What is the New Washington State Mandatory Boating Safety Education Law?
Mandatory Boating Safety Education is now a reality for Washington Boaters. Starting in January 2008, boaters 20 years old and under will need to have their cards with them when operating a boat. State Parks is currently implementing the process for approval of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) that will define how the program will operate. Although a person who is renting, chartering or leasing a motor-driven vessel have been exempted from the requirement to have an education card. Note: This is only pertaining to the Houseboat or Small Boat Rental. The exemption does not pertain to your personal watercrafts. National Park Service has provided these two links for your references. Please educate yourself and group, we would like to see everyone enjoy their time here on the Lake without incident. The two links are: www.parks.wa.gov/boatsafefaq.asp and www.boat-ed.com/wa/wa_internet.htm for your review.
Things to Bring:
You will need to bring pillows, bath towels, wash clothes, bedding or sleeping bags, hangers, hand and body soap, and shampoo. Don't forget Medical release for any minor children in your temporary care. Other items you may want to bring would be lawn chairs, battery lanterns, books, magazines, cards, games, binoculars, battery operated stereo, flashlights, camera, air mattresses. Some of our past guests suggest you bring ziploc bags, compass, larger first aid kit, heavy duty trash bags, folding table for top deck, clothesline and clothes pins, blender. Extra plastic grocery bags are great for wet swim suits or sandy socks on the trip back home. If someone is allergic to bees, it would be recommended to have antihistamine on hand or for severe allergy an epi-pen for emergency use (please consult with your physician first as a perscription is required). RRE has staff that are First Aid Certified through the American Heart Association for simple first aid assistance.
How Much Fuel
will we use?
You will burn approximately 7-10 gallons of fuel each hour
you run, if cruising at 3200 rpm. (Higher rpm’s per motor
burn substantially more fuel with little or no increase of
speed) Fuel Capacity varies depending on the boat rented,
and usage also depends on weather, weight on board, number
of tag alongs being towed, and individual engine
differences.
How much of the
Lake can I see during my vacation?
It depends on how much time you would like to spend each day
traveling. The boats travel at approximately 6 mph, and you
can go about 85 north of Keller Ferry, 20 miles south of
Keller Ferry, 11 miles up the Spokane River Arm, and about 9
miles up the San Poil Arm.
How much fresh
water is on board each houseboat?
Although each houseboat varies, depending on make, you will
have a minimum of 50 gallons of fresh water on board. If
you use a lot of water, you can fill up the tanks at any marina.
How large are the
Holding Tanks?
All of the
houseboats have a 300-gallon holding tank capacity. Capacity
of Grey Water & Black water is 150 gallons each.
Will the holding
tanks fill up during my vacation?
Your 150-gallon black water tank should not
normally fill. The gray water tank may
fill if there is high usage with the shower, kitchen sink,
etc. Keep showers short, and don’t run water in the kitchen sink
unnecessarily. If your holding tank does fill, there are
many places on the lake that provide pump out services.
Call our marina for directions to the closest station. You can tell
if you are full if the boat lists heavily to one side, or
the toilet drains slower than normal.
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Can I beach my
houseboat anywhere on the lake?
Yes, but you should try to locate a cove, inlet, or “finger”
of land to assure you have the best protection from the wind
or waves caused by other boats. Look for a fairly seep sand
or dirt bank, to make anchoring easy and to cushion your
pontoons. A slope that is to shallow, of flat, signals the
water will not be deep enough for your engines when
beaching. Also if the area is too shallow, if there is any
lake fluctuation, you risk being stuck. If this occurs,
call for assistance ASAP so that you can be dis-lodged
before it becomes a problem.
Can I cruise my
houseboat after dark?
ALL RRE
HOUSEBOATS MUST BE BEACHED BEFORE DUSK. THIS IS A SAFETY
PRECAUTION, AS WELL AS AN INSURANCE REQUIREMENT. VIOLATION
OF THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC FORFEITURE OF YOUR
DEPOSIT, YOUR BOAT WILL BE CONFISCATED (TRIP OVER), AND ANY
AND ALL INSURANCE IS VOID. Because of damages incurred
on our boats, this policy will be strictly enforced!!!
What is the Hot Water
Capacity on the boats?
On our 59’
Luxury, the capacity of the hot water tank is 10 gallons.
