Debby and Eric Hall have been houseboating for twelve years
with friends and finally decided to purchase their own houseboat March 3rd
of this year. Over the years they have always wanted a place to go that would
be fun to take their kids and grandkids to and make many memories at. They
always would go to the Carolinas beach for
years and thought about getting a place there but it was too far away and it
didn't workout. Instead they were looking at cottages in the Lake Cumberland
area but realized they wanted to be on the water so Eric was looking online and
found houseboatsbuyterry.com and decided to go with a houseboat, and to that
day they have never once regretted that decision.
They bought a Conley Bottom rental boat that is a Horizon
and is 17'. It is a four bedroom boat with all queen size beds so they can
accommodate lots of family and friends. It also has two full baths and a cuddy
with a sink and mirror. They thoroughly love their party deck on top which half
of it is covered, and has a fly bridge. "It is a perfect because it is large
enough for everyone who comes to hangout," mentions Debby. Their favorite thing
about houseboating is being on the water, Conley Bottom, and their friends they
have met at the dock. Their boat is an old Conley Bottom rental boat which they
decided to keep its red, blue, and white stripes but add even more stripes.
Their boat's name is "CaptainbigE" which is a nickname that a coworker at
Eric's work gave him and since then it has stuck. He has a baseball hat with
the name and that is what Eric wanted to name the boat. Their daughter even
designed the logo for the boat.
They love how Conley Bottom is only three and a half hours
away from their hometown of Milford by Cincinnati so they have
been on the boat every weekend since March. "I think we've only missed one
weekend," says Debby. Since they are new to houseboating they have been in a
cove five times and the rest of the time they are on the slip.
Their favorite meal to cook on CaptainbigE is grilled salmon
and veggies. Eric loves to grill some pancakes and bacon which makes for a
great morning on the cove.
They enjoy having company on their boat and have had lots
since they got the boat. Their dear friends who got them into houseboating in
Jamestown were their first guests on their boat and helped them learn to drive
it and other things you don't think of when houseboating. Since Debby is a
teacher she has had several of her teaching friends and their spouses come on
the houseboat for a weekend as well. Debby and Eric have two kids a son who is
at Columbus State and a daughter who also lives in Columbus and is married and
has a little one year old who have been out to the houseboat a couple times.
Eric's sister and her kids who have been living in Japan are there for the summer and
have been houseboating many times with them. Debby's mom who has had a stroke
and is in a wheelchair has been out twice already!
"I love houseboating. I could stay out all summer but I know
I got to come back for family occasionally too," Debby comments. Besides
houseboating another fun thing we like to do which is close to Conley Bottom is
go to this new winery that has just opened up. It is only ten minutes away from
Conley Bottom. Whenever Eric and Debby have friends or family they always take
them to this winery. Norrie is the owner, and Debby has scheduled many private
tastings for her friends and family.