ISSUE 1: 1000 ISLANDS

spring 2018

cover sponsor
Letter from the Editor
Welcome to the very first edition of Houseboat Explorer
Magazine. We will be referring to the magazine as HEM
for short. This magazine exists today because of a chance
trip on a houseboat to the 1000 Islands back in 2015. That
trip happened unexpectedly as I was trying to find a
cottage to rent but got frustrated with the search and
somehow stumbled upon the idea of houseboating. After
the first houseboat trip with my friend, and now business
partner, we wondered where else in Canada can you rent a
houseboat? After days of compiling the data, we realized
there wasn’t a good resource for listing all the rental
companies across Canada and canadahouseboating.ca was
born.
Fast forward a few years and now we are building out
houseboatinfo.com as a worldwide directory for all things
related to houseboating and this digital magazine for HEM
which focuses on the travel and tourism aspect, usually
sticking with the theme of houseboating. That said, there
are so many interesting places around the world to visit to
experience houseboating. You have numerous locations all
over the United States, India, South Africa, New Zealand,
Australia, and several countries in Europe
It is in the 1000 Islands Canada where this magazine starts
and we are eager to share our knowledge of the area. I’m
hoping this magazine will be your gateway towards visiting
the area whether on the Canadian side, American side or
both.
For those that have never tried houseboating before but
have enough interest in it, I highly recommend it. It’s a
great way to enjoy nature and ‘mostly’ get disconnected
from our highly connected life of phones, computers and
screens.
What does houseboating mean for me?
Every trip I take I know it’s an opportunity to be forced off
my computer and my phone. If anything, the phone is more
of an accessory to take pics and videos but as someone
whose job revolves around being in front of a computer all
day, getting disconnected is the break I always look
forward to. When I travel or go on any other types of
vacations, I always feel the urge to get on my computer
and get a few hours of work in. When I’m on a boat, even if
I have the opportunity to connect to my phone’s data, it is
hard to want to be online when you can go fishing,
swimming, hiking, sunning or whatever floats your boat,
pun intended.
What do I hope you’ll get out of this magazine?
I just want to share my love of houseboating & travel and I
want this magazine to inspire you to plan your next trip or
maybe even become an owner of a houseboat. I’d like for
this magazine to teach you a few things. The Explorer
component of the magazine is all about the destination
and I want to share some of the amazing places around the
world that are worth visiting. Everytime I discover a new
place to visit, I get excited and want to experience it and
share it with you.
Special Thanks To
Too many people helped with making this magazine a
reality so check out houseboatexplorer.com/thanks1 for
the full letter from the editor.
Your houseboating captain,
John Wright
 In this Issue
4. 1000 Islands comic

6. Thinking about booking

a houseboat in the 1000
Islands? Ask Pete!

9. Fishing the
St Lawrence
River in the 1000 Islands
6 32. The HydroHouse
15 Explore the Local Food
of the 1000 Islands 9 A houseboat with a

18. Aerial View with 1000 15 dock for a sea plane

Islands Helicopter Tours 36. Destination

Yellowknife
21. 1000 Islands
Northwest Territories
Helicopter Tours

22. What to bring / What

18 Canada

to buy

26. 1000 Islands

Resources & Guide

32 32

CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR Published by:

John Wright StatsDrone Inc
John Wright 100 College St, Suite 150
Darrell Helyar GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Toronto, Ontario
Peter Latchmore John Wright
Jeff Garnsey M5G 1L5 Canada
Kevin Durkee MARKETING
Max Zhivov Darrell Helyar Copyright 2018 StatsDrone Inc. All rights reserved.
Monique Robert No part of this publication may be reproduced in
Pascal Gaggelli AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY any form by any means without permission.
by kouriskopters.com

CONTACT editor john@houseboatexplorer.com marketing magazine@houseboatexplorer.com

tel: +1 647 580 7124 MEDIA KIT houseboatexplorer.com/media-kit/
184 read the full article: houseboatexplorer.com/bob 184
Thinking about booking a
houseboat in the 1000 Islands? Ask
Pete from Houseboat Holidays
How did you get into the
houseboating rental business
and how did your company
grow?
Houseboat Holidays is in its
46th year of operation. The
company was started by my
father and the father of my
partner Mike Nicholl-Carne.
Mike and I have been involved
in some way or another for the
46 years. We started with 3
boats and started building
additional boats, a couple every
year, until we got to 25. We are
presently renting 22.
How busy does it get in the
high season and how early
should people book if they
want to rent a houseboat in
July or August?
We have 3 different models that
6
we rent and the months of July
and August are always
completely booked. The last
couple of weeks in June and the
first 2 weeks of September are
also very popular, but not 100%
booked. The summer months
will be fully booked (I hope) by
the end of May – middle of June.
What are some of the
advantages of going in the off-
season like spring or fall?
I think the biggest plus of going
off season is having the ability
to access any National Park
island you wish, often having
the entire island to yourself,
especially if you rent during the
weekdays. The weather in June
is definitely warm enough and
rarely gets uncomfortably hot. If
swimming is your thing
September would be better
than May - early June. Fishing in
the Fall is at its prime with the
season open for all the different
species. Bass and Muskie
seasons not starting until the
3rd Saturday of June.
In 2017 it seemed like a record
high water levels for Lake
Ontario and the St. Lawrence
river. How did that affect the
business and the area?
2017 saw record high water for
Lake Ontario which affected a
lot of people. Cottagers didn’t
show because they had no
docks, marinas were flooded as
well and people just didn’t put
their boats in the water. The
National Park islands suffered a
lot of damage to the docks and I
would say that was the biggest
problem for HH because our
customers couldn’t
access all the islands and the
docking at its worst point was
down at about 50%.

You recently added kayaks for

people to rent; how popular are
these?

