Different Houseboat

It is ironic that Phyllis Hodell (charming article on houseboating, April 13) and I work at the same company. I enjoyed Phyllis’ report of the delightful vacation and leisurely cruise they had. However, the experiences my family and I had on the Sacramento River would have made a more exciting article.

The houseboat we were given would not permit the engine to be put in reverse. We awoke one morning to find ourselves at a 45-degree angle to everything, having anchored over a sunken log at high tide. . . After deciding that it would be wiser to anchor in the center of the cove rather than at the shore, our anchor came loose and we were turning all night.

The fact that the chemical toilet overflowed and were bombarded by mosquitoes only made the week that much more interesting. Today we look back and laugh at our experiences, but it wasn’t that funny at the time.

BETTY TROCK

Sherman Oaks