First one to the Kettle Falls dock wins. One year, one boat was so far ahead of the scattered fleet that the skipper swung over into Black Bay for a walleye fishing session. When he saw other boats passing the mouth of the bay, he put away his tackle, hoisted sail, and set out to catch the front-runners. The next day, sleepy inland sailors beat upwind back to International Falls. Some have been known to take a tow from a friendly houseboat skipper.
Houseboats make great venues for families, parties, family reunions, and even corporate retreats.
The latter, while effective in isolating executives from daily routine, phone interruptions, and general office pressures, is somehow a violation of the houseboating spirit. Ideally, a houseboat vacationer would leave the cell phone at home, use the two-way radio only for emergencies, and hide the TV clicker, if a TV were aboard. Fishing, and a refreshing swim, should be the only distractions. Sunrises and sunsets on lakes are almost always spectacular. Privacy and solitude are priceless.