FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many people will the houseboats sleep?
Who will captain our houseboat?
Do you give a training cruise?
Do we need to have boating experience?
How much fresh water do the houseboats carry?
How much fuel is on board?
How much does gas cost on the Mississippi River?
Are the houseboats heated / air conditioned?
What time is departure?
Can we board the evening before departure?
What time do we have to return the houseboat at the end of our vacation?
What is the best time of year for fishing?
What is the best time for a fall color cruise?
Which is the best direction to travel, north or south?
Do you have marine radios on the boats?
Do you have cruising limits?
What sizes are your boats?
What if we get lost?
Will we have navigation maps?
Is the fishing good on the Mississippi River?
Can we tow a fishing boat or jet ski?
What type of fish will I catch on the Mississippi River?
What fishing license should we use, Wisconsin or Minnesota?
What is a wing dam?
Do we have to pay to go through a lock?
How long does it take to go through a lock?
Is the Mississippi River safe to swim in?
Can we stop at any beach we want?
Can we bring along a boat or jet ski?
Do your houseboats have a water slide?
Do your houseboats have a flybridge?
How far can we cruise?
How fast does the houseboat go?
Are there restaurants along the way?
What if it rains?
Does the houseboat have a sundeck?
Q. How many people will the houseboats sleep?
A. Each of our Royal and Presidential Series houseboats are designed to sleep ten, the Trump Series is designed to sleep fourteen. The legal limit for occupancy while underway (per Coast Guard rule) is twelve. Those groups who wish to bring twelve people on the Royal or Presidential Series usually bring a pop up tent and pitch it on the sundeck or on a beach. On the Royal and Presidential Series Houseboats there is an additional charge of $50 per person over ten. This is a one time charge, not per day. I.E. $50 extra for eleven people, $100 extra for twelve.
Q. Who will captain our houseboat?
A. You will be the captain of your own houseboat. But we don't just put you on the houseboat and expect you to take it on the water, we provide you with a comprehensive training cruise.
Q. Do you give a training cruise?
A. Yes, each of our guests receive a training cruise. We will take you to a beach downriver to practice beaching the boat. On the way downriver we will teach you about the navigation markers, wing dams, locks and dams, operating near barges, proper use of the marine radio and river etiquette. When we reach the beach we will instruct you on the proper technique for beach approach and anchorage. Once you have successfully approached and anchored your boat to the beach you will learn the technique for safely departing the beach. You can expect this training cruise to last about one-and-half to two hours.
Q. Do we need to have boating experience?
A. No, boating experience is not necessary. Only about 25% of our first time customers have boating experience.
Q. How much fresh water do the houseboats carry?
A. Each houseboat has a minimum fresh water capacity of 240 gallons, the Presidential Series carries 320 gallons and the Trump Series carries 480 gallons. For many groups 240 gallons is enough water to last 3 days. Most of our competitors boats carry only 80 gallons. We suggest a slight adjustment in living habits while on board. Usually it is best to limit yourself to one shower per day. However, if you do run out of water you simply go to one of the marinas along the river and get a refill.
Q. How much fuel is on board?
A. Each of our houseboats carries 200 gallons of fuel. The average 3 day trip will use 90 gallons while the average for a four day trip is around 120 gallons. The amount of fuel you use will depend on how much cruising you do and how much you run your generator. The engines will use approximately 1 gallon per mile. The generator will use 1.1 gallons per hour. It is not necessary to have the generator running unless you are cooking or watching TV. The customer is responsible for fuel costs.
Q. How much does gas cost on the Mississippi River?
A. Gas on the Mississippi River costs about .60 cents per gallon more than it does on the highway.
Q. Are the houseboats heated / air conditioned?
A. Yes, each houseboat is equipped with central heat and air, we use the same size and type of system that is used in many homes. Some houseboat rental companies use small, inefficient roof top air conditioners that can't keep up when the temperatures get above 80 degrees. At Huck's Houseboat Rentals your comfort is a priority.
Q. What time is departure?
A. If you are boarding the morning of departure (as opposed to our early boarding option) you can board anytime
after 9:00 AM. Training is done on a first come first serve basis. Training takes approx. 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
For any groups electing to
purchase early boarding (boarding the afternoon before departure), boarding time is at 4:30 PM.
