Plan Your Vacation

Reservation

Reservations are confirmed subject to availability and receipt of a reservation deposit of $600.00. Payment may be made by Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or e-transfer.

Telephone reservations without a deposit are held for 7 days pending receipt of deposit. If the reservation is made less than 30 days prior to boarding, it will not be held without a deposit. No reservation will be made to persons under 21 years of age or to anyone without a valid driver's license.

Final Payment

The balance of the charter fee is due no later than 90 days prior to departure. The total amount is due if a reservation is made within the 90 day period. Bluewater reserves the right to cancel your reservation if payment has not been received in full 90 days prior to departure.

Cancellation

Should you need to cancel, please notify us immediately. If cancelled 90 days or more prior to boarding, there is a $300.00 cancellation fee. If cancelled less than 90 days prior to boarding, there is a $600.00 cancellation fee, and the remainder of the rental is refunded only if the boat is re-booked. If re-booked, you receive a refund of the re-booked value less the $600.00 cancellation fee.

Fuel

When you board, your houseboat is fully fueled and ready to go. You pay for what you use at the end of your vacation. Fuel charges depend on your boat, how much time you spend cruising, and how you operate the boat. The lower the rpm, the lower your fuel charges. For budgeting, average fuel consumption is approximately $125.00 to $200.00 per day.

Environmental Fee

A $30.00 plus tax environmental fee is paid at the end of your vacation along with fuel and propane. This covers waste management costs for septic pump out and garbage disposal.

Insurance

Bluewater carries an insurance policy covering the charter. Should damage occur, you are responsible for up to the first $4,000.00 per claim. This liability can be reduced to the first $2,500.00 per claim at a surcharge of $25.00 per day plus tax.

Security Deposit

A security deposit is required upon arrival. The amount depends on your insurance option. Choose to reduce the deductible from $4,000.00 to $2,500.00 for $25.00 per day and your deposit is $2,500.00. Leave the deductible at $4,000.00 and your deposit is $4,000.00. This deposit is refundable provided there are no outstanding charges such as:

• Lost or damaged inventory items
• Damage to propeller
• Damage to houseboat
• Excessively unclean boats
• Late return
• Violation of houseboating regulations

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, debit, or cash are accepted for the security deposit.

Pet Fee

We strongly advise against bringing pets onboard. Small non-shedding dogs are allowed subject to an extra fee of $50.00 plus taxes. No cats allowed.

Boarding Options

Boarding times are between 8:00 am and 11:00 am in mid or high season, and between 9:00 am and 11:00 am in low season. Please advise the office if you will arrive later than 11:00 am. Check out time for all seasons is anytime after 9:00 am but no later than 3:00 pm. Penalties are charged for late return, and there is no refund for an early return.

Preboarding (Limited Availability, Book Early)

For your convenience we offer preboarding for $150.00 plus tax. This lets you board and sleep on your boat the evening prior to departure. Boarding time for preboarding is after your boat has been fully serviced, usually between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm in low season and between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm in mid or high season. This gives you and your crew the chance to complete the paperwork and get familiar with your boat so you can be cruising early the next morning.

Optional Rentals

Ski boat and Sea-Doo rentals are available through local companies. See our Links page for details.

Services Provided

Parking, small boat launch, and provincial park permits are all provided at no additional cost. Before sailing you receive a comprehensive captain's lesson from our experienced staff, covering the lake system and how to operate your houseboat.

Bluewater provides service and assistance at any time for emergencies. All boats are equipped with VHF radios monitored 24 hours a day. Routine service problems are dealt with promptly during normal working hours.

Supplied for Your Convenience

Suggested Items to Bring

Don't Forget the Food

For groceries, Sicamous has the Askews Grocery Store, open 8:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, plus a government liquor store and one private liquor store. If you run out of supplies on the lake, there are two floating stores conveniently located at the Cinnemousin Narrows. Some marinas on the lake also have convenience stores, and we will point these out when we go through the lake map with you.

Life Jackets

Adult size life jackets are supplied on all boats for emergency use only. Please bring life jackets for any crew under 90 lbs, or check with the office as we have a limited supply available at no extra charge.

Bottled Water

Bring bottled water for drinking, or for your convenience we sell 20 litre jugs for $10.00 each.

The Shuswap has become houseboating heaven, a place where couples, families, and friends can experience the vacation of a lifetime. Whether you want a private getaway or a trip filled with laughter and company, a houseboating holiday is an incredible journey with water recreation and fishing right at your door.

Shuswap Lake includes 26 provincial and marine parks, set in a glacier valley carved among the rugged wilderness of British Columbia. Much of the area is accessible only by water, leaving nature as it was many years ago. Shaped like an H, the lake is made up of four large arms that converge at the Cinnemousin Narrows. The Shuswap is an all natural, very deep lake, but still warms to about 23C/75F in July and August. It stays fairly calm, making it one of the most favoured lakes in BC for all types of water recreation. Storms can blow in but they are rare and usually do not last long.

We are located in the town of Sicamous on beautiful Shuswap Lake, British Columbia, just north of the Okanagan and halfway between Calgary and Vancouver. The word Sicamous means "Narrow" and refers to the channel connecting Mara Lake to the Shuswap Lakes.

Bluewater Houseboat Vacations
110 Weddup Street, Sicamous, BC V0E 2V1
Toll Free: 1.800.663.4024

Here are easy directions to Bluewater Houseboat Vacations that you can print and bring with you. Just choose which direction you are coming from. If you are still not sure, please contact us.

Arriving from the West (Vancouver)

The distance from Vancouver to Sicamous is 495 km/308 miles, about 5 hours and 30 minutes. Take the Trans Canada Highway (No. 1) to Hope, then the Coquihalla Highway (No. 5) through to Kamloops. From Kamloops continue east on the Trans Canada Highway 140 km/87 miles through Chase, Sorrento, Salmon Arm, and into Sicamous.

Entering Sicamous, take your first right off the bridge onto Gill Street. Take another right onto Finlayson Street, then your first left onto Riverside Avenue. Follow Riverside through the roundabout to Weddup Street, just past the Super 8 Motel. Turn right onto Weddup Street and you will see the Bluewater office on your right.

Arriving from the East (Calgary)

The distance from Calgary to Sicamous is 480 km/298 miles, about 5 hours and 20 minutes. Take the Trans Canada Highway (No. 1) west through Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Field, Golden, Revelstoke, and into Sicamous.

Entering Sicamous, turn left off the Trans Canada Highway onto Highway 97A, then an immediate right at the roundabout onto Main Street. Continue down Main Street to another roundabout and turn left onto Riverside Avenue. Follow Riverside Avenue to Weddup Street, just past the Super 8 Motel. Turn right onto Weddup Street and you will see the Bluewater office on your right.

Arriving from the South (Kelowna)

The distance from Kelowna to Sicamous is 122 km/76 miles, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Take Highway 97 through Vernon, Armstrong, and Enderby. Continue on Highway 97A through Grindrod and into Sicamous. Stay on Highway 97A until just before the Trans Canada Highway. Entering a roundabout, you will see the Shell station on your right. Follow the directions going left into Sicamous, which takes you to Main Street. Continue down Main Street to another roundabout and turn left onto Riverside Avenue. Follow Riverside Avenue to Weddup Street, just past the Super 8 Motel. Turn right onto Weddup Street and you will see the Bluewater office on your right.