Waterway Get-A-Way

Went from Smithfalls to Seeleys bay. Excellent trip. Boat worked great. If you want to relax I definitely recommend.

Caveat Emptor! The chartering and operation of this company’s houseboat, the Opinicon, had a number of shortcomings: 1. Upon arrival, there was no request to provide Proof of Competency to operate a houseboat. 2. The stern deck of the houseboat lacked safety gates on both sides. This could have resulted in a child walking off the deck and falling into the water. 3. The BBQ was a disgrace. When opened for the first time, we found an aluminum cooking container that had clearly been there for a long time. The heat plate was badly broken in several places. Interestingly enough, as we left the boat on our final day, I noticed that the BBQ was quickly removed from the boat. 4. The BBQ lighter had very little fuel in it. It was replaced midway through the trip. 5. On our first day out, we discovered that both batteries were dead. This resulted in a 3-4 hour loss of our vacation time as someone had to travel to us and replace the batteries. 6. Both boat hooks were defective. The rubber end of one had been broken and the other hook had been badly bent. 7. There was mold in several places. 8. The lockers under the sleeping berth and bench in the dining area contained a lot of wood debris. They had not been cleaned in a long time. 9. There was no anchor chain on the anchor rode. Without chain to keep the anchor on the bottom, it is very difficult to get an anchor to hold on soft bottoms. 10. The first time the provided bucket was dropped into the water to fill it, it shattered! The Dollarama logo indicated its source. When a new bucker was requested, the replacement one was an empty kitty litter container. A great way to cut costs but an embarrassing sight to have on deck! 11. The 5/8th mooring lines were a disgrace. Badly frayed and too short. 12. The window in front of the driving station was missing a screen to prevent horseflies et al. from getting into the cabin. 13. Two of the fenders provided to protect the boat were holed and virtually useless. 14. The 50 HP engine (with duct tape on the casing) was inadequate to drive this size of houseboat. 15. The lack of a gauge meant one had to use a dip stick to check the fuel level. 16. The holes provided for the boarding ladder were unfortunately located near to the vent for the holding tank. The smell was disgusting. Pleasant people - dreadful equipment.