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all sizes
Piloting On or Off Beach
2 decks (2nd deck ≤ 50% enclosed)
Piloting On or Off Beach
2-3 decks (2nd deck 75%+enclosed)
Piloting On or Off Beach
3+ decks (3rd deck covered)
Piloting On or Off Beach
Sit back and relax. It's in the bag.
Take advantage of our Full-Service Anchoring and leave nothing to chance. We'll rendezvous with you in your desired canyon or bay, deploy Beach Bags in your preferred location, and secure your houseboat. Then, upon your departure, simply untie your anchor lines and we retrieve the system.
Partial Pilot Service - On/Off the beach
For an extra fee, there’s nothing better than having a professional houseboat captain manning the helm and placing your boat on the beach. It’s a no-brainer option for stress-free anchoring and securing the very best locations in good weather or bad.
Full Pilot Service - Up/Down Lake
For full Piloting up and down lake, please scroll down.
How it works
Scheduling
During your booking, we request your boarding time, ideal launch time, preferred canyon/bay and additional preferences to establish a tentative anchor (rendevous) time and location up-lake. $100 down payment and balance due 30 days prior to your trip.
1-3 days prior to your trip we will reach out to confirm the above and provide you with final rendevous details and establish on-lake communicaiton.
Anchoring
We'll rendezvous with you outside the predetermined canyon/bay, and choose anchorage site (refer to site selection). Our crew will then deploy anchors and then have you pilot your boat in. If you have chosen Pilot Service, our capain will have the helm. We will then secure your houseboat and train you on our line tightning system.
Un-Anchoring
Self-Unmoor: simply untie and secure your anchor lines and we will retrieve the system within a few hours.
Assisted Unmoor with Pilot Service: We will take care of piloitng your houseboat off the beach, secure your lines and collect our equipment.
Site Selection
Choosing a site can often be a stressful part of your vacation. Some customers embrace the hunt while others prefer our help. Below are a few common options. Regardless which fits you best, we ask you limit to the canyon/bay confirmed in our pre-anchor communication (1-3 days prior). Note, we do not reserve spots in advance. Any site that is selected will need to be occupied by you, your guests or your boat at all times.
Customer Selection: you pre-scout to find your perfect spot. You may send us GPS in advance or show us at the time of our rendevous.
Co-Scout: when we rendevous we will show you a few options you might like based on your preferences you gave during your booking or confirmation.
Crew's Choice: based on your preferences you gave during your booking, we will be happy to select a safe, secure and enjoyable location on your behalf at the time of or just before your arrival.
Full Service Piloting Up-Lake
APEX is offering limited availbility, Piloting Up-Lake service for vessels in need of professional captaining from their slip to their anchoring location or from their anchoring location to the marina. (Alternatively, we encourage customers to take advantge of our Piloting On or Off Beach Services by driving themselves from the marina to their desired anchoring area and then having our APEX Captain pilot the vessel from there to the shore or vice versa.)
Pricing
This service is provided by APEX, and for your convenience, is scheduled & billed through Beach Bags. The APEX established rates below are based on one-way service. Be sure to book your return trip separately.
Location & Rates (one-way):
Warm Creek/Navajo = $800
Gunsight/Labrynth = $1,000
Padre Bay = $1,100
Face Canyon = $1,250
LastChance/Neanderthal/West = $1,500
Rock Creek = $1,700
Grotto/Wetherill = $1,950
Custom Anchor System
Anchors to go everywhere you do
We are pleased to announce our 2023 Anchor Purchasing Program. Ideal for the houseboat owner who wishes to Anchor themselves. Own your own Anchor System, install an on-board pump and off you go.
For those seeking flexibility and independance:
As total novice rookies houseboats, we decided to use Beach Bags. The first one took about 15 to 20 minute to set up, but the second one only took about 6-7 minutes. Our 75 foot houseboat never moved and we were very happy with the whole process
- Larry Furlong
These bags are not for the non-athletic crew. They weight around 75# and are bulky. Where we anchor they often have to be carried up rock slopes. Set up time for one 4500 and two aft 6500 bags is about 45 minutes. Also if you pull into a site when winds are present make sure to leave someone on the helm. Always preset your site if possible for a safe quick houseboat anchoring. The new bags are going to be lighter so it may get easier. The five star rating is because you will benefit in two ways. You are safe in high winds and the park rangers will not hassle you. See the pictures for the profile of our boat.
- Bill Prevatt, DVM
- Spencer Smith