Every weekend, Claude and Brenda "Cookie" Dickerson make the three-hour drive from their home in Cuckoo, a small town in Louisa County, to Huddleston. They bought a 62-foot Somerset houseboat on July 14 and there's work to be done to make it water-ready.

"Every weekend, we're working to make it ours," said Cookie. "We bring pots and pans and food staples and things we're going to need."

The Dickersons are in a rush so their boat, Hope Floats, can set sail for private charters and tours of Smith Mountain Lake under their business: Tropical Obsessions.

Claude said they're trying to help lake residents and visitors who want to see the lake with family and friends, but don't want to go through the hassle of renting a houseboat and learning to pilot it, or don't know where they're going.

"I've been coming up here since the late '70s," said Claude. "I know the lake; I know where the best sunsets are."

And, said Cookie, he knows where the shoals are and how to drop anchor. She noted that many amateur houseboat captains simply run the boats ashore, which can ruin the hull over time.

Once the business opens -- they're shooting for Labor Day -- the Dickersons will be offering hourly ($65), half-day ($450) and full-day ($700) cruises. Half- and full-day cruises include meals and non-alcoholic beverages.

Breakfast is hot, including bacon, eggs, toast and pancakes. For lunch, Claude will break out the grill for hot dogs and hamburgers, with salad and sides. Dinner will vary, from seafood to beef to chicken, with pasta, salad and vegetables.

But while there will be no alcohol served on Hope Floats, guests are welcome to bring their own, said Claude, just as long as they don't overdo it.

"As captain of his own ship, he has the authority to stop someone from drinking," said Cookie. "And that's for their safety."

And the safety of others, said Claude, which goes beyond alcohol.

"I don't want people to come on the boat and think it's a free-for-all," he said. "They can come on the boat and have a party, but I'm not going to let someone do something that's dangerous to them or to other people."

Things shouldn't get too rowdy, however. Claude has a six-pack, or charter captain's, license, named such because he's limited to six paying guests, not including the crew.

"It will give their party a lot of room," said Claude of the 1,500-square-foot houseboat.

In addition to family or friends' outings, Hope Floats will be available for real estate cruises. And Claude said he hopes to work with the SML Charity Home Tour at no charge.

But first, the boat has to be ready. The Dickersons will be here this weekend, working toward that goal. During the week, they're home in Cuckoo, working at their mulch business, Mulch King, LLC. But they hope to stop commuting between the two one day.

"We enjoy the mulch business, but it's still work," said Claude. "This, this is not work. ... Eventually, we're going to move on the boat so we don't have to cut grass."

For information or to book a cruise, call Claude or Brenda Dickerson at (804) 399-8638.