Small, independant living units, on water ? - Possible ?

I also can not understand why moorage is so expensive, and lacking for houseboats. Especially for inland lakes where a houseboat could be build for cheap, compared to some ocean going apartment building.
I know waterfront can be expensive, but if a spot was utilized with steep rock or non usable property, well that would work fine.

What needs to happen is there needs to be regulations that weed out the junk boats made from garbage, or at least make them be required to have legal wiring and plumbing, so that you can't have floating garbage piles.

I think of houses and properties in our town; yes it is yours to do as you please, but if you let the grass grow 3 ft tall, they will come and cut it and bill you. Running water is required to live in the house. Simple things that would eliminate the ability to live in a dump, and get neighbors mad.

A houseboat marina could and should run things the same way. IMHO.
Everyone pays a monthly fee, and it covers the rental fee to cover land payments, dock costs, water, hydro etc, and also some goes to the municipality as taxes. It's only fair. If you have say 20 houseboats with people living in them, people will use the public roads, sewage disposal, hospital, fire, police, etc, so it's only fair that taxes should be paid.

Also, I think a simple rule of houseboats should require that the living space be properly constructed built to either a boat construction code, OR home builders code, OR a manufacturers stamp.

This would allow you to build a barge and use a camper, RV, house trailer, or you could build it however you wanted, but following home builders codes with plumbing, electrical, ventilation etc.
This would make it impossible to buy a barge, go buy some wood, and slap a pile of junk together half arsed and call it a home.
I am a huge believer in being resourceful, and I love the concept of living on houseboats and shanty boats, but I also believe that when you live somewhere, it should be considered "livable".

Peoples idea of "livable" may differ, thats why I said "boat construction code, home builders code, or MFG stamp", because if only living spaces include those options, you know that there is a certain level of safety and comfort to live in.
Even is someone builds a small shanty boat from an old 20 ft camper, that camper will still have a fan over the propane stove, and the wiring was installed to a certain quality. The same can not be said about slapped together shanty houseboats built by someone with no interest in safety or comfort.

 

"It's discrimination against people who like to sit on spikes!"

 

houseboat

Well said
I assume you know the Brimley Bluffs have something like that

 

The concept of regulated living is great, but the implications for poverty stricken citizens are enormous,

With 'licenced' installations of gas, electricity etc - you get the highly paid contractor.

If you dont have the money, all the regulations in the world are meaningless because there is no money to pay for enforcement.

I guess this whole thread is about the possible misconception that an impoverished citizen can find a better accommodation deal on the water than on land.

 

@Tiny -

They usually do. In Beaufort, SC, the 14 permanent moorings went through a different funding process from the transient moorings. There is already a waiting list and I have been told they have gone ahead and set a few more anchors, but the mooring balls won't be installed yet.

 

the Learning Barge

Some might find this posting I made over on this other subject thread interesting;
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/retirement-houseboat-floating-home-23987-12.html#post687273

Powered by sun and wind and equipped with live wetlands, an enclosed classroom, composting toilets and a rainwater filtration system, the 120 by 32 foot Learning Barge is designed to both model and teach ecology and sustainability to the next generation of lower Chesapeake Bay stewards. The mission is to help teach how to help make the Elizabeth River swimmable and fishable....

 

Think about it like this; A rich guy might drive a cadillac, brand new. A poor guy might drive a 1971 buick. While one costs 100x more, they were both constructed with standards to a degree, and while the new car is likely more plush, and maybe safer, the old car is likely still superior to anything the poor guy could weld together and call a "car".

So if it was made legal to live in a floating home provided that a) the floating hull or platform is capable of supporting the load according to the MFG or engineered drawings, and b) the "home" or structure is either engineered as a "livable dwelling" or supplied by a manufacturer as such..... a floating home should be able to be constructed for cheap, or expensive.

 

Can you live for less, on the water in a houseboat of some type?

I think so, but this is not an equal argument.
What about parking an RV or camper in a camping spot, and living there year round? About the same thing; limited space, no yard, etc.

An "on land" home is probably going to have more room than a boat, cheaper bills than a boat, and a garage or parking spot, yard.....

Some people have talked about living in tiny "shanty boats" as a way to escape high rent or bills.... the problem is that if you accepted the room you get on the shanty boat for an equivalent sized home on land, it wouldn't cost that much.

What exactly is everyone thinking in terms of living space?

For me, I couldn't imagine considering anything smaller than a large camper a "home".
For a boat to be a "home", it should be at least the size of a 30 ft camper, much more if you have a wife or kids. Anything less is a joke, and useful for nothing more than squatting and staying a night or week or whatever.

This whole thing about "being able to move my home for work" is completely dumb. If you truly need to move for work, go buy an old camper, and old 1 ton gas truck, you could buy both for under 10k$, get more MPG than a boat, and achieve the same thing.

I get that a camper isn't going to be as nice as living on water, but if you are a broke person living on barely any money, luxury should come after function.

 

Someone in the USA that needs to move to work should consider North Dakota.

Not winter house boat land (or camper land) but a truck driver with a CDL can start at US $ 80K.

Yes the winter sucks!

 

I'm north or north dakota in manitoba, and contract for a company where most of the wages are just under 1000$ to about 1500$ per day as a labor rate. Mind you thats not beginners wage.
But water truck drivers are around 350$ a day, vac truck drivers are about 450$ a day, and those jobs all have shacks at the rig so your only expense is food.

 

There are all kinds of ways and locations to live on the water, just as there are on the land. Few choose water long term because it is not at all easy.

http://vimeo.com/94842405

 

Or cheap either.

 

Houseboat in Miami

This 35 foot by 12.5 foot 2006 Aqualodge houseboat for sale in Miami looks pretty comfy ...
http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house-for-sale/houseboat-sale/#comments

 

It’s tied up at a marina in Miami Florida where the buyer could probably continue to live aboard as long as they call themselves ” year round cruisers.”

Yeah, nothing like security of tenure

 

While it doesn't concern Florida, I came across this short read that touches on the monomania of governments to regulate everything, to have everything sorted out, and how it is transforming attitudes about what people can or cannot do.

http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2013/02/without-lawful-authority-the-houseboats-strike-again/