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Houseboats on the Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

by Brenda
(New York)

Houseboating on the Rideau Canal, Ontario, Canada

Houseboating on the Rideau Canal, Ontario, Canada

The Rideau Canal system is one of Ontario's most beautiful and unique places to go houseboating.


The canal or winding river goes from Ottawa and goes south for @ 200 km (120 miles) till Kingston, Ontario. On our travels through the canal, we noticed boats from all over North America, some of them doing the "Great Loop".

The system has 45 locks, and helps boaters work their way through some major cities, and some of the most picturesque little towns anywhere.

We found the canal system to be very clean, safe, and full of friendly marine services along the way. At some of the locks, there is small towns which offer a wide range of local goods. Gotta love that "fresh baked bread".

We highly recommend the trip to anyone who wants to houseboat in one of the most beautiful areas in the world.

Any others out there who have travelled the Rideau Canal?

Thanks, Brenda.




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Reply - Answer
Well Brenda, I can definitely understand your point of view, as we have also travelled the Rideau, and we found it to be one of the most beautifully maintained waterways around.

The scenery, waterways, and the lock system are some of the highest rated just about anywhere. The pace through the canal system is just perfect for houseboats, and the quaint little towns along the way are great for shopping & afternoon adventures.


Lastly, hopefully some of our readers and visitors will share and post comments about their Rideau Canal, Ontario houseboat experiences and travels.

Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN from all-about-houseboats



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Comments for Houseboats on the Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Traveling the Rideau and Trent waterways
by: Roy Ewing

My wife and I would like to rent a houseboat that we can use to travel both the Rideau and Trent-Severn waterways next fall.

Any advice on who would rent this houseboat to us for a month (Mid September thru Mid October) in 2015? Please advise.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		1000 Islands Houseboat
by: Anonymous

I may be selling a Three Bouy's 45' houseboat in summer of 2013. This houseboat has been totally revamped and is in new condition and the 2013 marina dockage has been paid.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Best Houseboat Rental
by: Stacey

Big Rideau Lake Boat Rentals has the best and the newest boats to rent as we found out after renting houseboats for over 10 years. Their boats have 115 high efficiency Yamaha motors.

When you load up 6 people and all their luggage and food on a 40 ft boat you need a big motor. We rented one with a 60 hp and went 1 mile a hour and could not power out of a windy lock. Stacey and Kirk Armstong
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat Rentals - Big Rideau Lake Boat Rentals
by: John Robert

We rented with Big Rideau Lake Houseboats in the summer of 2010 and we have been renting boats for 17 years. Their boats are new updated with 115 hp motors on them.

It was a dream living on board them for a week, and we felt very rich compared to other companies we rented with. The owners live at their marina on the Big Rideau Lake and even gave us a 24/7 phone number to call if needed any help.


We rented other boats with 50 hp on them and they were way under powered, and driving at 3 miles per hour is no fun and those boats were old and in poor condition.

John Robert and Cindy
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat Rentals - Big Rideau Lake Boat Rentals
by: Tom

If I was to choose one holiday in my life time this would be the one I would choose. It has everything you want for a truly wonderful holiday.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Big Rideau Lake Boat Rentals
by: Anonymous

Great Company, the Big Rideau Lake Boat Rentals have new boats and have the best reputation on the Rideau System
Anne
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Ontario Houseboat Rentals - Big Rideau Lake on the Rideau Canal, Ont
by: Janet

Big Rideau Lake Boat Rentals is located in Portland, Ontario. They have new and updated boats, and their marina is located at 15 Water St. in Portland, Ontario.

The owners are Robert and Heather Heins, and they rent houseboats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, canoes and kayaks.

We rented a houseboat from them several years, and had the best time of our lives. Janet.

Reply - Answer
Well Janet, thanks for sharing this Houseboat Rentals in Ontario
information with us.

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboats on the Rideau / Portland
by: Suzanne

We have been on the Rideau Canal for 13 years.....we have a Three Buoys houseboat and have stayed at Bayview Yacht Harbour, Waterside (now Lens Cove), and currently at Rideau Ferry Harbour (Rideau Ferry - outside Smiths Falls)....

We have been liveaboards for 7 years...and for a few years just travelled and lived at the lock stations. You can stay at a lock station for 48 hours and then you must leave. We also stayed at the municipal docks in Smiths Falls for a few nights here and there.

We travelled to Ottawa then down the Ottawa River to Montreal, through the seaway locks past Valleyfield. We also spent some time on the Trent travelling to Kingston then top of Lake Ontario, Picton, Trenton and then the Trent.

I would suggest that if you find a houseboat for sale (check out the various marinas, boat trader, Kijiji internet site) get it checked out....both stuctural and mechanical. There were a few boats on the St. Lawrence that were for sale..you may also want to try the Trent Severn area.....

The season is mid May to mid Oct (thats when the locks open and close), but you can be put in earlier and stay in longer as long as you can get to your Marina...of course the Big Rideau offers lots of boating without locks.

Good luck with your houseboat search......
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		New to the Rideau and Houseboats
by: Anonymous

We are currently looking to purchase a used houseboat to use on the Rideau but are finding very few for sale. Does anyone have any advice on where to look? In addition, how long is the typical season availability?

Is there a particular place that would be suggested to moor the boat or is it more a case of just wandering up and down the canal and staying different places.

We are very anxious to find out more about this. We have purchased some property just outside of Portland and since we will not be building for some time, we figured this would be a nice way to get to enjoy the area in the mean time. I look forward to all of your comments.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Speed on the Rideau Canal
by: Suzanne

Actually there are areas that are speed controlled....other areas are not. We live on the Rideau Canal (in a houseboat) and have travelled the canal for the last 12 years.

Most boaters (power cruisers) respect passing other boats but some do not, and we have been swamped many times. The last time was in the area called River Styx (before Kingston Mills locks), the power boater was charged with careless operation of a boat. He could not be charged with speeding - no speed limit in that area.

We love the Rideau Canal and continue to enjoy the beauty of this area. Suzanne.

Reply - Answer
Well Suzanne, I can truly relate with your story, and am always amazed at how "some" boaters aren't courteous in regards to their wake and waves :(

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Bigger and more pictures of Pontoon Houseboats
by: Charlie

I would like to see more close up pictures of houseboats and in more detail. I am slowly building a pontoon house boat.


COMMENTS: I agree, I'm sure readers will continue contributing, and surely most will try to upload pictures of their houseboat experiences, since everyone enjoys seeing photos. A picture is worth a thousand words.
Rating
starstarstarstar 		A great place to go houseboating.
by: Terrence

I agree with this, as I have been boating there for many years and am always discovering new places.

The speed on the canal is 6 mph, so it's a smooth pace for houseboats. Can't wait to go back.

BTW, nice picture of the Ottawa Locks.

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