Proposal: Rule Beater in SoCal

The wife and I will retire shortly. She wants to go to (unnamed) CA. The equivalent house here in TX is a Million bucks in this SoCal town. Soooo we will live in the marina. We will get a 50-60 slip, about 14-16 beam. Endtie would be better but there would be some politickin to do for that. Trouble is this marina is somewhat hostile to livaboards. City council and Harbor commission are tying to work with the CG to define "Navigable" The city does not want a situation like Lake Union or Saucilito.

Sooo what is Navigable? Navigable in Lake Powel? Navigable in Anchorage?

So I am imagining a craft that could be assembled on the coast and under its own power on a average SoCal day make the 30-40 mile trip to the livaboard slip.

Hint to designers. To wife houseboat=Trawlwr? NOT! Houseboat is a HOUSEboat.

I am seeing a self powered barge with ahigh pilot house. What do you see?

A nice solution (smaller) is the Japanese house on the www.finot.com site. Shame they do not answer their mail...

I know that his could be a reasonable type of job, anyone interested.

This project would test you skill in archecture as well (think floating Phillip Johnson)

Thanks


Michael Puig

[Portager]

I like the idea of a floating home, I've tried to talk the admirable into it myself. However I think you should consider the intent of the law and try and comply with that, otherwise you will be constantly at odds with the city council.

I think the intent of the law is to keep the water front from looking like a trailer park. Nobody is going to complain if you build something that looks good and makes the water front more attractive, but if it is an eye sore your going to have a constant battle.

I would build a paddlewheel replica sort of like this.

http://www.yachtworld.com/listing/yw...USD&units=Feet

Cheers;
Mike Schooley

WOW!!! It has to be navigable!! A bit over the top for my tastes! I know that there can be a balance here. Thats why I am asking all the experts here for there ideas. I do appreciate you comments and the wife really like the paddle wheeler, if it was toned down a bit...

[Portager]

Yea, I have to agree that the example it is over the top, but it is the concept I like. The paddle wheel could be relatively inexpensive to build and cheap to make navigable. I think I would go with a catamaran to make it easier to move and for maximize stability. Will would probable put rented outboards on it when he wanted to prove it could move.

Cheers;
Mike Schooley

[Willallison]

With all that beam, if you just modified the transom a little - you know - get rid of that padlle-wheely-thingy - you could easily fit 5 or 6 big o/b's on there!
Why have house that can do 5 knots, when you can have one that will do 50!!

[Portager]

LOL

Actually mounting a couple of outboards in the stern doesn't sound like a bad idea if your only going to move it periodically and with plenty of advanced notice. You could remove them in the interim and stow them out of the weather or put them back on your other boat.

How fast does this thing need to be to comply with the rules? Would 1 or 2 knots be sufficient?

A small outboard on the front might make a nice bow thruster.

Cheers;
Mike Schooley

You guys are wicked... Really I am serious about this. I would think the boat should do at least 8knts on the way up from ventura. And yes outboards (Honda 4 stroke) are the way to go. Did you all look at the boat on the www.finot.com site. I thought that was a pretty good solution, it had a decent hull. I would hust like something that is more boat-like than house-like. Come on ther must be someon around who can think out of the box.

[Portager]

I assume you are talking about the La Houseboat at http://www.finot.com/autreals/houseb...eboat_angl.htm

To tell you the truth I wouldn't take that outside the breakwater anyway near Ventura without a very close eye on the weather and a Coast Guard escort. The Pacific Ocean can get very rough and the La Houseboat isn't designed for any significant waves. It also has a lot of windage (the above waterline to below waterline area ratio is the highest I have ever seen) so I'd be concerned in even a slight cross wind. If the wind happens to have a gust frequency near the first harmonic roll frequency you might want to change its name to Elvis (i.e. the King of rock and roll).

One thing you might want to consider is the harbors in Southern California are not very sheltered and when the storms hit from just the wrong direction the liveabords don't get much sleep.

If you want to leave the harbor then you would be better off with a trawler. Then you could take it out once in awhile and visit the Channel Islands or do some fishing.