We also rent kayaks and

paddleboards which seem to be
very popular. They are great to
just go out and explore around
the islands where the
houseboat can’t go. Since the
National Park docks are on a
first come first-served basis,
sometimes people find
themselves having to anchor for
the night and the kayaks allow
them to access the islands.
What are the important spots What are the most frequently
What are some of the “must-
that houseboaters should be asked questions you get and of
see” attractions in the area?
aware of? course what are the answers?
Some people like to visit all of
There are 4 towns that people Question: “How much am I
the tourist attractions such as:
visit in the 1000 Islands, where going to spend on fuel?”
Boldt Castle, the Antique Boat
they can find restaurants, food
Museum and Singer Castle.
and fuel for the boat – e.g. Answer: “If you stay in the
Otherwise people just like to
Rockport and Gananoque on Thousand Islands probably
hide away in a secluded bay
the Canadian side and Clayton between $250.00-300.00 for
somewhere and tour the islands
and Alexandria Bay on the U.S. fuel.”
and ‘hang-out’ – visiting
side. If they want to go west,
beaches, snorkelling, swimming
they can go to the city of Question: “How fast do they
and diving.
Kingston, which offers many go?”
tourist attractions.
Answer: “Their cruising speed is
around 6 knots.”

Question: “What do we need to

bring?”

Answer: There is a list on our

website but basically personal
items, food, towels. Bedding and
dishes are supplied.

7
What are some of the questions you get from customers
that make you shake your head?

“Are there sharks?”

“Can we get to Niagara Falls?”
“When is high tide?”
“Do we need to worry about pirates?”
“Will the boat flip over in a storm?”

Surely you must have had some clients from hell. Tell us a
story of the worst customer you have had.

A customer called and asked us if we knew where their

boat was. They had anchored and gone out on another
boat and when they returned their boat was gone. It
turned out that the boat had drifted about 8 miles down
river and into the shipping channel! Fortunately,
everything worked out and the boat was rescued
(unharmed).

Another time we had a group of 4 boats rented by some

young, local people. It was a beautiful weekend and they
headed to our local beach where they proceeded to have a
huge party – complete with disc jockeys, picnic tables
taken from the islands and approximately 100 people! The
noise and music could be heard in Gananoque and
surrounding islands! We received many complaints and
the police were involved but the party finally broke up
when I called their parents! One of our renters was going
by the scene with his young family. His son asked him,
“Dad, what is that?” and his father replied, “That, son, is
what you call one heck of a party!!!”

People drive by the 1000 Islands area all the time on the
401, many have heard about the 1000 Islands region but
don't really know much about it. What makes this area so My name is Peter Latchmore, 60 years old, married with 4
special and do you get many new customers that are
children, all who have worked for HH. Son Joe is currently
surprised at what they see and experience?
working for us and has indicated he would like to carry on
I would say that what makes it so special is that the scenic so it looks like a third generation will be renting
beauty cannot be surpassed - , the water is clean and there houseboats in the 1000 Islands.
is a multitude of things for people to do, as mentioned
before – sightseeing, shopping, swimming, diving and
snorkeling. The National Parks also make it a unique area.
People, at the end of their trip, are so enthralled that they
often book again right then and there. That is why 50% of
houseboatholidays.ca
our business are repeat customers.
+1 613-382-2842
platch@houseboatholidays.ca

8
Jeff Garnsey
Classic Island Cruises
Fishing the
St. Lawrence
River in the 1000 Islands
On the banks of the St. Lawrence River
bordering the Province of Ontario and the state
of New York, lies an old secret fishing spot that is
no longer so well kept. The area known as the
1000 Islands on the St. Lawrence River has for
many generations been known as one of the
most active fisheries in North America. Back as
early as 1872 when President Grant was a
personal guest and fishing companion of George
Pullman, word of this area’s action has been
spreading. Several species attract seasonal and
year-round anglers. The apex predator of the
1000 Islands is known to be one of the largest in
the species of Muskellunge (Muskie). It can
surpass 50 pounds and live many years. As
recently as the late 1970’s these river monsters
were harvested for both food and trophies. Due
in no small part to the conservation efforts of the
local guides and the environmental group Save
The River, muskies are now almost exclusively
caught and then safely released. Muskies are a
cold water spawner, so their season does not
begin until the 3rd Saturday in June. It ends for
the season on December 15th for those anglers
hardy enough to brave the strong fall north
winds. Anglers are limited to 1 each per day with
a size restriction of at least 54”, although
catching one in a day, every day, is overly
optimistic. Because of the limited numbers of
these great sports fish, you are more apt to
spend multiple days in search of that one big fish.
9
 Another very large sport fish that
would not be considered an apex
predator is the Sturgeon

d not be Another very large sport fish that would not be

rgeon. A considered an apex predator is the Sturgeon. A
habitat combination of over-fishing and loss of habitat
plentiful and spawning grounds drove this once plentiful
h fish to the brink of extinction. Although
een made significant efforts and progress have been made
uction of to re-populate the area with the introduction of
ese fish several artificial spawning grounds, these fish
ossess still have no season and are illegal to possess
erican with the exception of Tribal Native American
uses.

Next on the food chain is the Northern Pike. A

distant relative of the Pickerel and Chain
Pickerel, these sports fish also grow in relatively
substantial sizes in this waterway. The season
for Northern Pike opens the 1st Saturday of May
and continues through 15 March. You are
allowed 3 daily with a minimum length of 22”.
This daily limit has been recently reduced from 6
per day because of several poor spawning years
caused by abnormal water levels. Northern Pike
is an exceptionally fine tasting fish and if you are
lucky enough to find someone skilled enough to
remove the Y bones, this fish is hard to beat for
taste.

10
Both Largemouth & Smallmouth
Bass thrive in great numbers in
the 1000 Islands
The next sport fish is the Walleye who is a
distant and much larger relative of the Perch. It
has a season from the 1st Saturday of May
through 15th March. Anglers can keep 3 each
daily with a minimum length of 18”. This tight
textured white meat is one of the finest tasting
fillets you can find.

Both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass thrive in

great numbers in the 1000 Islands. Because they
are a warm water spawner their season does not
start until the 3rd Saturday in June and finishes
on 30th of November. The minimum size to keep
is 12” and the individual limit is 5 per day. For
several reasons it is recommended that these
sport fish are also caught and safely released.
Many national as well as international
tournaments come to this area of the St.
Lawrence River annually, greatly enhancing the
tourism revenue for the area. And although
these fish are edible, because of their increasing
diet of the invasive species known as the Round
Goby they are prone to a strong fishy taste
which often off-putting to the palette.

