Standard-Examiner staff?jdemoss@standard.net?

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here are many ways to enjoy the unique beauty and recreational opportunities at Lake Powell, but perhaps none as iconic or popular as on a houseboat.?

Glen Canyon Dam, which created the reservoir that snakes through hundreds of red-rock canyons, was completed in 1963. Since it hit full pool in 1980, millions of visitors have made it the unofficial mecca of houseboating.?Operating a houseboat is a fairly easy skill to learn, but there’s a lot more to it than just cruising on open water — especially on Lake Powell, which has endless twists and turns and a variety of underwater structure that can become hazardous to those not paying attention at all times, said Kristin Kruschek, office supervisor at Bullfrog Marina in the middle section of the lake.?As far as driving on the open water, Kruschek said basic rules of the road usually apply.?”Generally, you want to stay to the right,” she said. “Obviously the captain can’t be drinking, and cutting corners is generally not a good idea.”?With the unique terrain of Lake Powell come unique challenges, and one of the most important things to be aware of is underwater obstacles.?The landscape of the lake surface changes with widely fluctuating water levels throughout the year. As the level rises in spring and summer due to runoff, some obstacles are submerged far enough below the surface that they are no longer a threat to boats, while others may be hidden just below the surface. The reverse happens later in the year, when the lake level typically falls.?The rugged maze of cliffs and canyons now underwater means the lake can be several hundred feet deep in one spot and only inches deep just a few yards away.?The key to navigating around these obstacles, which can damage or destroy propellers and ruin a vacation, is to look at the water color, Kruschek said.?”A lighter water color means it’s more shallow,” she said. A good plan, especially in narrower channels or shallower waters, is to have one or more people looking down on the water from the roof of the houseboat, where they have a better angle when it comes to detecting underwater structures and potential hazards.?Propeller damage is one of the more common problems inexperienced houseboat operators face, Kruschek said. Some other frequent rookie mistakes include leaving loose items out to be blown off the boat, and problems operating electrical power and other systems on board.?”A lot of people have issues with basic operation,” she said. “They don’t listen to instructions, and sometimes they call us for help before thinking it through when they could have easily solved the problem just by looking at the manual.”?Everyone who rents a houseboat has to go through an orientation with a qualified resort representative before heading out on the open water, but a new course gives those new to houseboating a more comprehensive education.?One of the ways resort officials have been working to generate more interest and business is through an “introduction to houseboating” course that was started earlier this year.?Participants in the course learn everything from filling out rental paperwork to operating the boats, anchoring them to the shore, and managing the boats’ electric and sewage systems.?”It’s not just driving a boat,” said Rob Von Gogh, who came from Grand Junction, Colo. with his wife, Cindy, to take the course. “It’s more like an RV on the water.”?Of course, many houseboaters also opt to tow along a speed boat, which goes much faster than a houseboat and gets better gas mileage. That allows them to park the houseboat at a good campsite as a base of operations and use the speed boat to explore the approximately 2,000 miles of Lake Powell shoreline.?Those who complete the course receive a certificate that can be redeemed for discounts on houseboat rentals.?The spring sessions are over, but four more weekend courses are planned for fall — three at Wahweap, the lake’s largest marina at the southern end, and one more at Bullfrog.

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pecific dates have yet to be set.?

There are more than 160 rental houseboats on Lake Powell. About two thirds of them are based at Wahweap, with the remaining third based at Bullfrog. None are based at Hall’s Crossing, the marina across the lake from Bullfrog, or at Hite Marina at the lake’s northern end, which has essentially become landlocked by receding lake levels in recent years.?The recent economic downturn has had some negative impact on rentals of high-end houseboats, said Robin Marquis, senior sales manager for Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas.?The biggest impact, Marquis said, came from the California market, which was hit especially hard by falling real estate values. Visitors from California tend to go for the high-end rentals and spend more money on Lake Powell vacations, she said.?”We’re starting to see things rebound this year,” she said. “We’re seeing a lot more interest.”?Some of the more popular houseboat models are already booked out through September, she said.?Anecdotal evidence suggests that the introduction to houseboating course has been successful so far, both in terms of stimulating more rental business and having better educated boaters on the water, she said.?Participants in the program say it helps dispel fears or concerns they may have, and makes them much more likely to choose a houseboat rental for their next vacation.?Ray and Tricia Kelly of Draper say they will definitely be renting a houseboat after taking the introductory course.?”We went from 50 percent to 100 percent,” Ray Kelly said. “Just getting out and seeing how beautiful it is here, and how it’s really quite easy to operate the boat, was more than enough to convince us.”?Mike and Tamara Masters of Salt Lake City have been on houseboat trips before, but never when they were the ones directly responsible for the boat.?Mike Masters said taking the course moved them from “somewhat likely” to “very likely” to rent a boat for themselves.?”If they’re willing to take a few hours ?with me, it’s definitely worth looking into,” he said.