Hakone in February

I plan to buy 2 day pass Hakone , visit in Feb 1, 2017.
is the Boats on Lake Ashinoko operate in Feb?
Any suggestion for affordable not too expensive (less than US150/per nigh) ryokan with hot spring in Hakone?
I don't speak japanese, is it easy to go arround Hakone, communicate in English?

Thanks

The boats on Lake Ashinoko operates all year round, you can refer tp this link http://www.hakone-kankosen.co.jp/foreign/en/timesheet/index.html

As for Ryokan, I cannot suggest anything since I never stayed overnight there. But you will do just fine there without Japanese skill.

The boats operate all year, but not when it is bad weather (wind), then you might have to back-track using the bus. I had that on a visit in January.

(They also suspend the ropeway for high winds sometimes too.)