For many visitors, a houseboat is the most immersive way to experience the Kawartha Lakes region. Rather than choosing between a cottage and a boat, you get both — a floating home that lets you sleep in a new cove each night, wake up to morning mist on the water, and travel the historic Trent-Severn Waterway at your own pace. Whether you’re planning a family week, a group getaway, or simply want to explore more of the waterway than a day trip allows, houseboat rentals open up stretches of the Kawarthas that most visitors never reach.
Three operations offer houseboat rentals in this area, each with a distinct setup, service area, and rental structure. Here’s what to know about each.
Based in Trent Lakes, R & R Houseboat Rentals has been operating since 2008 and offers one of the most flexible fleets in the area, with houseboats in three sizes: 40 feet, 44 feet, and 60 feet. This range makes it a practical option for couples, families, and larger groups alike. The business operates on the Trent Waterway system, with access to Pigeon Lake, Big Bald and Little Bald Lakes, Upper Buckhorn Lake, and Chemong Lake, as well as routes toward Peterborough and Gamebridge.
Rentals run on a midweek or weekend format with a minimum of three to four days. The 40-foot houseboat is priced at $1,600 for a July midweek or weekend booking. Additional fees to budget for include a non-refundable deposit ($250 for 40- and 44-foot boats, $500 for the 60-foot), an early boarding option at $75, a pet fee of $75, pumpout at $40, and fuel estimated at $20–$25 per hour of travel. A deductible buydown is available at $25 per day.
No Pleasure Craft Operator Card is required, but renters must be at least 25 years old and hold a valid driver’s licence. An orientation is completed on-site, after which a temporary boating licence is issued. Delivery is not offered — you pick up at their location.
In addition to houseboats, R & R also rents pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, tubes, and lily pads — useful if your group wants to add smaller watercraft to the trip.
Le Boat Peterborough operates out of Horseshoe Bay Marina on the Otonabee River in Peterborough, offering self-skippered houseboat and cruiser rentals designed for multi-day voyages along the Trent-Severn Waterway and Kawartha Lakes. The focus here is on the full cruising experience: before departure, guests receive a boat handling briefing and orientation, and vessels are equipped with chart plotters and suggested itineraries to help plan the journey.
Bookings are structured around a minimum of seven nights, making Le Boat best suited to those planning a longer, more immersive trip. The season runs from mid-May through mid-October, aligned with lock operating hours on the Trent-Severn Waterway. A promotional discount of up to 30% has been referenced, though no base rates are published in their listing. Delivery is not available; guests depart from the Peterborough base.
No boating licence or prior experience is required. The on-site orientation before departure is designed to get first-time boaters comfortable at the helm.
Del Mastro Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina is the resort marina that hosts Le Boat’s Peterborough base, but it also offers its own houseboat rental program and an ownership option, both operated through LeBoat. Located at 374 Carolyn St in Peterborough — on the Trent-Severn Waterway near the Peterborough Lift Locks and within reach of Rice Lake — the marina provides a full resort setting around the houseboat experience.
Beyond houseboat rentals, the marina offers serviced and non-serviced slip rentals (priced at $85 and $55 per foot respectively), Sandpiper destination trailer sites, resort accommodations, laundry facilities, park Wi-Fi, horseshoe pits, an off-leash dog park, and a children’s playground. This makes it a reasonable base for groups where some members prefer to stay on land while others take the houseboat out, or for those arriving by trailer or car who want resort amenities alongside their water access.
The marina is open for three seasons. No boating licence or prior experience is required for the LeBoat houseboat rentals offered through this location.
| Business | Location / Water | Houseboat Sizes | Min. Rental | Licence Required | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R & R Houseboat Rentals | Trent Lakes / Pigeon Lake & surrounding | 40′, 44′, 60′ | 3–4 days | No (min. age 25, valid driver’s licence) | Not stated |
| Le Boat Peterborough | Peterborough / Otonabee River, Trent-Severn | Not specified | 7 nights | No (orientation provided) | Mid-May to mid-October |
| Del Mastro Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina | Peterborough / Trent-Severn, Rice Lake | Not specified | Not stated | No (orientation provided) | Three seasons |
For a shorter trip with transparent pricing and flexible boat sizes, R & R Houseboat Rentals in Trent Lakes is worth a close look. For a week-long waterway cruise with a guided departure and itinerary support, Le Boat Peterborough is structured around exactly that experience. Del Mastro Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina suits those who want the houseboat option alongside full marina and resort amenities — or who are considering a houseboat ownership program down the road.
None of the three houseboat rental operators listed here require a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or prior boating experience. R & R Houseboat Rentals issues a temporary licence after an on-site orientation; renters must be at least 25 with a valid driver’s licence. Le Boat Peterborough and Del Mastro Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina both provide orientation and boat handling demonstrations before departure.
R & R Houseboat Rentals publishes the most detailed pricing: their 40-foot houseboat is listed at $1,600 for a July midweek or weekend booking (minimum 3–4 days). Le Boat Peterborough references promotional discounts of up to 30% but does not publish base rates. Del Mastro Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina does not list houseboat rental rates. Contact each operator directly for current pricing.
R & R Houseboat Rentals rents on a midweek or weekend basis with a minimum of 3–4 days. Le Boat Peterborough requires a minimum of 7 nights. Del Mastro Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina does not state a minimum rental period — contact them directly for details.
R & R Houseboat Rentals allows pets with a $75 pet fee. Pet policies for Le Boat Peterborough and Del Mastro Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina are not specified in their listings — it’s worth confirming directly before booking.
R & R Houseboat Rentals operates on the Trent Waterway system including Pigeon Lake, Big Bald and Little Bald Lakes, Upper Buckhorn Lake, and Chemong Lake. Le Boat Peterborough covers the Trent-Severn Waterway and Kawartha Lakes from its Peterborough base on the Otonabee River. Del Mastro Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina is also based in Peterborough on the Trent-Severn Waterway, with proximity to Rice Lake.
Details verified as of July 2026.
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