If you can arrive by 4:30 with all of your groceries and fishing licenses already purchased we
will provide your training cruise that evening (provided all maintenance needs are met and weather and daylight allows). If training is accomplished
the evening of early boarding, and there is enough daylight left to safely cruise to a beach, we will release
the houseboat and you can spend the first night on the beach. Please be aware that training and spending the first night on the beach
are free bonuses we try to provide. We do not in anyway guarantee that this will happen, however it is our goal to
give you as much time on the water as possible. NOTE: The boats are not allowed to cruise above Lock and Dam 7 the evening of early boarding, so do not plan to go more than 7 miles the
the first night.
All other houseboat rental companies on the Mississippi River will make you stay at the marina the night of early boarding and will give a training cruise in the morning. Our early boarding option puts you on the river 17 hours earlier than any of our competitors.
Please Note: We do not guarantee training the night of Early Boarding but we will do our best to make it happen.
Q. Can we board the houseboat the evening before departure?
A. Yes, please see the above answer.
Q. What time do we have to return the houseboat at the end of our vacation?
A. All houseboats are due back to the marina at 12:00 PM.
Q. What is the best time of year for fishing?
A. Typically the best times are May, June, September and October.
Q. What is the best time for a fall color cruise?
A. The colors become evident towards the second half of September, the color gets better with each passing day. If you vacation during the first two weeks of October you will have the best chance of hitting the peak colors, with ooptimum colors toward the end of the second week.
Q. Which is the best direction to travel, north or south?
A. We recommend heading north. There are more beaches north of La Crosse and the bluffs are right along side the river which adds to the beauty. I do encourage everyone to travel south for at least the first 10 miles. The beaches start at that point and for the next 70 miles north you will find many beaches, if you go more than 10 miles south of La Crosse you will find the beaches to be few. At approximately 8 miles south of La Crosse you will find a fantastic island called "Crater Island" with 70 foot tall hills of sand. The panoramic view on the back side of this island is well worth the hike up the sand dunes.
Crater Island is the perfect place to spend your last night on the river as you will be only an hour from our home port. Since there are no locks between Crater Island and our home port you won't have to worry whether the locks will delay your return.
Q. Do you have marine radios on the houseboats?
A. Yes, each houseboat is equipped with a marine radio, however marine radios are usually good only for a seven to ten mile range, therefore we recommend you bring a cell phone. Our staff carry cell phones with them at all times and you are welcome to call us anytime you need.
Q. Do you have cruising limits?
A. No, at Huck's Houseboat Rentals we want you to cruise as far as you want, we do however; recommend that your itinerary not be based on seeing how far you can go but rather on experiencing the islands, beaches and river towns. Many customers who have vacationed with us multiple times tell us that they enjoyed their vacation better when they didn't put unreasonable demands on achieving a specific distance.
Q. What sizes are your houseboats?
A. We have 3 sizes of houseboats to suit your needs. The smallest is 15' x 58' which is available in the Royal Series the next size up is the 16' x 62' Presidential Series. The final size is the 18' x 79' Trump Series which is the largest houseboat on the river.
Q. What if we get lost?
A. The Mississippi River runs north and south so those are the only two directions you need to worry about. Since the current always runs south it is very easy to tell north from south. In addition, the Mississippi is marked with red and green buoys, red will always be on your right as you travel north. For those who are still skeptical, the Coast Guard maintains a mileage marker system with mileage boards placed every so often. This mileage marker is referenced on the navigation charts we provide.
Q. Will we have navigation maps?
A. We provide you with Army Corp of Engineer maps. Since the Army Corp of Engineers is responsible for maintaining navigation on the Mississippi River these are the most comprehensive and accurate maps available.
Q. Is the fishing good on the Mississippi?
A. Some days you catch a lot of fish, some days you don't. The Upper Mississippi river is an extremely fun and exciting place to fish. Many of the dams provide excellent fishing opportunities as do the many wing dams along the shore and the thousands of acres of back waters.
Q. Can we tow a fishing boat or jet ski?
A. Yes, you can tow up to a 16 foot boat. We have v-bottom fishing boats with 9.9 hp Hondas available for rent if you don't have your own. We provide a free tow bar for towing boats.
Q. What type of fish will I catch on the Mississippi?
A. There are 212 species of fish in the Upper Mississippi, including Walleye, Northern, Bass, Crappie, Pan fish and Catfish! Lake Pepin, which is basically a wide spot in the river 60 miles to the north of La Crosse, is renowned for its proficiency as a Walleye hatchery, while Lake Onalaska, 6 miles north of La Crosse, is known for its Pan fish. All of these fish swim right past La Crosse.
Q. What fishing license should we use, Wisconsin or Minnesota?
A. The Wisconsin license is preferred. However Wisconsin and Minnesota have a reciprocity agreement, therefore, as long as you stay between the railroad tracks that run along each side of the river you can use either license unless you live in Wisconsin or Minnesota in which case you must have a license from your state.
