Southern Exposure: Bob & Diane Rubens Explore America's Southern Waterways Onboard Adventure Craft

Hello from Diane and Bob Rubens, Adventure Craft owners since 2007. We currently live in north-central Louisiana (quite a cultural relocation experience from living in Michigan most of our life). Prior to buying this cabin boat, we had been longtime motor home travelers. Adventure Craft was to be an extension of our yearning to explore out of the way areas. We have had a variety boats during our lives and enjoy the water as much as the road. After many peregrinations around the country towing a car with a boat and trailer behind, (including a trip to Alaska) we sold the rig to start exploring the rivers of America. To date, we have only touched the tip of navigable waterways.

After I retired in Michigan, Diane and I began researching trailerable houseboats. After reviewing several brands, Adventure Craft was chosen because of the hull design and its appearance. It has exceeded all our expectations. The Adventure Craft has given us the portability to move freely around the country, and at this writing we are towing the boat up into Tennessee to spend some time on the Tennessee River around the area known as “The Land Between The Lakes.”

Most of the time, we spend a week to ten days on the water exploring every creek and bayou we pass. We recently took a trip to the St. Augustine, Florida but found it a little too congested for us. Apalachicola, Florida more than made up for it with its northern remoteness along the Apalachicola River. We would have liked to make it up to the Georgia state line (Chattahoochee River), but time did not permit on this trip. We did make a short hop off the Apalachicola on the Intercoastal to refuel at Port St. Joe, Florida.

We have traveled the Calcasieu River from Westlake, Louisiana out to the Gulf of Mexico and across to the Sabine River in Texas. From there, we traveled north to Orange, Texas and returned via the Intercoastal to the Calcasieu. Diane and I have traveled extensively on the Mississippi as far south as St. Francisville and north to the Arkansas River. Additionally, we have cruised the Red River from Shreveport, Louisiana south through Alexandria, including the 4 locks several times. One of our trips on the Calcasieu River was featured in Houseboat Magazine (May 2009) along with many pictures.

As we travel towing the boat, we often stop at campgrounds between boating destinations. The Adventure Craft, while not as convenient as a 40’ motor home, does provide a clean bed for the night. Overnighting in a campground draws many curious campers over to our site to look at the boat (mostly with envy). We enjoy stopping a little earlier than usual to allow time for tours of the boat and answer any questions. This past spring, at a little campground just north of Panama City, the clerk was a little befuddled as to what she should charge us because she did not have listing for an overnight boat. I assured her the owners would be happy registering the Adventure Craft as a travel trailer with electric and water hook-up.

Exploring America’s Southern Waterways

The Adventure Craft Experience – Boat Camping

Traveling The Intercoastal Waterway

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