats I should think about? We are usually multiple families with a decent amount of kids who go.
 
Nzaugg brought up some good things to think about that I have probably taken for granted with the rental boats.

Does Laketime offer any kind of assistance should something mechanical go wrong while on the lake?

Gem, thank you for the heads up, but we will be looking for a summer week as our previous few powell trips have taken the kids out of school and wife out of work and it has caused some issues for us, so family requested summer going forward.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top