Houseboat readers hail from every corner of the globe, though most fall within the borders of the United States. Recently, forum member endurance wanted to discuss a regional difference he'd noticed as he boated at Lake Powell on the Utah/Arizona border. Other readers chimed in with their two cents about the East versus West and Gibson houseboats. Let's see what was discussed.
endurance posed his questions: I boat at Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border. I don't think I have ever seen a Gibson on the lake. Yet from the near reverence and hushed tones that some use when discussing Gibson houseboats, there must be something special about them.
I guess my question is two questions. First, what is it about Gibsons? Second, any ideas why they're rarer than honest politicians on a large western lake?
Dan had some thoughts: Not sure I can really give you an answer per say, but as a Gibson owner I have a couple thoughts. I've been a boater my entire life with play boats, runabouts, etc. When I decided I wanted to go into a weekender type I ended up in a Sea-Ray 290. When I decided it was time for more room (grandkids, you know) and maybe a houseboat would fill the bill, I still wanted a boat. Nothing against the aluminum hull folks at all, they are great too. My Gibson is 50 feet long, sleeps eight comfortably, and has one and a half baths. That's a lot in 50 feet, in my opinion. The fact that it will spin on a dime is also pretty nice. Then of course there's something about firing up a pair of 454 Crusaders with straight pipes in the morning that really gets the blood flowing!
endurance clarified a bit: I appreciate the thoughts. And please excuse my clumsy wording. I meant that Gibsons are rare on my large western lake, whereas honest politicians are just plain rare.
BananaTom explained his history with Gibson: When I first looked at houseboats, the Gibson motto got me: "We make houseboats for boaters, not floaters."
It is fun to put that puppy up on a plain, and cruise at 20 knots with a top speed of 30 knots, that is right, 34 miles per hour was top speed. And of course a huge wake, which required monitoring so a small vessel would not be swamped. Maybe that is why none are in your area, to reduce wave action.
And Dan is right, my 350 crusaders would wake up the marina, big time; maybe you do not have them to reduce noise.
Maybe because you are so far away from the manufacturer, and the transportation costs weigh in here.
However, I have never been on your lake, YET!
OLD HOUSEBOATER gave some perspective: Different type of boating. We tend to travel more on our lakes that are tied together by rivers. Your group is mostly devoted to puttering on the lake you're locked in to. Lake boats are becoming more and more popular in the Heart Land.
Visit the forums at www.houseboatmagazine.com to read this discussion in its entirety. Search for the "Regional differences" thread.