11
nd reachGoing back to invasive species, most have good
One of and bad characteristics and all have made
t they extreme differences to the river’s ecosystem.
wn to Most invasives arrive at the river via ships’
fry found
ballast discharge coming from overseas ports.
also beenThe first example is the Zebra Mussel. Like a tiny
h as pool filter over the last 30 plus years, the Zebra
bottomMussel
of has cleared the river to completely
arge die-crystal with almost unlimited visibility
underwater. One of the many unintended
consequences of this unwanted visitor is that
w York clearer water in shallow bays used for spawning
te of both cold and warm water fish are often
censes. choked out by weeds because of the sun’s
ne day or
penetration to the river bottom through the
the border
crystal-clear water. Zebra Mussels also clog
m Newwater intakes and speed atrophy of the many
as beenshipwrecks that are used for diving along the
f the waterway.
ck in and
phone The next important invasive species is the Round
Goby. The positives for the introduction of the
Goby were an increased food source that
allowed Smallmouth Bass to grow at greater
12
than double its historical annual size and reach
substantially greater lifetime weights. One of
the many downsides of the Goby is that they
have a ravenous appetite and are known to
consume as much as 75% of the annual fry found
on the area’s Bass beds. The Goby has also been
known to carry harmful infections such as
botulism, that when introduced at the bottom of
the food chain can occasionally cause large die-
offs in other species.
As with our neighbors to the north, New York
State requires anglers to have New State
residential or non-residential fishing licenses.
These can be purchased for as few as one day or
as long as an entire season. If crossing the border
to fish from Canada to New York or from New
York to Canada, the check-in process has been
extremely streamlined on both sides of the
border for convenient and speedy check in and
out. It can be accomplished by a simple phone

call if just fishing or by checking in with a
passport if making landfall.
One of the many jewels of the 1000 Islands
region is the Village of Clayton on the banks of
the St. Lawrence River in the very heart of the
1000 Islands. It offers not only a 4 Diamond
reputation but stunning views of the waterfront
that are unparelled anywhere in the region. The
Town of Clayton boasts a deep water mooring
for transient travelers by water as well as an
international cruise ship certification for
mooring. Clayton boasts an excellent array of
waterfront dining, from organic and farm-to-
table to fresh seafood from the area. For those
looking for something beyond fishing there are
wineries, micro-breweries and distilleries to pass
the time.
For entertainment, Clayton boasts the largest
collection of fresh water antique boats in North
America at the Antique Boat Museum. They
offer both an in-water fleet for adventure rides
and dry docked exhibits for the viewer’s
enjoyment. The annual Antique Boat Show
draws thousands of spectators annually with
every second year including a Race Boat regatta
of historical classic speed boats.
Clayton also has the Thousand Islands Art
Center, the Thousand Islands Museum (home of
the Muskie Hall of Fame) and the centerpiece of
the downtown waterfront is the beautiful,
historic and recently renovated Clayton Opera
House, home of the Thousand Islands
Performing Arts Fund, Inc. After a long day on
the river fishing, dinner and a show are only a
short walk from the hotel room.
13
 Captain Jeff Garnsey is a third generation fishing
guide from a family that spans 9 generations in
the 1000 Islands.
Fishing/Shore Dinner Wine & Cheese Cruise
We have a variety of fishing trips These cruises are completely
available from ½ day drift fishing to customized to suit your individual
full day drift fishing or trolling, needs. If you are looking for a romantic
depending on the season. If you would cruise along millionaire’s row or a
like to bring along your own snacks for stunning sunset across forty acres, I can
lunch we have ample refrigerated do either one or both. Or maybe your
space onboard. If a shore dinner is tastes go more toward a cruise on the
more to your liking, they are also way to one of the 1000 Islands
available in the full day fishing trips. restaurants for dinner.

Learn more Learn more

Phone: +1 (315) 955-9166

Email: classicislandcruises@yahoo.com
www.classicislandcruises.com

Kevin Durkee
Owner + Big Cheese of Culinary
Adventure Co.
I have the best job in the world - I
make people happy through food,
drink and great culinary experiences.
My career grew out of being a
natural-born foodie, Culinary Tourism
leader, Cheese Expert, CPG marketer
culminating as a champion for local
and artisan Canadian food.
Growing up in rural eastern Ontario, I
was surrounded by local artisan food
- before it was called "local artisan
food". My Mom ran a home-bakery,
then a tea room in Perth, Ontario for
25 years. She was a true entrepreneur
and huge influence in my life. I
worked side-by-side with her while I
was growing up. She instilled my
passion for great food and great
stories – from an early age.
Chief Story-teller, Marketing
Executive + Culinary Entrepreneur
offering 20 years of marketing and
culinary management experience
within Canadian Cheese, Culinary
Tourism, Artisan Food, Consumer
Engagement, CPG, Retail +
Foodservice sectors.
COMPANY
Culinary Adventure Co. is Canada’s
#1 Food Tour + Adventure Co. with
operations in Toronto, Kingston,
Ottawa, Halifax + Charlottetown and
Winnipeg.
TWITTER + INSTAGRAM
@culinaryadvco
Explore the Local Food
of the Thousand Islands
To really enjoy a busy summer region like Thousand Islands, you've got to
discover the best places to enjoy a culinary treat - but your time is limited
and your options are varied. So finding the great ones can be a real
challenge.
As a local die-hard foodie, here are our 7 favourite bites, shops, sip and
experiences to help you taste the best of the local region.
HENDERSON FARMS
This family-owned Jam & Jelly
company is located on Wolfe Island,
but you can find their wares at local
shops and farmers markets. 2017 saw
their Fig + Rhubarb Marmalade, our
personal favourite, win First Place at
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Enjoy a Sunday morning breakfast on
board and treat yourself to a slather
on a fresh scone or piece of toast. A
real treat.
SEED TO SAUSAGE
hendersonfarms.on.ca
If you are a Charcuterie fan, there is no
better source than the artisan team at
Seed to Sausage. Mike McKenzie,
Founder, believes that the tastiest
food can only be made with the best
ingredients, which we wholeheartedly
agree. It’s why their hand-craft award-
winning fermented salami, pancetta
and guanciale are second to none.
Seed to Sausage also offers an array of
flavour packed sausages for your grill.
Find their products across the region,
DELIGHTFULLY DIFFERENT TEA or if you find yourself in Ottawa, visit
ROOM their General Store and stock up for
the summer.
Denise Paquette, a local legend in
Kingston, is the charming host and seedtosausage.ca
culinary inspiration behind this
delicious spot on Wellington St. She
serves all sorts of tea time and
afternoon savoury snacks, but be sure
to call ahead and order a slice of her
Butter Pecan Coffee Cake. It’s worth
coming ashore for a slice.
fb.com/delightfullydifferenttearoom
15
 CULINARY ADVENTURE CO
SAVOURY KINGSTON FOOD TOUR

