Small trailorable houseboat design help!

If you can drag and 80' x 12' mobile home up to JimBob's plot on those roads, you can drag a big houseboat too. I've driven the back roads of Kentucky many times and to the novice or uninitiated, they can appear quite narrow, but they are more then suitable.

 

True, but a one-time trip with a house trailer is a lot different from dragging a houseboat every few weekends. Its do-able but is it enjoyable. I guess its a matter of choice. I've seen roads up there that you'd need to put a hinge in the middle of the trailer to make the hairpin turn on.

 

you could also start with an overgrown jon boat:

http://www.seaarkboats.com/boat.php?measure=Standard&boat=2472MV

probably have better resale value too

 

I use to live in Kentucky Hoyt, I driven to friends houses that didn't have a road and you crossed a few creeks to get there. The house was brought up the same route. I would suspect after a trip or two to where ever in a 40' rig, they'll quickly learn to tolerate slip fees and haul twice a year, a spring splashing and fall recovery and trip home.

 

Hey, so did I, PAR. I lived at the foot of Richmond Hill in Van Lear. Where were you?

 

I lived in St. Francis, which is a one red light town south of Bardstown. We were a wet county, surrounded by dry counties, meaning there were drive thru's at every liquor store in the area. The Marker's Mark distillery was near by.

 

We were dry.

 

may I ask

why so big? A comfortable boat for inland cruising, I would have thought something around 25ft would be heaps, especially if you are using a transom bow

Here are some more ideas


http://www.triloboats.com/

www.tacking-outrigger.com/b_boat.html (my little sketch)

http://www.storerboatplans.com/Venice/Venice.html (personally do not like, but who am I to judge)

http://www.storerboatplans.com/TC35/TC35.html
(I know that several of his long narrow houseboats, Mundoo III has actually been built). Me I would go for a transom bow for a shorter craft.

this is nice
http://www.bateau.com/studyplans/GT27_study.htm?prod=GT27 (perhaps needs a narrower bow)

I guess my main point. is that you can build an excellent refined boat such as PAR suggests, but how long will that take. Or you can go with something quick and simple, like the Triloboats, and be on the water in a third or a fifth of the time (2 weeks build time anyone?)

My little sketch, I tried to modify the triloboat shape, to narrow in the bow, narrow in the stern, and give it a 3 part bottom, as opposed to something dead flat. A fraction more work, but in theory should be that little bit more seaworthy. Water ballast anyone, have a light flat bottommed boat, 95% of the time you go light, and do not even think of water ballast. Then on occasion you take it to rougher waters, when you do this, add a couple of tons of water in the bilge to lower the center of gravity.

 

I found these on the net a couple-three years ago...don't know what they are (name) or where I actually found them but I thought they were quite the awesome little canal style houseboats.

 

that is escargot

a smaller version of the Joli boat by Colin Theil, Naval Architect
It is very similar to the boat the PAR was not overly favourable of.

Please note, I am not having a go at PAR, it is just for most of us that are not rich, and do not have years to spend building a fantastic boat. A square, simple flat bottom boat like this appeals.

It is easy to build. Cheap. It is fun to get onto the water. Is is refined, no. Does it look fantastic? No. But is it simple, practical, easy to build and functional? yes.

 

You can have more elegant solutions to the common issues that arise in small craft then many found in boats like this. For example, I think a more reasonable solution to forward vision could be found, then raising the helm seat 3' over the rail as is done here! This is my point with these types of boats. In their defense, they get the builder out on the water. But honestly after all the effort, expense, sweat, blood and worry that's gone into a project, even one as seemingly simple as this, it really boils down to how much laughing can you tolerate as you launch, raft up or motor by can you ignore, in your search for the cheapest method to carry your gear afloat.

 

One thing I noticed with my very very ordinary banks dory, was that 99 percent of people out there, say, hey there goes someone with a boat, gee that looks like something I would like to try. There may be a few out there with really nice boats, that think my boat is better than yours. To be honest, on all the years I rowed on the river here in Melbourne, I dont think I ever saw anohter rowboat. And this was the second largest river in Melbourne, a city of 3 million people

Yes, there will be a few others, that have very refined boats and look down on boxes like this. I guess if they laugh at you, you can ask how much was the upkeep on their boat last year. For me, if they want to laugh at you, then they are not really people I would want to know.

I think it is a cool boat. Much nicer than the plastic fantastic boats out there. At least this one has character. Maybe the helmsman needs a swivel chair and a shade cloth, then that would look cool. Naval Architects are never going to make money out of little boxes like this. They would rather people buy something that costs ten times as much.

 

I saw one on the Erie canal a couple of years ago that was what you describe. It was 30' X 8'6" and was your basic fairly flat bottom box. It even had the cheasy lantern tail lights on it and chain wrap license plate holder. It also had fold out walkways. I think it had its own wheels. At the time I just shook my head but a search of the internet might find something like this in production. I think the guy only paid in the low 30's for it new so it would be cheap and easy to build if you copied it.

 

Having been a constant "asker" on here, I can give you my 2 cents on what I've learned from the very knowledgeable seniors in this forum. My experience with "Designing & Building your own "Trailered Cabincraft"".

I don't like the term 'houseboat' .... it sounds like "trailer park".

1. It's not an overnight adventure if your not Einstein. The reading and educating of yourself in design and building is the most important part - "Before you start".
2. Have a good understanding of some type of CAD/Design software and calculations.
3. Start small and design up. Your budget will appreciate it.
4.Taking it slow and adapting periodic idea modifications to the hull and cabin will produce a interior design customized to your specific needs. (Note lesson learned: Use revision copy saves of all changes.)
5.Some parts of a vessel are a wheel, don't try to redesign them. They work just fine and can't be improved. This a live and learn process you will go through. I don't think it can be taught to humans.
6. All the time you are designing, watch Craigs List for materials & parts you can store until your build.
7. I'm lucky I found this forum.

Moral of the story: I should have bought some basic hull plans and designed the cabin & interior layout. But it was fun and a great learning experience. I entered the endeavor with architectural design experience, which hurt and helped.

As for one of the ideas you listed, that I also had: ... drop the side walkways. Trailering height and width makes it design prohibitive to capturing all the living space possible. You want to trailer the vessel. Profile and weight during trailering is a important issue and integral to your design process. I started by finding a trailer first, and designed to it's capacities. I'm glad I did.

Good Luck!

PS: I found the pontoon base as the most cost economical, easiest built, fair under deck storage capacity, but tall to trailer.

http://www.boatdesigns.com/Houseboats/departments/7/

 

I like the Bateau GT 27 design, because it allows you to do anything you like with the topsides.

I didnt like the original "old maid" look, so I got someone clever to redesign the topsides. Even have the electronic dimensions in Rhino.

Other pictures at http://schoolroad.weebly.com/project-1.html