Cheers;
Mike Schooley

[Willallison]

I'll run with Mike on this one.
For starters anything that is going to be a truly comfortable liveaboard is going to be a) Big and b) Heavy.
Even the 5 o/b's I jokingly siggested are going to be no match for a good headwind and even a slight slop - they simply can't swing big enough props.
You need to decide whether you want a floating home or an occaisional coastal cruiser. If it's the former, have it built (or transported) to where you want it and leave it there. I know this isn't acceptable in the eyes of your law makers, which brings us closer towards the 2nd alternative. I gather you don't intend to go crossing oceans or anything, so how about something along the lines of the Florida Bay Coaster http://www.realships.com/coaster/main.shtml
These vessels come in all shapes and sizes and can be customized to suit your own requirements. They would certainly comply with the navigable aspect of your regs and would allow you to do some pretty decent coastal cruisng in the comfort of your own home. Not only that, but I wouldn't mind betting that you could pick up a 2nd hand one for a lot less than you could custom build a bigger version of your Japanese saki palace for.....

[Portager]

Yep, I agree with Will.

A smaller option along the same line is the Great Harbor 37 http://www.mirage-mfg.com/gh/mainpage.htm .

There is a lot of room inside and you could take it out on nice days. I have never seen one on the West coast though.

I'd suggest you go to www.yachtworld.com and search for something already in California. Set your price and length range and see what comes up.

Cheers;
Mike Schooley

Boy, now yo all have done it! So much for the Sake Ship! I am familiar with the other two boats you mentioned... They would do it, I think. The spouse likes it all on one level, or if its two levels the she likes to go up. Although it was not a problem on a large catamaran...$
Those two boats are not cheap and the upkeep would be on the high side also. The city fathers would approve though.

What I was thinking about was to buy something like this:

http://www.zagfab.com/65barge.htm

http://yachtworld.com/listing/yw_lis...USD&units=Feet

( this would work if you extended the house aft)

then build a lower profile structure on it. Done right it would have a sort of refined "Road Warrior" look. I was thinking steel with thick tempered glass.

If push comes to shove I know the trawler will most likely work but clean ones in the 50' range are pricey. The woodies are better but thats a WHOLE different story...

Keep em coming...

[Willallison]

True, the Florida Bay Coaster's aren't bargain basement vessels. But you have to look beyond the intial cost.
For instance, the 45' tug you showed is up for 160K. On top of that you'd have the not inconsiderable cost of refurbishment and at the end of it all the base of it all - the hull - would still be 30+ yrs old.
There's a 42' Coaster currently on the market for 475K. A lot of $ yes - but you may just end up spending that much to get what you want anyway http://yachtworld.com/listing/yw_lis...USD&units=Feet

[Willallison]

How about something like this - all virtually on one level - nice big windows - most definitely navigable - and 1/2 the price of the Florida Bay (though not as much space)
http://yachtworld.com/listing/yw_lis...USD&units=Feet

Or if you prefer the Houseboaty look, then there must be a thousand of these sort of things for sale
http://yachtworld.com/listing/yw_lis...USD&units=Feet

Personally, I'd make sure that I'd exhausted all the already available options before I went down the custom built path. It's usually more successful and almost always less expensive

[Portager]

The 55' Bluewater Yachts Cruiser looks like a good option. It is a good liveaboard and it is located in Marina del Ray. It could easily make the trip to Ventura on a good day. You should keep in mind that Bluewater Yachts are really more seaworthy houseboats, not sea going ships despite their looks. Still I think it would meet your requirements.

The 53' Skipperliner MY530 is cheaper but getting it from Iowa to Venture CA would be chore and the city founders might not welcome you with open arms.

I think you should do a cost budget and estimate what your maintenance cost are going to be. When you consider slip fees, annual or bi-annual haulouts & bottom paint, staying in Hotels while the work is being done, ... It might be cheaper to buy a condo. Remember boats are a hole in the water that you throw money into! I'm not trying to throw water on your liveaboard plans but make sure that is really what you want before you dive in. Many people have tried it and ended up selling the boat after 6 mo or a year and loosing a lot of money in the process. Living aboard usually works best when both parties are avid boaters and really want to be on the water as much as possible. I know liveaboards that sleep in the car on stormy nights because the rocking and rolling keeps them awake.

Cheers;
Mike Schooley

Well, I am really getting depressed here. All this realism! You are all wise for sure. My broker told me about the Bluewaters, yes they could work. But they are wretched looking abberations. I'll make no bones about. I like a "commercial " look. I'll let the cat out of the bag and tell you that the harbor is Santa Barbara, Me, I like Ventura, the wife wabnts SB. NO need to tell you what the prices are in that town, even a condo is a half mil, so in th eharbor is the only solution.(well maybe a camper, but you have to drive around all parts of town to park and sleep. Thats not my idea of retirement)

Now I am thinking about power catamarans...