There is no better way to taste a

region, city or neighbourhood than a
Food Tour. And there is not better host
than the fine folks at Culinary
Adventure Co. While they have
experiences across Canada, none is
better than their Savour Kingston
Food Tour. Their Culinary Guides
(Catherine was our guide) will have
you wandering and visiting gourmet
shops, restaurants and artisan food
producers across Kingston’s
downtown. A perfect afternoon to
discover the hidden gems and iconic
tastes of Kingston. A must.

culinaryadventureco.com/kingston

KINGSTON PUBLIC MARKET

We can’t truly enjoy the summer

COOKE’S FINE FOODS & COFFEE
Generations of families have shopped
at Cooke’s, and since opening their
doors in 1865, (yes 1865) the fine food
retailer has carried some truly unique
produce over the years. At one time
they imported tiny boxes of
“Chocolate Covered Baby Bees” and
“Deep-friend Grasshoppers” as well as
tins of “Rattlesnake Meat”. Now of
course, the historic shop is filled with a
treasure trove of culinary delights.
Mustards, Salts, Jams, Candies,
Chocolates, Coffee, Chips, Cheese,
and thousands more little bags, bottles
and boxes of the finest curated
collection of foods in the Thousand
Islands.
without getting lost in the bustling
busy aisle of local Farmers Markets.
Two of our favourites are in the region,
first, the Kingston Public Market. As
the oldest market in Ontario, the
passionate vendors have been
providing a food and a sense of
community since 1801. During the
summer the Market is open Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday for you to fill
your basket with local produce, fresh
BROCKVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET vegetables and don’t miss the chance
to visit Bush Garden Cheese for raw-
Our other favourite Farmers Market milk cheeses from Elgin, Ontario.
in the Thousand Island area is the
collection of artisans at the Brockville kingstonpublicmarket.ca
Farmers’ Market. Step onto Market
Street West on Tuesday, Thursday, and
Saturday mornings and enjoy shopping
from one of the many local sellers.
Every week, vendors bring to you
Ontario’s farm-fresh foods, handmade
crafts plus amazing ready-to-eat food
and drink within easy access to the
Brockville waterfront and downtown.
brockvillefarmersmarket.ca

cookesfinefoods.com
Aerial View with 1000
Islands Helicopter Tours

What is your role at Kouris Kopters 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours?

My main title at Kouri’s Kopters/1000 Islands Helicopter Tours is

Marketing; however on any given day I may be answering the phone,
manning the front desk or loading/unloading passengers from the
helicopter. I’m also normally the voice behind the social media
accounts.

What's the best part of your job? Meg Dabros

Marketing & Social Media
One of the best parts of the job is meeting people from all over the
world – it’s amazing to get the chance to share the area you love with
people who are just experiencing it for the first time. Not only are some people experiencing the
1000 Islands region for the first time, but for many it’s their first time in a helicopter, which is such
an exciting thing for people that it’s impossible to not to be contagious.

What are your favourite spots to visit in the 1000 Islands?

Gananoque is a beautiful small town in the islands; it has some amazing unique things, like the
18 Thousand Islands Playhouse which is a dockside theatre, right on the water! Also lots of
docking for boaters, easy access to food and drinks along the waterfront, and attractions to
spend some time in the area. There is also the
amazing Half Moon Bay in the Admiralty Islands
group where boaters can go every Sunday for a
Church service in their boats. Not to mention the
jewel attraction of the 1000 Islands Region:
Boldt Castle, where you can get off and tour the
castle or simply boat around it – it is American so
passports are required if you’re travelling from
Canada!

What is the most popular tour that people book

the most?

Our most popular tour is our 20 minute Boldt

Castle Tour, which gives you a beautiful aerial
view of Boldt Castle without needing a passport!
You see a huge chunk of the islands that make up
the region on this tour, as well as flying over
both the American and Canadian spans of the
Ivy Lea Bridge and the 1000 Islands Tower on
Hill Island.

Aside from the 1000 Islands area, what other

tours does your company operate?

Our company offers a whole selection of full day

excursions on top of our 1000 Islands tours. This
includes both winter and summer excursions!
We offer both a full day Prince Edward County
wine tour by helicopter as well as a Prince
Edward County craft beer tour; each includes
helicopter
transportation between each spot, lunch, and
tastings at three different locations with a
helicopter transfer to and from the heliport in
Gananoque. We also have full day ice fishing
excursions where we actually land the helicopter
out on the ice and includes all the equipment, ice
hut & heater, lunch, drinks and a guide for the
day – we also have fishing excursions in the fall
as well. One of our most popular packages is our
UNESCO tour, which includes a helicopter tour
up to Chaffey’s Locks, a 3 hour bike rental and a
3 hour kayak rental at the locks and a picnic
lunch. At the end of the day we pick you back up
with the helicopter and fly you back to the
heliport in Gananoque.

