I recently sold my SeaRay Sundancer 340 w/t6.2s. I thought about renting a houseboat on Lake Cumberland to see how I liked it but I'm a little wary of piloting a 60ft. vessel with a single outboard. I'm totally accustomed to twin engines. Has anyone else been through this? Thanks.

THESE BOATS ARE NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD PURCHASE BUT ARE FUN JUST THE SAME.

FOR THE MOST PART LAKE CUMBERLAND IS PRETTY PLACID SO A SINGLE OUTBOARD WILL MOVE YOU FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

NOTE, ALSO THAT THESE BOATS ARE SET UP TO SLEEP A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE SO THEY ARENT TYPICAL OF A BOAT YOU WOULD OWN.

WITH THAT IN MIND, ENJOY. WE LIVED ABOARD FOR 10 YEARS AND REALLY ENJOYED IT.

RULE NUMBER 1 IS BUY THE LARGEST HOUSEBOAT YOU CAN AFFORD AND MAKE SURE IT HAS TWINS.

Posieden,
We rented houseboats several years ago on Lake Cumberland, before we bought our first houseboat. These boats were equipped with single outboards. For the most part, you can get around the lake pretty well, albeit rather slowly, especially into a headwind.

They are more difficult to manuever than twin I/O's but if you plan ahead, and compensate for reduced power you should be alright.

Renting, either way, is one of the best ways to find out if you will like houseboating

Thanks for your replys. Looking at your member #s I consider them valued and experienced information. I think I need to quit worrying about the power and just enjoy the experience. Life's too short.

I believe you need to take a ride on a 44 ft Gibson with 454s 40 mph boat, turns on a dime and will outrun most large cruisers. Handles as good if not better than your Searay. The chug a lug boats on Powell are not what a real cruising Houseboat is like. Check some out Harbormasters, Gibsons, Holiday Mansions, etc., you will be right at home.

House boats are not built for speed. I have a 43ft steel hulled river queen with twin 318's and I am told if I get 15mph out of her I'll be lucky. To me the point of a houseboat is not speed but comfort, I bought mine to fix up and I got a go deal on it as such, as I put her back together I try to make her as comfortable as possible so that I can lazily run up and down the river (Arkansas river that is} and enjoy life.

I'm on the upper Missiissippi and own a Gibson 44 foot Standard with twin 350's. Only had it for a short period of time, but I can tell you, those motors have seen 2200 rpm's only once while we have owned it. Being able to see where you are going and enjoy it is part of the pleasure, so we keep the speed at about 1200 - 1400 rpm's on the tach's ( gotta check speed with a GPS ) and enjoy the show.

Pulling the boat into a slip with a fast cross current makes the twins invaluable. They are a must on a river but may not be necessary on a lake. Having come out of cruiser's myself, I do enjoy the room and easy living with the houseboat. Have fun with the rental unit and try to learn as much as you can.

Your RQ will do over 20 lightly loaded