This will allow you about 15 minutes of continuous use, and
it takes approximately 15 minute to recover. On all
of our other boats, you would have an endless supply of hot
water (on demand systems). To avoid taking cold showers,
follow this one simple operating procedure. Turn the hot
water on as hot as it will go, and regulate the temperature
by turning on the cold water until you reach your desired
temperature.
How do I Beach my Houseboat?
When you select your
beaching area, proceed slowly towards it – if possible have
someone stand on the front deck to keep you apprised of the
depth as you approach. It would also helpful if someone was
monitoring the rear-deck to make sure the propellers are not
in danger of being damaged. Approach the beach straight and
sail right onto it slowly. After the pontoon tips are on
the beach, throttle the boat up to 3500 rpm’s to set the
boat on shore. Next make sure that your 150’ beaching rope
is secured to the rear cleat on the houseboat deck (not the
railing), while you are still manning the helm, have a
member of your party take each line and anchor as far up on
the beach as they will go at a 45 degree angle from the
boat. Each anchor should be buried in the beach to hold the
boat secure. If it is not possible to bury the anchor deep,
a number of heavy rocks should be placed on top to help
secure the anchors. Adjust the slack in your anchor rope at
the cleat at the back of the boat.
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How does the battery
system work?
Standard boats have
four batteries on board each houseboat. 1 battery for each
motor, and 2 batteries to power the lights and water pump.
The engine charges the batteries while you are operating the
boat. If you do not run your houseboat all day and you are
using your lights, sink, and showers, you will need to
charge your batteries daily. Start the motors, and rev them
to 2800 rpm and let them run approximately 45 minutes to
recharge the house batteries. Your batteries will fully
charge if you are operating the boat a few hours each day.
The luxury boats each have house batteries that require
charging daily. (Inverter system on 59’) To charge these
batteries, you must make sure and start the generator, and
turn the charger on the electrical panel to the on
position. There is a voltage meter on the 54’ boat, and if
the batteries are allowed to drain to 9 volts, your
refrigerator will shut down, you will not be able to use the
computer controlled shifters at your helm, your radio may
not function. Simply start the generator and you should
regain the use of these controls. Also if the batteries
drain to 9 volts, they may not maintain a charge, or may not
recharge. If this occurs, start your generator, and explain
the situation to one of our maintenance technicians.
RRE’s policy
states that RRE is not responsible for loss of running time.
What does that mean (contract also)? If a situation should
arise that causes you to choose to cut your vacation short,
such as bad weather, illness of someone in your party, an
accident, or a change in your own personal schedule, we
cannot be responsible for compensating you for any loss of
your rental. If you should have concerns with any of the
equipment on the boat, such as one of the burners on the
stove did not work, or one of the motors stalled out, again
we cannot compensate you for any loss of rental time. The
boats are maintained very well and we will make every effort
to fix anything that malfunctions during your rental but we
will not be able to compensate you. Of Course, in the
unlikely event that a major malfunction occurs, the site
manager in conjunction with the RRE General Manager will
review the circumstances. If after reviewing the
circumstances it is determined that indeed there should be
some consideration of compensation, the Site Manager will
personally contact you and inform you of any compensation
given. If you would like consideration, please place it on
paper.
If you experience
an emergency while at Lake Roosevelt, first, don’t panic.
Use your onboard radio to call us for assistance. If
our marina is open, contact Keller Ferry, and they will
direct you to the nearest location where you can get
assistance. If our marina is closed; use Channel 5
(marine 16) is for distress, Safety and Emergency calling
only. RRE
marina has facilities to land emergency helicopters if
needed. RRE recommends that if you will have minors who are
not related to you, that you have a written medical consent
form for treatment with you, signed by their guardians.
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A few Warnings
Fire Restrictions
A Fire Ban typically goes into effect before
the July 4th Holiday through September, weather pending. Beach fires and fireworks are prohibited on N.P.S,
shoreline. Violators will be fined for either open fires of
for fireworks by the N.P.S. Fires are allowed in designated
N.P.S campgrounds unless posted otherwise. Beach fires are
allowed on the Colville Reservation shoreline when you
obtain a fire-permit. (Free to houseboat customers) Permits
are subject to cancellation due to high fire danger.
