Wahweap Boat Rentals — Local services in Page

We recently rented a 62’ Journey houseboat from Wahweap Marina for a 4-night, 5-day trip on Lake Powell. The lake is absolutely stunning, but travelers should prepare thoroughly—once you leave the marina, you are essentially on your own. Services are limited, and response times are long.

The Boat:

Our houseboat was disappointing in condition and amenities, especially considering the high cost.

Major issues included:

Ice maker, hot tub, and upstairs fridge were all non-functional Most electrical outlets didn’t work Significant bug problem (flies and large spiders, especially in the ceilings) Gate latches didn’t align properly Outdoor stairs had deteriorated traction pads, were steep and difficult to navigate—everyone ended up with scraped shins Only 4 cheap plastic deck chairs were provided (boat capacity is 12), with 2 unusable due to cracks No cushioned seating on the top deck Missing curtains on several salon windows Underpowered engines (2 x 115HP); one frequently stalled Den couch was hard vinyl and very uncomfortable Poor insulation—the 3-ton AC unit ran constantly without keeping the boat cool, draining generator fuel Rear swim deck was difficult to access, made of hot corrugated metal, and had no seating Entertainment center was outdated (basic flatscreen with HDMI/DVD only); surround sound and outdoor speakers did not work No WiFi or Starlink included Fuel capacity (3 x 110 gal tanks) was sufficient, but we had to shut off the generator and AC for long stretches on days 4–5 to conserve fuel Freshwater tank (80 gal) was adequate for 8 people with bottled water supplement Blackwater tank did well (800 gal) and was at capacity after 4 nights.

Service:

Check-in was handled by an intern who gave us incorrect instructions—thankfully a full-time staff member corrected the most critical points Dock and return staff were helpful and friendly We got stuck on the beach due to the underpowered engine and had to call for a service tech, who took 6 hours to arrive, costing us a day We monitored radio Channel 1 on our last day and heard other major service issues from nearby boats: Steering failure Two generator failures Broken refrigerator

The Lake:

Lake Powell is breathtaking and offers amazing swimming and scenery.

We stayed in Gunsight Butte and explored by a 21’ ski boat and jet ski Midge flies were a major nuisance, especially without a screened-in area on the boat Weather can change rapidly—anchoring properly and adjuating frequenstly is critical as the lake drops nearly an inch per day

Recommendations:

Bring a runabout boat or jet ski: crucial for exploration and backup if the houseboat fails Pack your own deck chairs and beach gear Monitor lake depth and re-anchor after a couple days to avoid getting stuck Consider renting a Starlink system if you need internet or phone calls Plan for total isolation: delivery services are rare and expensive Expect delays for any mechanical or service issues—potentially all-day or next-day responses Consider hiring a pro team for beaching and securing the houseboat (e.g., with water bags) -Inspect your specific boat in advance if possible—our neighboring Journey boat looked much better, and the newer 59’ Wanderer boats appeared far superior

Bottom Line:

Lake Powell is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable destinations in the U.S., but a trip like this requires detailed planning, patience, and realistic expectations. The scenery is unforgettable, but even minor mechanical or comfort issues can disrupt your experience. Do your homework, and choose your...

My husband and I visited here April of last year. We were really excited to rent kayaks and paddle to Antelope Canyon Creek!

We visited the day before we were going to kayak- just to make sure everything was lined up. We made plans to be there early as we wanted to beat the heat. The staff was not friendly and communication was poor. With the exception of the person who gave us a cart ride to/from the marina to our car. Overall, this business is unprofessional and unorganized.

The day of, we waited for an hour for someone to assist us in getting our life jackets and kayaks- even though we had been instructed to wait for assistance I contemplated just taking it upon myself to get on with it. I walked back and asked the office what was going on and they shrugged it off with “Just wait there, they’ll come”. Eventually someone came and even though he wasn’t necessarily friendly, he gave helpful advice. The prolonged wait defeated the purpose of us arriving early, to beat the heat.

Also, I’m glad we had cash for the deposit, that way we get it back immediately after returning the kayaks. I wouldn't trust an electronic refund, at their will.

The experience of being on the water, kayaking to Antelope Canyon Creek and hiking through the Canyon was wonderful. We really did enjoy it. However, please consider the folllowing;

Do NOT kayak to Antelope Canyon Creek unless you have the strength and endurance for it. The waters can be choppy and this only gets worse when boats/jet skis go speeding by. We experienced no resting/stopping along the way due to no accessible points.

The office does not disclose any information about difficulty, weather conditions, or safety. If you ask questions expect unsatisfactory answers.

Essentials - Self Preparation; DO bring water/food, hat/sunglasses/water shoes/sunscreen/towel. (UV Rays are amplified by the reflection of water.) Put these items in a dry sack. Between the heat and getting wet I also recommend covering up in breathable clothing. Less clothing = less protection. If you don’t want to hike in your water socks I recommend bringing a pair of socks/shoes to change into. Remember there is no bathroom along or at Antelope...

If I could give them negative stars I would. Everything started out great, maybe an hour in we decided to go tubing. Kids had a blast. We decided to go into a canyon and when we were getting the kids out of the water we turned off the engine and it didn’t turn back on.

Problem #1: Our engine stopped Problem #2: when we were floating and we were finally safe we realized our rope was only 6 feet long which was hard to tie. My husband has very good mariner so we were lucky. There was no other rope on the boat. Problem #3: Absolutely no service. We were lucky to flag a kind soul who came back after 1 hour with jumper cables, then waited longer for another boat big enough to jump start us. Problem #4: Jump lasted maybe 10 minutes, and luckily we were able to get to a Sandy area and found people nice enough to let us in their house boat. Problem #5: No service. Had to hike up a Sandy hill 25 minutes in 115 degree sun to find out no one will get us, even though my husband got through it would be hours before someone would come. They told us if we could flag someone down to drive us back to the marina, we should abandon the boat.

Problem 6: Even when we got service it was very difficult to talk to anyone with any knowledge or responsibility. They wanted to pass along messages.

Finally help arrived about 5 hours after the second time we got stranded.

Problem #7: We arrived back at the boat dock at 7:30 and not one soul to be found.

Not sure what would of happened if we actually sunk or died as it did not seem as if they cared if we were found or came back.

Advice for the company: Get longer ropes, put in a spare battery in the boat, have an individual responsible for the return of boat rentals that’s stays until they are all back and put a tracking device in the boats.

We did get a refund for the boat.

We are adventurous, travel often, and do awesome things all the time but we really never felt so forgotten about and abandoned while paying so much for an excursion like this. We will probably never rent a boat...