State Dock — Attraction in Monticello

A beautiful week with friends! Many memories made!

We rented the 502 Houseboat on 8-6-18 thru 8-10-18. We were to board our boat at 3:30 pm and the staff didn't call us until 6:00 pm.

The shuttle service, once you take your car up to top to park was great and staff was very helpful. Due to to the lay of the land, the drop-off dock is aa stee hill down from parallel parking area for unloading your cargo into big bin type carts on wheels out to the holding area on pier/dock. We went to the restaurant for part of the time but it was crowded and we waited in the "holding" area for two more hours in the heat. When we finally were called to board, we pushed our carts way out to our boat and began unloading all io our 9+ bins. Here is a list of issues:

1. The refrigerator door had a shelf missing and the other shelf wasn't secure. 2) The kitchen cabinet with stacks of Corelle dishes broke and shards and large piece of glass we're everywhere. The wooden shelf was a half inch smaller than it needed to be to rest on the pegs to support it. 3) the sliding door was very hard to open and screen door was unstable and came off the track easily. 4) while swimming off the back io the boat, boarding kayaks, etc, the smell of raw sewage was awful. We weren't sure if tank was vented on the side but it was awful! When we called for maintenance to come check out these issues, they said they'd never heard that complaint before 🤔. 5) although staff went through instructions on operation of boat, hot tub use, etc., it would be most helpful to have signage near the hot tub for it's operation. 6) my bedroom flourescent light didn't come on unless I pounded on the ceiling light cover a few times. Then while reading, it would go off and on😖. 6) The first time we used the grill, the drop grease pan hadn't been emptied and we had a grease fire. The food we we're grilling was not greasy meat and the flames were alarming to say the least! Staff must check these drip pans between people boarding or you could lose a houseboat! 7) during a bad storm, another boater was in need of assistance. The caller was heard by the State Dock crew but she couldn't hear their response because her volume was not turned up. They kept telling her to turn up her volume to no avail. Instructions are printed by the call phone on the boat and I understand people do not always read instructions. Somehow the communication while boarding must make it very clear about turning the volume up in a storm etc. They also should stress difference between what they can and cannot do in emergent situations, the importance of tying down your boat properly etc. 8) a suggestion...upon arriving at 76 Falls, there were 2 large houseboats docked on the left, directly in front of the main attractive fall😭. My suggestion is to have docking permissable on the right side only so other boaters can see the falls. Not everyone can pull in close to dock but it would be courteous if all boats docked on the right instead if in front.

Our boating experience was wonderful overall. Lake Cumberland is the most beautiful lake I've ever been in. Kayaking here was phenomenal, lots of interesting coves and streams to explore. The staff was wonderful as we brought things to their attention. This boat, however, appeared very much in need of some TLC. I can't imagine how difficult it must be, sending out these boats every day with all kinds if individuals, some with no boating experience! I appreciate State Dock being there on this beautiful lake. I feel there is a huge need for true attention to the things I have mentiined above. This takes time and a staff that pays attention to details, not just merely filling a job position. Thank you for a pleasurable week! It...

Our trip started out by us being ready to leave dock but a mechanic was still working on the boat. Once done on the boat the mechanic told us he couldn't get one engine working so we would have to go out with one engine instead of two. Once out on the water everything seemed fine - just slow. Second day we were going our turtle speed to sight see and find another cove for our second night when some jet skiers came and told us we were leaking oil all over the back. Sure enough! Quickly found another cove and radioed in to the marina. No one came. Radioed again - again no one came. Next morning radioed marina and asked what to do about major oil leak and they finally sent mechanic out that told us something wasn't tight so we were all set to go. Set out for our third night and discovered that no - we still had oil behind us. Docked again for the third night. Last full day we figured we better start heading back toward marina as we were still down an engine and leaking oil. Grabbed a spot close to marina for our last night. During dinner of the last night we all started to smell something every time someone flushed. Never saw anything floating but we're pretty sure our septic tanks were full so we never did any more floating or swimming. One our way back to return the boat our generator ran out of gas so we couldn't radio in to marina to get a captain out to us. Glad we had 4 different cell services aboard cause someone ended up having service for us to call into marina. Once the captain was on board we told him about it looking like the Exon Valdez behind us and he claimed it was soot. None of us believe him but that tells you they will not fix the boat - will just keep polluting the environment. Besides all our mechanical boat issues boat was also super worn down, dirty with ants and spiders all over! You cannot run more than 2 major appliances at a time and we found out it's because everything is cobbled together through the electrical panel. Glad we had some tradesmen with us because they were able to figure it out and get our A/C back on twice after it wouldn't come back on. We made the best of our time on the houseboat but I would recommend going through another company with newer/better kept boats. During the week on the radio we could hear MANY of the other State Dock boats calling in for help with issues and never receiving any help so I know it was not us just getting their...

I have been on the lake multiple times and have rented house boats eveytime. This was my first time renting from state dock and let me tell you it was the worst experience I've had. we arrived an hour early to find out we were not allowed to enter our boat until the actual launch time at 130pm. well let me tell you two came around and no one had said anything to us we noticed our boat was being lifted out of the water which prompted me to go ask questions and figure out what was going on. One of the employees finally let me know that they were changing a prop on the boat. I asked to speak to a manager and no one ever came to me which prompted me to go inside and seek him myself. I stayed in my frustrations and let them know this is something that they should have been aware and launch time. Once we were finally allowed to enter the boat we noticed they were still sweeping inside and had water on the 2 bedroom floors which were carpeted. Once again I had to go find the manager and ask questions as to what why this was happening. He explained that they had "shampooed" the carpets which was BS because it was only on one side of the boat .We then noticed the route cause being the hot tub leaking into the bedroom window. They sent out the maintenance employee wholwho me know that they had a bad drain plug and that they've ordered a week ago and the part never came in. Telling me that management had been aware of the issue. At this point we had no choice but to take the boat out almost 2 hours past our launch time. Once out on the water we noticed a strong smell of diesel fuel coming from the boat. We called in and they came out to try and fix the issues. Mind you they had another boat parked in the back by the slide and swim area for 2 hours were we were in able to swim. They were in able to fix the leak and said they would be back but never returned. Which made it near impossible to swim of the back or be on the deck as the smell of diesel was everywhere. Top that with not being able to sleep inside due to the smell of mold from the water on the carpet. Please be aware of this company and I recommend you not book from them. We heard on the radio multiple issues for multiple boats as well with no help or support. I will never recommend or book...