Vision of future boating - design competition

[taniwha]

Originally Posted by ancient kayaker

Since most marinas are in cities and city authorities tend to be land-oriented it creates potential taxing difficulties. Do we tax the person living on his/her boat as a resident to provide support for the services he will use and how do we justify that when the neighbour's boat is simply parked? If the city figures out a system it will create difficulties for the marina operator since each marina berth may have a different charge and tax basis to its neighbour and either may change anytime. There's questions like mail handling and deliveries on top the load on the sewage etc. all potentially changing from day to day for services that are based on building needs and designed for a constant level of load. Much simpler to ban residence and keep things simple.

There's also the consideration that residents can - in theory - move their boat and thus are by definition transients with all the bagage that often goes with that status.

In these changing times, for a country criss-crossed by canals and rivers houseboats can be an ideal solution for a population that must relocate to suit job obligations, but in most cities the waterfront is far from the industrial and developing areas.

Exactly! The bureaucrates are struggling when you don't find in their boxes, even if it would be part of the solution of overpopulation.

[Wavewacker]

With respect to municipal taxation; many cities have a hotel/motel tax, the same approach would not be complicated, it's just that it's been overlooked I'm sure. They probably don't enforce personal property taxes as liveabords could be gone overnight, the marina owner would then be in a position to police residency requirements.

I would think that marina owners would rather have a certain amout of leased slips to ensure a breakeven position on a monthly basis. I know in my area the lake marinas get pretty lean in the off season and many simply close.

I have no idea what it might be like in a large city, say Boston, or what the liveaboard population might be, but I've heard living aboard referred to as a well kept secret. I'm sure the homless population has increased and any boat would be better than a box!

A boat is thought of as a luxury item, that notion could be revisted through marketing of better solutions, boats designed to be more of a floating home as the one selected. If designers could consider a modual system, say with RV materials I would think the price would be more affordable, especially for homebuilders.

Your comments on those future power alternatives are waaaay over my head, I'm a business guy not an engineering type...







I'd hate to see more regulation on inland waterways, but it may be in our future.