19
What do you think about the HydroHouse
designed by Max Zhivov featuring a houseboat
with it's own airplane doc?
I think that it’s a great idea! Super compact and
makes it easy to get to and from locations! Plus
such a unique thing to have with your house
boat!
Do you think Max could design a houseboat
with a helipad?
I don’t see why not! There are lots of boats that
have helipads built into the deck, as long as they
are properly reinforced to support the weight of
the helicopter! It makes it great to see an area
from multiple perspectives – both the air and
land!
What are some odd requests from customers?
Not particularly odd, but we do get lots of
requests to help plan proposals over the islands,
special anniversary surprises and once we were
asked to provide helicopter rides at a Buck and
Doe! As long as we have permission from the
property owner and there is sufficient space to
land/take off we can do all sorts of things!
20
Tell us a story about a client from hell, or clients
if there are more of these?
I don’t think we’ve ever actually had a client from
hell! I know a lot of people must say that, but I
genuinely think that we have some of the
happiest clients in the world – they’re coming in
excited to be doing something they don’t get the
chance to do every day and maybe it’s their first
time in a helicopter. Locals we get in are excited
to see the area they live in, or in some cases,
grew up in and have been living here for years
but have never seen it from the air, and tourists
we get in are getting to see an area that they’ve
been researching on the internet but have never
seen in person. Normally they’re just so
enthusiastic to be going in a helicopter that they
never seem to be in a bad mood!
Are the ice fishing tours done in the 1000
Islands region or are these in other areas?
The Ice fishing tours are done normally in
Northern lakes and private lakes closer to
Tamworth Ontario. It is dependent on what
species people are fishing for or if they have a
specific location in mind – we are happy to
accommodate!
184 read the full article: houseboatexplorer.com/bob 184
 What to bring / what to buy

This list will give you some ideas of what to bring and also what
you can buy when you go houseboating!

Vicks Vaporub Q:Why do you need Vicks?

A: MOSQUITOES!!!
No joke, Vicks Vaporub is great for
deterring mosquitoes and just as good
for relieving mosquito bites.

You can buy bug spray, get those

electronic mosquito repellers, bracelets
and really Vicks works the best. Try it!

Add to Cart Don’t believe me? Google it!

Coleman 5-Gallon Collapsible Water Carrier

Coleman Pine Scented Citronella Candle,
Crackle Wick

Antech Manual Food Chopper

Add to Cart
Add to Cart

22 Add to Cart
 Drones are so cool and the DJI Mavic is
one of the flagship drones from DJI. DJI Mavic Air, Onyx Portable Quadcopter
These things are fun to fly and take Drone
amazing pictures and video.

Just be sure to follow the local laws

pertaining to drones. In some countries
you have to register your drone with the
local authorities and get drone
insurance.

Also check www.uavforecast.com not

just for weather conditions but to learn
of no-fly zones. Add to Cart

ThorFire Collapsible LED Camping Lantern Intex Explorer 300

Hand Crank USB Rechargeable Tent Light

Add to Cart Add to Cart

Intex Challenger K2 Kayak Outward Hound Kyjen 22021 Ripstop Dog

Life Jacket

Add to Cart Add to Cart

23
 Rapala Ultra Lite Lure Kit Kids Fishing Pole,Light and Portable
Telescopic Fishing rod for Youth Fishing

Add to Cart Add to Cart

Thule Force - Large 628 Cargo Box

This Thule cargo box will make your life
easier. When you start packing your car
or SUV, you might realize you need more
space and it’s just easier to have a cargo
box so you can take everything you need
to without having to leave stuff behind
Add to Cart because of space restrictions.

Ugly Stik Shakespeare GX2 Spinning Rod Docooler 101Pcs Fishing Lures
Combo

Add to Cart Add to Cart

24 read the full article: houseboatexplorer.com/shop1

184 read the full article: houseboatexplorer.com/bob 184
 1000 Islands Guide
& Resources

Have you ever been to the 1000 Islands? If not you have to go!

There are 3 types of people in this world

Those who have no idea what or where the 1000 Islands are
Those who know of the place but haven’t been
Those who have been and can’t wait to go back!

As someone that is from Toronto, I fell into the category of knowing of the 1000
Islands but never having been, at least that is up until a few years ago. If you happen
to drive past the area on Highway 401, you probably don’t get a chance to see it’s
beauty. You don’t really get a chance to see anything as the scenery is shielded off
from the highway. The only way you can understand the true beauty of the area is by
simply visiting and getting out on the water.

This article is simply meant to give you an idea of what the area is like and most
importantly give you all the resources of the whole area on the Canadian and
American side. I’ll aim to keep the online article up to date and add more resources as
they become available to me.

read the full article: houseboatexplorer.com/1000islandsguide 27

Geography Passports - Do you need to bring them?

The 1000 Islands are an archipelago situated on Whether you are starting out on the Canadian or
the far east end of Lake Ontario where the lake the American side, you should bring a valid
transits into the St. Lawrence River. There are passport if you intend to travel to the opposite
1864 islands and they share a border in Ontario side. If you do, you are required to check-in to
on the Canadians side and New York state on customs immediately.
the American side. The area covers 50 miles or
80 kilometres from Kingston downstream. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Alexandria Bay
Notable Towns Tel: 315-482-2261
https://www.cbp.gov/travel
• Kingston, Ontario
• Gananoque, Ontario Canada Border Services Agency
• Brockville, Ontario Port of Lansdowne
• Clayton, New York Tel: 613-659-2301
• Alexandria Bay, New York https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html
• Cape Vincent, New York
Fishing License
Did you know? To classify as an island here, the
land must be within the river channel and have You’ll need a fishing license to fish in Ontario and
at least one square foot of land above water all one for New York state. On both sides there are
year-round and support at least 2 living trees! enough places to pick up licenses such as
marinas and fishing stores on the U.S. side and a
History few outlets on the Canadian side including
Canadian Tire.
The last Ice Age, 12,000 years ago, helped
formed the area and also much of the great
lakes. Before the Europeans came to colonize
the continent, the region was inhabited by
Aboriginals around 7000 years ago and the area
was a popular spot for the Iroquois. The area has
been known as Les Milles Îles in French, or The
1000 Islands and before it was called
Manitouana meaning "Garden of the Great
Spirit”. To learn more about the 1000 Islands
check out the Wikipedia page.

28 184
Tourism Information

There are a few publications and websites that

have plenty of information for the 1000 Islands
and some focused either on the Canadian side or
the American.