Permits are available at the boat rental office when you
checkout. Fines can be up to $1,000.00.
Fishing
You may fish year-round anywhere
on the lake from a boat with a Washington State fishing
license, but you are not allowed to stand on the shore of
the Colville Reservation unless you purchase a Colville
Tribal Fishing permit. Refer to state regulations for lake
tributaries. (Washington State Fishing Licenses and Tribal
Permits available at RRE Marina Store)
Shooting Regulations
You are not allowed to shoot a gun from a moving platform,
such as a boat while under power from the engines. Shooting
is not allowed on Tribal Land. You are allowed to use guns
on the non-Tribal side of the lake, only during hunting
season if you have a state-hunting license.
Trash Removal
Please do not leave any trash on the shoreline, or
bury trash. We recommend that you deposit accumulated trash
at the marina when refueling or purchasing supplies. If
necessary, you may leave trash at maintained N.P.S.
campgrounds along the lake. Violators are subject to
citations and fines by the N.P.S. or the Colville Tribal
Park Rangers. If you observe any visitors leaving or
burning trash on the shoreline, please make a note of the
boat number, date, and location and report it at the marina
when you return. Your cooperation will ensure the continued
status of Lake Roosevelt as a Class AAA lake.
Lake Level Fluctuation
At certain times of the year the lake level fluctuates
up/down up to 2 feet a day. Watch out for sand bars and do
not travel between the shore and the channel marker buoys,
as they are markers for shallow water. During times of lake
level fluctuation, you must untie your houseboat, back off
the beach, and then remoor every 8-10 hours. This is
particularly important if you moor on a beach with a shallow
incline. Also, always attempt to beach the boat into
prevailing winds. We recommend using a stick to mark you
waterline to observe fluctuations of the lake.
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Lost Items
Lost items not claimed within 60 days are promptly turned
over and retained as property of the National Park Service.
Rear Slide & Swim
Platform
Never allow anyone on
board your houseboat to use the water slide or swim platform
while any engines are running. Anyone in the water at the
rear of the boat can be seriously injured, or suffer from
carbon monoxide poisoning if they are swimming behind or
under the boat with any engine running. Also, be aware that
it is possible to strike your head on the slide while on the
swim platform.
Exterior Cabin Walkways
(Standard Boat Only)
Exterior walkways are to be used by employees of Roosevelt
Recreational Enterprise only.
Never allow anyone to use the ledge
on the side of the standard boats. A slip or a fall could
cause serious injury.
Top Sun Deck
Never attempt to beach your houseboat or enter any marina
or cove from the upper helm. Your field of view is
restricted, and you are unable to restart the boat from this
position if your boat were to stall. Driving the boat from
the upper helm into any marina could result in an immediate
forfeiture of your security deposit. Beware of the low
railings on the upper decks, and never jump off the upper
deck as injury could result.
Engine warning and
Buzzers/Lights
If an
engine-warning buzzer or light (mounted inside the control
console-standard boat) sounds, immediately identify the
malfunctioning engine and turn it off. Intermittent beeping
indicates insufficient oil pressure, and constant buzz
indicates overheating. Continued operation with a warning
sound will result in expensive damage. Use the marine radio
to call base if you have questions.
Charging Batteries
Standard and Luxury Boats
Standard Boats require that the house batteries are charged
at least once a day (minimum). To charge the house
batteries, you must start both motors (1 if only one
operational **CONTACT MARINA** and power them up to 1800 RPM’s in the neutral position for at least 45 minutes a
day. The batteries will also charge if you are underway on
the lake at these RPM’s or higher. If for some reason your
electrical amenities on this boat all quit at the same time,
there is a breaker switch located on the starboard side of
the boat on the rear deck near the house batteries. This
will either be a push button or a lever switch. Simply
reset the breaker, and see if this resolves the problem. If
it does not, contact the Marina for assistance.
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Luxury Boats 54’
There are 2 sets of batteries on this particular boat, that
require your attention, the house, and starting batteries.
Your starting batteries are charged as you operate the boat
through normal running time. The house batteries require
that you start the generator, and turn the charge switch on
the electrical panel located in the forward stateroom. It
is very important that you keep these batteries charged, as
the radio, and starting/throttle controls are powered off of
the house batteries. If you find that you cannot shift the
boat immediately start the generator and charge these
batteries. You should immediately regain radio and throttle
controls once the generator is started. If you still
experience problems, CALL the Marina for assistance.
