Get excited – get very excited!

It’s the latest addition to the rental suite of cool things. It’s vintage. It’s got more cool history than an ancient Roman city. It’s outfit with a mixture of tasteful retro stuff and bright contemporary stuff. It puts all other waterfront rentals to shame because….it’s on the water! It sleeps 8ish (some of you will have to be less girthy or love each other a lot on one of the pullouts) I haven’t figured out the maximum party limit but I’m guessing it’s around 30. And, best of all (and this is a must for boats from what I’m told)…..it floats!!!!

It’s…………….the houseboat!

All boats are supposed to have a name as you well know. Some boats don’t. (shame on those boaters) This boat had a name which was telltale of it’s interesting past ownership. It was ‘The Playhouse’ and it was affectionately adorned with cute little bunny graphics (not to be confused with graphic bunnies though, you’ll soon realize might not be inaccurate). (is the puzzle coming together in your mind??) The bunnies looked a lot like the bunnies used by a certain provocative magazine that’s been entertaining men for 50+ years. ‘The Playhouse’ was one of a number of houseboats once owned by…..wait for it……Hugh Heffner!!!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, you have the wonderful opportunity of sleeping where Hugh and his ‘friends’ once ‘slept’. (the sheets have been changed to protect the innocent – actually, the whole interior has been changed for modernization sake) The only thing that remains from those sordid days are the stories. Stories to which only Hugh can attest the credibility.

Well, I own it now and have shaped it for my own version of fun, the specifics of which are to be decided by you as my guest!!! Though the bunnies and name of yesteryear were interesting, I’ve replaced them for my own purpose. Though the boat is secretly named ‘3 Hour Tour’ *, the stern brightly advertises the business name Wishyouwerehererentals.com . Certainly more boring than anything Hugh might have done but, it catches ones eye and rolls nicely over the tongue.

So, there you have it. The story. If you’d like to add to the history of the boat, call or email to make a reservation. Welcome aboard!

What can we rent the boat for?

- lodging…..cool lodging

- dinner/drink/swim trips out on Lake Michigan

- office parties (in slip or out on the water)

- skinny dipping trips (I, as the captain, do solemnly swear not to look, especially if you do not look good naked.)

- skinny dipping office parties (I’m not sure where you work but, are you hiring?)

- birthday parties

- any other kind of party you might be throwing

What do I get with a reservation?

- use of the houseboat for you and your guests for X number of days/nights/hrs

- use of the marina pool 50yds away

- use of the marina shower facilities 75yds away

How do I make a reservation?

- call or email to ask about availability

- review the contract we will both sign

- show me the money ;-) (50% of rental fees are due to reserve, the remainder is due 30 days prior to the event)

What’s it cost?

For the 2009 season as my own Obama-inspired economic/mental-health stimulus package the rates are:

· $125/nt/couple

· $60/nt/add’l person (up to 8)

· 2nt minimum

· trips out on the water are extra

What’s the boat equipped with?

· 1 bedroom with queen bed

· 1 bedroom with 2 twin beds (bunk style)

· 1 twin daybed in main salon

· 1 double pullout in main salon

· 1 head (that’s the bathroom for you non-boater types) with toilet, shower, sink

· kitchen equipped with refrigerator/freezer, stove/oven, sink, microwave

· cooking/eating utensils, plates, cups etc… (no woks or weird fondue stuff)

· indoor dinette & 4 chairs

· forward and rear 11X7 covered decks

· 2 upper fabulous sunbathing, drinking, eating, reading, frolicking (I’m not quite sure what that is exactly but I think the English and little kids in snow do it.) decks 10X14ft each. This is where you’re gonna be seen so, I highly recommend you contain yourself or, not be from here, use a false name, let ‘er rip and leave without a trace!!

· upper deck refrigerator and barbecue grill

· linens & pillows for all beds

· storage for your stuff

· stereo with auxiliary input for your iPod or other music storage thingy

· flatscreen TV & DVD player (no cable – no satellite – tell the kids to go outside and feed the ducks or swab the deck where crazy over-embibing uncle fred recently hurled or something character building like that)

· pretty much all you’ll need to enjoy yourself and directions to a nearby store at which you can buy the rest

How cool is it?

“This is cool like a breeze up a skirt on a hot summer day.” – unsolicited testimonial by owner who has never worn a skirt, so he claims

How much fun am I allowed to have?

You will be measured upon your arrival for the amount of fun you’ve had to date in life. You will be measured again at the end of your stay. If if appears as if you’ve exceeded your recommended daily allowance of fun as determined by how much you had upon your arrival divided by the number of days you’ve been alive, a surcharge will be levied. I’m kidding! I’m a kidder.

Where’s the boat?

Pier 1000 Marina, on the Benton Harbor side of the St. Joe river. It’s the boat with the bright colored Adirondack chairs and royal blue carpet up top!

I’m sure there’s info I’ve missed providing so, call or email and ask questions!!

Contact Info

Scott Schilke (you can call me captain, but, like Tennille, you might get frustrated when I don’t respond)

269-921-0767

email me

* if you tell me at the time of making a reservation on the boat where ‘3 Hour Tour’ comes from, you’ll receive a complimentary gift upon your arrival!

* additional fees for more than 15 people. maximum 25 people for events/trips out of slip

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