Hello All,



I am planning on renting a 50' foot houseboat for 11 days in Rainy
Lake. I have two companies available and one uses a pontoon
design and one uses a full hull design. The pontoon design uses
LP gas to run everything whereas the full hull design uses a generator
and a 12V system. Could someone help me understand what the main
differences are and give me a recommendation? The prices are very
similar. Also, how much gas should i plan on using each day and
what is the cost of gas?





thx,

b

Either boat will do the job as long as you are comfortable operating this size boat. Rainy can become very windy so when you park for the night, make sure you have tied off to decent sized tree's that can handle the stress. If you pick the boat with the genny, be aware of operation during periods when people could be swimming. A hazard that can kill is carbon monoxide (CO), a heavier than air gas, which can settle near the exhaust. This is a byproduct of gasoline engines and care must be taken when people are in the water swimming. turn it off to be safe.

If you have never been on Rainy,you should have a chart, mind the markers and stay away from the rocks and shoal areas.

If you are bringing smaller boats for fishing and exploring, fuel for the houseboat won't be to bad as it will be tied up most of the time. Difficult to say, at this time, what the cost of fuel will be, but I would assume $2.25 / gallon might be the minimum.

It's a beautiful area and you should have a wonderful trip. Bring all your trash out with you and try to leave the place better than when you found it Have fun!

I had a Kayot Pontoon that ran gas for everything, I loved it.  I don't what to have to run a generator when I am out of the harbor and in a secluded cove.   I would go for the gas any day.  Check to make sure the refrig is in good working order as thay are very expensive to replace.  As far as hull type, I like the pontoon, but I am on the flat water mississippi river and don't know about the wave conditions on a big lake.  

I missed that you were renting, I would still go with the gas appliance boat.  The pontoon should be more efficent to run but the difference would not be that great. 

I guess everyone id different. i would rathur have the full hull boat and the generator. Just watch the exhaust. I just do not like gas on a boat. I have seen a couple blow up.

Ya kinda need the generator to run the air conditioner anyway.

Rainy lake is so far north they don't know what AC is, you might need it for our 2 days of summer.

I agree with Old Houseboater and the Pirate. Propane is dangerous on a
boat. I think the full hulled boat will handle easier and be less
susceptable to the wind.

Good luck!