Q. What is a wing dam?
A. A wing dam is simply a pile of rocks placed in the water by the Army Corp of Engineers to direct the current out to the channel. This helps prevent shoreline erosion and also helps keep the channel from filling in with sediment. A typical wing dam will run from the shoreline to the edge of the navigation channel. The wing dams are usually under the water, although some will protrude above the surface. We will teach you how to tell where the wing dams are on your training cruise.
Q. Do we have to pay to go through a lock?
A. No, lockage is free.
Q. How long does it take to go through a lock?
A. Sometimes the locks are open and ready for you when you arrive, in this instance it will take only approx. 5 minutes to "lock through". If the lock is empty but not ready when you arrive it usually takes 20 minutes or so from start to finish. However, if a full tow of barges is just entering the lock as you arrive you can plan on a minimum of a two hour wait. In these instances it is best to find an island to anchor to and enjoy the beach, cook lunch, explore, hunt for shells, swim, fish or just plain relax.
Q. Is the Mississippi River safe to swim in?
A. Yes, the Mississippi is safe to swim in. The best time for swimming are the months of June, July, August and September. With the many sand beaches that line the river, you will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy a swim. To make the swimming even more enjoyable we have provided a water slide on each of our houseboats.
Q. Can we stop at any beach we want?
A. Yes. All the beaches along the river are public property, and most of our guests spend their nights on the
beaches. They are the perfect spot to enjoy a moonlight walk in the sand, or sit around a crackling fire telling
stories and eating pudgy pies or S'mores.
Watch just one sunset from these beaches and the Mississippi River's splendor
will be permanently etched on your memory. Of course, these island paradises are the perfect place to spend an
afternoon as well. The beautiful sand beaches have something for everyone. From swimming and building sand castles
to exploring the woods and discovering what is on the other side of the island. The fun provided by the beaches is
limited only by your imagination.
Q. Can we bring along a boat or jet ski?
A. Definitely. You are always welcome to tow watercraft up to 16' in length behind the houseboat. There are literally thousands of acres of backwaters and sloughs waiting to be explored. We do, however, limit the size of a tow-able craft to 16'. We have 16' Aluminum fishing boats w/ Honda 9.9 HP engines available for rent.
Q. Do your houseboats have a water slide?
A. Yes, we are the only company on the river to have waterslides, fly bridges and party tops on all of our houseboats.
Q. Do your houseboats have a flybridge?
A. Yes, all of our houseboats have an operational flybridge. This means you can navigate from atop the sundeck as well as from the helm in the cabin. Huck's Houseboat Rentals is the only houseboat rental company on the Upper Mississippi River to offer an operating flybridge on all boats. When other companies tell you they have a flybridge, be sure to ask if you can actually navigate from it.
Q. How far can we cruise?
A. At Huck's Houseboat Rentals we do not restrict the distance of your travel. You can go as far as you want as long as you return the boat on time. On a four day trip, taking into consideration the locks and all the beaches and river towns to explore, 30 - 40 miles is a comfortable distance.
Q. How fast does the houseboat go?
A. Seven miles per hour up river and eleven miles per hour down river.
Q. Are there restaurants along the way?
A. Yes, for instance, in Trempealeau, WI you will find Ed Sullivan's, a popular area restaurant specializing in
Irish cuisine. Since Sullivan's is about 1 1/2 miles from the Trempealeau marina you will need to call Sullivan's
and they will send a van to pick you up.
One of my personal favorites is The Historic Trempealeau Hotel, an
authentic turn of the century hotel that serves some of the best Belgian waffles with whipped cream and
strawberries.
In Winona, MN you'll find Jefferson's Pub, a restaurant located within 1 block of where your houseboat will be docked. Winona is a large city so you will find many other restaurants within walking distance.
In our home town of La Crosse we have many fine restaurants, the most famous of them being Piggy's.
Also in La Crosse you will find the Flying Carp Cafe. The Flying Carp is highly recommended by Huck. La Crosse is a town of 50,000 people so there are plenty of other good places to eat right nearby.
Q. What if it rains?
A. You will be protected from the rain by your houseboat, summer thunderstorms move in quick and move out almost as quick. So if it rains, wait a half-hour and it will change.
Q. Does the houseboat have a sundeck?
A. Yes, the entire roof of the houseboat is designed to be used as a sundeck. All of our houseboats have a fly bridge, water slide and hot tub the sundeck. In addition, all of our houseboats also have a full party top.