1000 Island Life Magazine

islandlifemag.ca

1000 Islands Life

thousandislandslife.com/events/Events.aspx

Visit 1000 Islands

visit1000islands.com

1000 Islands Tourism

1000islandstourism.com

184 read the full article: houseboatexplorer.com/bob 184

National Parks Fishing Charters

Parks Canada has information about all the Classic Island Cruises
parks including important notices and similar classicislandcruises.com
information on the American side by New York
State Parks. Fishing 1000 Islands
fishing1000islands.com
Parks Canada
1000 Islands Fishing Charters
pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/1000
1000islandscottages.com

New York State Parks Houseboat Rentals

parks.ny.gov/regions/thousand-islands/
default.aspx Houseboat Holidays is the main company that
serves the 1000 Islands area and they have over
Tours 20 houseboats for rent and are based in
Gananoque. The other company serving the area
1000 Islands Helicopter Tours is Gilbert Marine which has a few houseboats for
fly1000islands.ca rent and they are located in Brockville. The
location near Gananoque is very close to many
Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours of the popular islands.
usboattours.com/1000islands

1000 Islands Cruises

1000islandscruises.ca

Gananoque Boat Line

ganboatline.com

30
Kayak Rentals
Camping
1000 Islands Kayaking
1000islandskayaking.com Parks Canada camping
https://www.houseboatexplorer.com/fish1000
pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/1000/activ/camping
Boomerang Bike & Kayak Rental
boomerangbikeandkayakrental.com New York State campsites
parks.ny.gov/camping/campsites/default.aspx

184 read the full guide: houseboatexplorer.com/1000islandsguide 31

 The HydroHouse
A houseboat with a
dock for a sea plane
by Max Zhivov

www.max-zhivov.com

First question: What is the hydrohouse and when can I get one?

Hydrohouse is a mobile houseboat equipped with parking for sea

planes. The advantage of this houseboat is that it can be
delivered to the location in two containers, the assembly of the
houseboat is made on the spot.

At the moment I am looking for an investor for this project and

companion for its realization.

32
What is your goal for the hydrohouse, is it just a
design or is this something you want to see
made into production?
I really want to see hydrohouse in production
and I am sure the hydrohouse will be popular
project.
Your futuristic houseboat designs have given
you some major media coverage, how do you
feel when people are viewing and sharing your
designs all across social media?
I like that people appreciate my works. I hope
that some of my concepts will be realized
someday with media help.
You have other houseboat designs which look
amazing, tell us about what you created.
On my web site are presented 6 projects of
houseboats. Most interesting for customers are
ModulGo, Hydrohouse and Moon. They have
more requests than others. I think that other
projects have more standard design and that’s
why do not attract so much attention.
33
Tell us more about your Modul Go design, what would you estimate the cost of these models to be
and how can you configure this houseboat?

The main idea of Modul GO project is to create an inexpensive solution for life on water. It is mobile
and easily modified houseboat that adopts for customer needs. Modul GO can be a standard living
module with two rooms, cafe, equipment rental point, the base for hydroplanes, boat refueling module,
cargo variant for transporting of goods and small passenger cars. Houseboats can be adopted for most
of the specific requirements.

The houseboat is made on the basic platforms with size 9 m x 4,5 m and 13 m x 6,5 m.
For Modul GO are developed 10 types of sections that have following dimensions: width is 2,4 m and
height is 2,3 m and also there is a type of section with an increased height that is 3,5 m. Sections can
have windows of different types or walls without any openings. Modul GO houseboats are equipped
with electric motors and solar panels and are fully ecological. Power of electric motors is chosen
according to houseboat model and its functions. The houseboat is designed in such way that can be
easily transported by two euro tracks and quickly assembled by 4 people over 2 days.

Modul GO is a good idea for a water village to rent for vacations. Located in a picturesque setting it can
become very popular as an inexpensive and quick escape from civilization. It also can change its
location and become a traveling eco-village.

For Modul GO there will be a mobile application developed that can let you choose the section types
that will be installed on the platform and see your future houseboat on the screen of a smartphone
with all tech specifications and calculate the price.

At the moment we are working on this project, we want to reduce the cost of the base module and
soon will have some prices.

34
Do you think these houseboats could be
produced and perhaps something people could
buy in the future?

Yes, I am sure that this project can be popular,

especially among tour operators.

Why did you decide to work on houseboat

designs?

I have the education of an architect, I always

liked houseboats, because they stand in the
middle between architecture and yacht design, I
think that in this segment may appear very
interesting objects that stand between the two
creative areas.

What are some of your favourite lakes to go

boating on?

I really want to visit the Norwegian fjords and

lakes in North America and Canada. And now as I
live on Volga river in Russia I go boating here.

Out of all the places to go houseboating in

Canada, which place would you want to visit
and why?

I would love to visit the lake very much

Temagami, Ontario
Canada

Are you working on more houseboat designs

and what can we expect to see from you in the
near future?

Now I continue to work on the ModelGO, this is

a very large project. I want to realize it very
much in nearest future.
Destination Yellowknife
Northwest Territories
Canada
by Monique Robert
Column: Explore The World
Imagine that ‘get away’ feeling
being surrounded by water,
sitting on a deck in the bright
midnight sun, and the only way
anyone can get to you is by boat
because you’re anchored 200
meters from shore. Turn off
your phone and drink in the
soothing sounds of water birds
calling and diving 3 meters
away. Get away from it all, yet
the city is in plain view and only
a 3-minute canoe paddle to
shore.
Go to the local bar/restaurant,
the Woodyard Pub, which is the
only brewery in the NWT. After
you pick up Northern
handmade gifts for your fab
peeps from the Down to Earth
Gallery, bring back a beer
growler and hang out a little
longer on your deck. Enjoy
36
a virtually no mosquito zone
because you’re too far away
from land. Tomorrow, get Rosie
to bring you on a historic walk
through Yellowknife. If you
want to catch the biggest fish
you’ve ever seen – easily – make
sure you book enough time to
be here. Get out on the bigger
lake the next day and do it again,
because you’ll want to, but in
the Jenny this time. Does it get
any better?
Actually, it does.
Guests from all over the world
come to Yellowknife in a frenzy
during the winter to view the
most incredible natural light
show possible: The aurora. Mo’s
Houseboat B&B is in the best
City population: 20,000
11 official languages
10th largest lake in the world
Deepest lake in North America
at 2,014 feet
Sunniest summer in Canada
Over 1400 km from Edmonton
Over 4800 km from Toronto
position possible to house
guests who want a true taste of
Northern living being on a
hassle-free, toasty warm, yet
completely frozen in houseboat
on the lake during cold weather.
No box-hotel for you … setup
your tripod on the snowy deck
to catch it all, as the northern
lights unfold and dance before
you. No aurora tours necessary
because it’s right there over
your head with no city light
pollution. Stuff in as much as
you can and burn the candle at
both ends because there’s lots
to do in the daytime too. Go dog
sledding, snowmobiling, and ice
fishing. Get Rosie in the winter
too, and she’ll take you
snowshoeing in gorgeous
surroundings, keeping you
entertained with Yellowknife
tales. Stay warm throughout it all and book a parka so you can walk around in the super bright
winter sun and watch all the activities going on around you on the ice: Skiing, cycling, dog sledding,
snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing, dog walking, skijoring, kite skiing ... you can even order a
pizza and they will deliver it, driving on the 1.5 - 2 meter thick ice!