59’ Luxury Boat
In addition to having starting batteries, this boat
incorporates the use of a 3500-watt power inverter. Because
of the increased power draw from all of the amenities, we
recommend that you still use the generator the majority of
the time while on your vacation. There is an electrical
panel in the hallway, which has a gauge showing how much
power is available at anytime in your inverter system. Pay
close attention at orientation time to discuss all of the
features of this panel, and make sure to ask questions if
you do not fully understand the operation of this panel.
Your trip will go much better if you fully understand these
features.
Fueling
Procedures
Always be sure to shut off the propane in your boat
at least ½ hour of approaching a fuel dock. Make sure that
you restart the refrigerator(s) if applicable after you
leave the marina and are clear of the docks. ***NOTE THAT
THE 59’ LUXURY HAS 2 SEPARATE FUEL SYSTEMS ON BOARD. THE
ENGINE/GENERATOR RUN OFF THE STARBOARD TANK ONLY!! THE PORT
TANK IS FOR THE REFUELLING STATION ONLY!! YOUR GENERATOR
WILL QUIT OPERATING BEFORE YOU ARE ON EMPTY AND BEFORE YOUR
DRIVE ENGINE STOPS.
Engine stops will
not Start
This may
sometimes happen on your trip, but is usually resolved by
checking the following. 1. Did the engine get flooded?
Sometimes when we start the motor we may hold the key down
too long which will result in flooding. The majority of our
motors are oil-injected motors, and by holding the key too
long will flood the cylinders with oil. If you think you
may have flooded the engine, wait approximately 20 minutes
and try to restart. 2. Because of the types of fuel lines
used on our outboard motors, sometimes the connection at the
motor becomes loose, and the motor is not receiving proper
fuel to start. Check the connection at the motor, squeeze
the fuel prime bulb until firm, and then try to start the
motor. IF THESE DO NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, NOTIFY THE
MARINA SO THAT WE MAY HAVE OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF COME TO
YOUR BOAT AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ****Also, please be
aware that if you attempt to work on our engines, that you
WILL forfeit your deposit, and will be charged a service fee
when our maintenance is dispatched to your boat. ****Please
leave your tools in your personal boat****
MOST OF OUR BOATS ARE EQUIPPED WITH 2 OUTBOARD ENGINES –
THESE BOATS WERE DESIGNED SO THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE YOUR
VACATION IF YOU EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF THE
ENGINES. YOU DO NOT LOSE MUCH SPEED OR POWER UTILIZING 1
ENGINE. YOU MUST CONTACT OUR MARINA AND WE WILL DISPATCH
MAINTENANCE ASAP!! CONTINUE YOUR TRIP AS PLANNED.
Refrigerator
Procedures
L.P. Gas (liquid propane) operated refrigerators
are used on most of our houseboats (59’-electric). They are
not as efficient as the one used at your home. In order to
improve cooling capacity of the unit, please note the
following: 1. Keep your food cold during your travel to
Lake Roosevelt. 2. Do not overstock your refrigerator, as
this will reduce the airflow needed. 3. Minimize the amount
of frozen or perishable foods you bring. 4. Utilize the
cooler provided by RRE (120 qt.) or additional coolers you
bring to stock beverages/fruits so that it will minimize the
number of times you must open/close the refrigerator doors.
ICE IS AVAILABLE AT OUR MARINAS, DRY ICE IS NOT. DRY ICE
DOES LAST LONGER, AND MAY BE SOMETHING YOU MAY CONSIDER
PURCHASING BEFORE YOU ARRIVE.
Extra Notes:
1. We do not permit extra fuel aboard our houseboats
because of the fire hazard. Please do not bring extra fuel
unless you plan on storing them on your personal boat. You
can lose your deposit if this rule is violated. 2. Rafting
is strictly prohibited (tying houseboats together). If you
are caught rafting you will forfeit your deposit – no
exceptions. 3. RRE has a no pet’s policy on board our
rental boats. This will be strictly enforced. You may risk
loss of deposit, in addition to a cleaning fee you will
forfeit your full deposit if this rule is violated. Please
be respectful of other customers and your own animal, keep
them at home. Thank you.
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