The Trent-Severn Waterway is having something of a moment right now. In early 2025 it earned a spot on The New York Times list of “52 Places to Go This Year,” and The Canadian Canoe Museum on the banks of the TSW snagged a mention in Time Magazine’s “The World’s Greatest Places of 2025.” But how best to enjoy the historic 386km Waterway? Veteran houseboating company Le Boat recently brought a fleet to the TSW, and makes a strong argument for being the ideal way to take it all in.
“Le Boat’s been around for 55 years now,” says Lisa Mclean, the company’s Long Haul Marketing Manager. “They’re the number one boat rental company in Europe.” After opening their first Canadian base in 2018 on the Rideau Canal, they expanded to the Trent-Severn in 2024 with a fleet of eight boats, and found the conditions on the TSW to be ideal.
The waterway’s protected status makes it perfect for swimming and paddlesports, Mclean says, as well as offering practical advantages. “Because it’s operated by Parks Canada, everything is very well maintained,” she adds. “In Europe a lot of times you have to manually open the locks yourself, or push a button for an electronic lock. So the Trent-Severn is a really great cruising region for anyone new-to-boating, as they don’t need to to learn how to open a lock yourself —it’s all done for you by the Parks Canada lockmasters. Plus, if you are new to boating and renting a boat in Ontario, no boat license is required.”
It’s easy to see the appeal of the TSW for houseboaters, who are drawn by stretches of Canadian wilderness regularly punctuated by small towns ready to cater to visitors. However, for guests without boating experience the prospect can be intimidating, and Mclean stresses design upgrades Le Boat has implemented specifically to address that.
“We really know what customers are looking for,” she says. “What little luxuries inside the boat make it more comfortable as well as making the boats much easier to drive than they would have been 20 years ago.” Bow and stern thrusters make it easy to move the boat left and right, for example, which is a game changer when jockeying into place at a lockstation. Also, Le Boat Base Team teaches you everything you and your crew need to know about captaining a boat yourself and operating the boat safely.
Depending on the size of the group travelling, Le Boat offers five different sizes of craft. The smallest of the range, the Horizon 1, includes two
cabins, one bathroom with shower, and sleeps up to five; the largest, the Horizon 5, has five bedrooms and can accommodate up to twelve (and all can accept up to two dogs, for those curious about pets). Onboard luxuries include a full-size fridge and fully equipped kitchen, top deck lounging area with BBQ hot plate, GPS for navigation, USB ports, and a shower in every cabin—Mclean describes it as essentially a floating cottage.
“It’s really spectacular that people can have the true Canadian cottage experience while cruising,” she says, but encourages people to explore onshore as well. “Cruisers can enjoying life on board during the day, and when they’re moored up at nighttime, visit all the small towns and villages along the way and support local Canadian business. In Lakefield, as an example, it’s just a short distance from the mooring so you can walk or bike to the local pub for dinner and go to the local bakery to stock up on fresh ingredients for lunch on board the next day.”
Apart from an introductory training session and minimum three-night rental, customers are basically free to follow their curiosity. Trips north from the Horseshoe Bay Marina base are popular with travellers curious about the historic Peterborough Lift Lock, and can range all the way to Kirkfield; Mclean has also heard good feedback from travellers who head south to cross the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge. One of the most encouraging responses she’s received is that the houseboats are generally good for family time, inspiring multiple generations to gather around the dinner table and play games instead of defaulting to screen time.
With the buy and travel Canadian movement at an all-time high, Mclean expects a busy season ahead. The Waterway is a big draw in itself, but the affordability doesn’t hurt either. “A lot of people think it’s very expensive to get into the boating industry. You have to buy a boat, you have to maintain the boat, you have to rent a slip, you have to do all the winter maintenance,” Mclean explains. “So Le Boat really makes it a great way for people who don’t boat every single day of the summer to enter into the boating market… You really just have to bring your food and your clothing and you’re all set for the week. It’s a great way to eat, sleep, live on board and discover whatever cruising region you’re on by water versus by highway.”
For more information, visit leboat.com or contact the Le Boat sales team at 1-888-721-6359
Learn more about the Trent-Severn Waterway here