Living on an anchored houseboat in the far North is one of the most unique and adventurous living
arrangements in the world! As a guest here at Mo’s Houseboat B&B, it’s easy to understand how
unique and fun it is to boat to your B&B in summer, as it is to simply drive onto the ice and park
beside your suite in winter…

Monique Robert is an artist

living and working in
Yellowknife and showing
abroad. She also runs Mo’s
Houseboat B&B on her 2nd
houseboat that she built in
2016, consisting of two fully
equipped suites. She has
been living on the water in
her Yellowknife Bay
houseboat since 2010 and
ran an owner-occupied B&B
out of it for 7 years.

37
 Meal Planning & Recipes
on your Houseboating
Vacation by Darrell Helyar from dhrecipes.com

Before you start your houseboat vacation you will want to plan out your meals for each day;
breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Most likely you will have limited access to grocery stores to
pick up items so it will be important to make a list and think about all the ingredients you will need.
If you are sharing meals and preparation with others be sure to share the meal plans to avoid any
duplication of meals and ingredients.

Here are some tips to help prepare for your houseboat vacation:

• Space will be limited so bring just what
you need
• Keep meals simple, tasty and fun
• Take advantage to BBQ
• Prepare some meals and ingredients
ahead of time. For example if you need
a number of spices for one dish pre-
measure them at home and place in a
labelled small zip lock bag
• Pre-marinate meats and freeze
• Prepare desserts ahead of time
• Pasta salads are a tasty option that can be
prepared ahead of time and stored in zip
lock bags
• Enjoy pancakes? Bring pancake mix that
only requires water added to avoid
bringing extra milk and eggs
• Take smaller sizes of condiments
• Make a list of everything you will need

38
Hoisin Chicken Wings or Thighs
Whether using chicken wings or chicken thighs
these are always a hit. These can be prepared
and frozen in a zip lock bag ahead of time or if
you prefer simply prepare the marinade at home
and bring along and marinade later.

Ingredients

• 1/2 lbs chicken wings or thighs

• 1 cup Hoisin sauce
• 3 tbsp ginger, minced
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• ¾ cup green onions, finely chopped
Almond Parsley Pilaf Rice
• ½ tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
Ingredients
Directions
• ½ tbsp. butter
1. In a large bowl add all marinade • 4 shallots, sliced
ingredients and mix well • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
2. Remove about ½ cup of the marinade to • 1 ½ cups rice (basmati preferred)
small bowl to be used as a glaze when the • 3 pieces lemon peel
chicken comes off the BBQ • 1 ½ cups chicken stock
3. Place chicken in a zip lock bag and add • 1 bay leaf
remaining marinade and toss to cover • Pinch salt
well. A bowl can be used also. • ¼ cup almond slivers
4. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or longer. • 1 bunch Italian parsley
5. Prepare the BBQ for medium heat and • Lemon juice, 1 lemon
grease the grills to prevent chicken from
sticking. Directions
6. BBQ the chicken over direct medium
heat, with the lid closed as much as 1. Melt the butter on low-medium heat in
possible for about 10 minutes turning sauce pan
once. 2. Add sliced shallots and sliced garlic for 5
7. Once chicken is cooked removed from minutes
grill and place in a bowl. 3. Add the rice, stir for 1 or 2 minutes
8. Add 1/2 cup marinade that was set aside 4. Add chicken stock, lemon peel, bay leaf
earlier, gently heated and put lid on sauce pan, let the stock boil
9. Add half of the sesame seeds then reduce to low heat for 15 minutes &
10. Gently toss wings in marinade and stir often
sesame seeds 5. Remove from heat, let sit for 10 minutes
6. Add chopped parsley, pinch of salt, lemon
juice and toasted almond slivers.
7. Mix and serve 39
 Our Recommended Recipes
Korean BBQ Chicken Greek Couscous Salad

Dry Rub Pork Tenderloin Orzo Salad

Piri Piri Chicken Simple Spinach Salad

40 get these recipes here: houseboatexplorer.com/1000eat

Explore the 1000 Islands
with Houseboat Holidays!
+1 (613) 382-2842 Houseboat Holidays
platch@houseboatholidays.ca 11 Clark Drive
facebook.com/HouseboatHolidays/ Gananoque, Ontario
www.houseboatholidays.ca Canada K7G 2V5
Twin Anchors Houseboat Manufacturer

TWIN ANCHORS MARINE

Toll free: 1-800-558-0881
Local: (250) 836-3028
www.twinanchorsmfg.com
 Aurora Houseboats
Tobin Lake, Saskatchewan
www.aurorahouseboats.com

Lakeway Houseboats
St. John River, New Brunswick
www.lakewayhouseboats.com
MO'S HOUSEBOAT B&B
Canada's original floating B&B experience.

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Owner & Operator: Monique Robert

+1 (867) 445-6363
moshouseboatbnb@gmail.com

www.moshouseboatbnb.com
 Canadian Houseboat Rentals Directory
Did you know there are nearly 40 houseboat rental www.canadahouseboating.ca
companies across Canada from British Columbia to New facebook.com/canadahouseboating
Brunswick with Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec in
the middle.

