About Us
Information about our very interesting office & equally interesting staff

Houseboat Tours
Houseboat tours are offered in conjunction with our summer Bay Boat Tour or our winter Ice Tour.  Step on board and learn about what life is like floating on the water - or frozen into it.  It's a fun event that all ages can enjoy.  Call us to book your tour, or click here for more information.

Our Office
On our Bay Boat Tour (summer) and our Ice Tour (winter) guests get a first-hand look inside Houseboat 28 and what life and work is like in the world's coolest little travel agency.

The Houseboat

           Houseboat 28 in the fog

Technically it's not a houseboat since you can't drive it around, so if you want to be proper it's a floating home. 

The flotation is provided by two steel pontoons 120 cm (4 feet) in diameter and 15 m (50 feet) in length.  The floats have a mass of 8,000 kg (20,000 lbs) and provide 40,000 kg (90,000 lbs) of flotation.

The House
The house is 28 feet by 28 feet at the base with an interior living space of just over 900 square feet.  The office is located in the upstairs loft with a walk-out deck - perfect for an afternoon break in the summer. 

Power
Four 85-watt solar panels and one 400-watt wind turbine provide the majority of the electricity needs for the houseboat.  A bank of batteries store extra power for use when power is not being generated.

Solar panels provide the majority of our electricity

Heat
The houseboat incorporates passive solar design to capture heat from the sun.  For eight months of the year (March-October) there is measurable heat gain any day the sun is shining, and even on some cloudy days.  This simple technology is achieved by placing a calculated amount of windows on the south side of the houseboat.  This helps maintain our low environmental impact and reduces the amount of firewood and propane required for winter warmth.

Getting Here
The houseboat is about 300 metres from mainland.  In the summer you will need a canoe or boat to get here.  In the winter you can walk or drive (once the ice is thick enough) as well as ski, snowshoe, kite ski, dogsled, or skidoo.  During freeze-up and break-up you put one foot in the canoe and one foot on the ice and make your way between the ice floes!  Who knew getting to work could be such an adventure?

Satellite View
Click here to view a satellite image on Google Maps to see the surrounding area.  Houseboat 28 is the one in the middle of the image.

Our Staff

Scott Robertson
Owner/Super Agent/Tour Guide

Scott was born and raised in Yellowknife and has spent most of his life involved in tourism and travel.  He started his career at a young age working as a guide on Great Slave Lake with his father.  Scott has worked extensively in the airline industry as an agent, flight attendant, as well as in sales & marketing.  Scott started Arctic Escapes Travel to promote tourism to the North and to provide travel services to Northerners.
 

Richard Anthony
Leisure Travel & Operational Support

Richard has lived in Yellowknife for several years working in customer service roles with the private and public sector.  Before moving to Yellowknife Richard worked for WestJet in Calgary as a customer care representative.  Richard is an expert at planning out vacations and knows how to find the best destinations and the best deals.  He's also exceptionally organized and without him the office would be much more chaotic!

Trek
Wellness Coordinator & Head of Office Security

Trek ensures we get outside a few times a day for some fresh air and exercise.  Trek was featured in the 2006 NWT SPCA Calendar as "Mr. August" but fortunately has not let fame go to his head.  He loves to fetch and will be your best friend if you throw a frisbee for him.