Houseboat charter: tips for beginners

Anyone can go houseboating! With or without a licence, as a family or a girls' trip, for a group outing or a romantic getaway for couples – boat holidays are whatever you make of them! Whether you want to go diving, try out a SUP or canoe, get out your fishing rod or cycle part of the way, few holidays are as versatile as a houseboat holiday.

Getting there is easy by car or by bus and train. Once underway, you'll travel at a top speed of 8 to 11 kilometres per hour – don't be surprised if you're overtaken by cyclists or inline skaters on the towpath. But how does it actually work? What do you need to bear in mind? Here are Dagmar Rockel-Kuhnle's tips.

The largest selection of boats and sailing areas is available in January. By the end of February, the selection is steadily decreasing – as soon as the sun starts to warm up, the last boats for the main season are gone. Boat crews who want to set sail during the holidays in a federal state such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg should really get moving now. Those who are flexible in terms of sailing area and time can always check the charter companies' websites for last-minute offers, where discounts of up to 20 percent are available, but you may not get your dream boat, just another one.

Here, you are also protected from fake companies that have in the past used surprisingly well-designed websites to defraud charter crews of their deposits.

All you need for boating is water, a boat and, ideally, some sunshine. Each region has its own unique charms: the lakes in Mecklenburg and Brandenburg invite you to take a dip in their clean waters, while the French canals feature spectacular hydraulic engineering structures such as ship tunnels and ship lifts. In addition, cosy historic old towns invite you to stroll around. Ireland delights with its pub and music culture, the Masurian Lakes with affordable restaurants and the Netherlands with a mixture of everything. Every crew member should get their money's worth: whatever it may be, Dagmar Rockel-Kuhnle's advice is not to overload your bucket list on your first trip, so that you have enough time to enjoy your maiden voyage.

What’s included, what isn’t? Bed linen, life jackets for children, barbecue, final cleaning – consider in advance which extras you need and what you can bring or do yourself. In any case, the technical briefing for the boat and the charter licence briefing for crews without a licence should be included. A suitable life jacket for each crew member and a map of the water routes should also be on board free of charge. It makes sense to have at least one bicycle on board for running small errands ashore. You should also take a look at the inventory list of the chartered boat. But don’t worry, on a houseboat you’re not travelling outside of civilization! It’s still possible to buy a potato peeler or the mosquito repellent you forgot to pack.

Stay relaxed. Your first houseboat trip doesn't have to be completely planned out. One thing you can do to prepare yourself is get the charter primer from Quick Maritim Medien and a cruising guide for the area. Some charter companies or agencies include the cruising guide in the price. In any case, the companies have a good overview of which books are recommended.
Don't take on too much. With a houseboat you will travel between 20 and 40 kilometres a day if you’re still on holiday. Passing through a lock takes an average of 30 to 40 minutes, so plan in a leisurely lunch break and also an afternoon to while away at anchor.

Yes, they happen and they will happen to you too. Sinking the mobile phone, missing the dolphin when mooring, not hitting the box until the third try - these things also happen to crews who have been on the water for ages.

Keep calm and don’t lose your sense of humour - the biggest mistake you can make would be not to set off at all and miss out on a great adventure on the water.