Waterways Houseboats
British Columbia Shuswap Lake, Sicamous Ontario

Sunshine Houseboats & Marina Inspiration Houseboat Holidays

Lake Koocanusa, Cranbrook Shuswap Lake, Sicamous 1000 Islands, Gananoque

Bluewater Houseboats Fish and Duck Houseboats Gilbert Marine

Shuswap Lake, Sicamous Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island 1000 Islands, Brockville

Twin Anchors Houseboats Kelowna Houseboats Waterway Getaway

Shuswap Lake, Sicamous Lake Okanagan, Kelowna Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls

Harrison Houseboats Happy Days Houseboats

Harrison Lake, Harrison Hot Springs Saskatchewan Kawarthas/Trent-Severn, Bobcaygeon

Waterway Houseboats Egan Houseboats

Aurora Houseboats
Shuswap Lake, Sicamous Kawarthas/Trent-Severn, Omemee
Tobin Lake, Nipawin

Island Houseboats R&R Houseboats Rentals

Cowichan Lake, Vancouver Island Kawarthas/Trent-Severn, Bobcaygeon

46
 Ontario Quebec New Brunswick

Three Buoys Houseboats Kipawa Houseboats Lakeway Houseboat Vacations

Temagami, Lake Temagami Lake Kipawa, Kipawa St. John River, Mactaquac

Leisure Island Houseboat Rentals Kipawa Outpost

Temagami, Lake Temagami Lake Kipawa, Kipawa

Canusa Vacations Les Chalet Gouin

Temagami, Lake Temagami Gouin Reservoir, Le Haut-Saint-
Maurice
Dog Lake Resort
Dog Lake, Thunder Bay Achimac Outfitter
Gouin Reservoir, Le Haut-Saint-
Sioux Lookout Floating Lodges Maurice
Shuswap Lake, Sioux Lookout

Lac Seul Floating Lodges

Cowichan Lake, Vancouver Island

Canada Houseboat Vacations

Lake of the Woods, Nestor Falls

Ontario Wilderness Houseboat Rentals

Lake of the Woods, Morson

Lake of the Woods Houseboats

Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows

Tomahawk Resort & Houseboats

Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows

Floating Lodges
Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows

Houseboat Adventures
Lake of the Woods, Kenora

68 foot houseboat from Houseboat Adventures

Kenora, Lake of the Woods, Ontario

47
 Global Houseboat Directory
HouseboatInfo.com is our global houseboating site and www.houseboatinfo.com
directory. Find all rental companies, houseboat
manufacturers and designers and resources for boating
travel, tourism and lifestyle.

United States Australia New Zealand

Holly Bluff Marina Coomera Houseboats Whangaroa Houseboats

St Johns River, Florida Gold Coast Kaeo, Northland

Pleasure Cove Resort Rivershare Houseboats

Lake Berryessa, Napa Murray River, Mannum

Burnside Marina Brooklyn Marina

Lake Cumberland, Kentucky Hawkesbury River, NSW

Lake Roosevelt Adventures Echuca Luxury Houseboats

Lake Roosevelt, Washington Murray River, Echuca Moama

Auckland Houseboat Holidays

India Germany Tuakau Town District

Kumarakom Houseboat Holidays Berlin Bootsverleih

Malabar Coast, Kerala Berlin
South Africa
Backwater Routes
Vembanad, Kerala Breede River Dream Cruises
Malagas

Sunset Houseboats
Vaal River

Old Willow Houseboat Charters

Vaal River

Knysna Houseboats
Thesen Islands, Knysna

48 view our directory: houseboatexplorer.com/rentals

Facebook Group:
1000 Island's Fishing Diehards

read the full article: houseboatexplorer.com/1000fishingdiehards

This page is a little blank … wish there were more stories to read or more pictures to look at?

:(
Write for us and share your story!
We’d love to hear from you and we are always
looking for houseboating pics, videos, stories and
any resources worth sharing with our readers.

Send us an email
magazine@houseboatexplorer.com
 Discuss th
e issue

www.houseboatexplorer.com/chatissue1

Come chat
and
ask questio
ns
Letter from the editor
Welcome to the very first edition of Houseboat Explorer
Magazine. We’ll referring to the mag as HEM for short. This
magazine exists today all from a chance trip on a houseboat
to the 1000 Islands back in 2015. That trip happened
unexpectedly as I was trying to find a cottage to rent but got
frustrated with the search and somehow stumbled upon the
idea of houseboating. After the first houseboat trip with my
friend and now business partner, we wondered where else in
Canada can you rent a houseboat? After days of compiling
the data, we realized there wasn’t a good resource for listing
all the rental companies across Canada and
canadahouseboating.ca was born.
Fast forward a few years and now we are building out
houseboatinfo.com as a worldwide directory for all things
related to houseboating and this digital magazine for HEM
which focuses on the travel and tourism aspect usually
sticking with the theme of houseboating. That said there are
so many interesting places around the world to visit to
experience houseboating. You have numerous locations all
over the United States, numerous countries in Europe, India,
South Africa, New Zealand and even Australia.
It is in the 1000 Islands Canada where this magazine starts
and we are eager to share our knowledge of the area. I’m
hoping this magazine will be your gateway towards visiting
the area whether on the Canadian side, American side or
both.
facebook.com/houseboatexplorer
@HExplorerM
Special Thanks To
@HExplorerM
Too many people helped on making this magazine a reality
so check out houseboatexplorer.com/thanks1 for the full
For those that have never tied houseboating before but have
enough interest in it, I highly recommend it. It’s a great way
to enjoy nature and ‘mostly’ get disconnected from our
highly connected life of phones, computers and screens.
What does houseboating mean for me?
Every trip I take I know it’s an opportunity to be forced off of
my computer and my phone. If anything the phone is more
of an accessory to take pics and videos but as someone
who’s job revolves around being in front of a computer all
day, getting disconnected is the break I always look forward
to. When I travel or go on any other types of vacations, I
always feel the urge to get on my computer and get a few
hours of work in. When I’m on a boat, even if I did have the
opportunity to connect to my phone’s data, it’s hard to want
to be online when you can go fishing, swimming, hiking,
sunning or whatever floats your boat, pun intended.
What do I hope you’ll get out of this magazine?
I just want to share my love of houseboating & travel and I
want this magazine to inspire you to plan your next trip or
maybe even become an owner of a houseboat. I’d like for
this magazine to teach you a few things. The Explorer
component of the magazine is all about the destination and
I want to share some of the amazing places around the
world that are worth visiting. Everytime I discover a new
place to visit, I get excited and want to experience it and
share it with you.
letter from the editor.
Your houseboating captain,
John Wright