Trailerable houseboat

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by VadimGo, Feb 24, 2017.

  1. VadimGo
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    VadimGo Junior Member

    I've got the idea from B.Kohler (K-design).
    He has two options, and the Eco 62 looks to me like a sensible as a trailerable/camp on the trailer proposition. What I am curious about is, how stable or, how seaworthy such a boat would be.
    Easily driven hulls are great, but would such a boat tip over from a wake of a passing fisherman? Especially, if the top lounging area is occupied by say, half of the suggested 400 kg load capacity (two adults, drinks, two kids going up and down)?
    My unscientific approach would be, to cut the headroom significantly, both to keep the windage and the SG lower, and maybe, make a portion of the roof pop-up, for the sake of standing headroom in the cooking/bathing area.
     
  2. JSL
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    JSL Senior Member

    Did I miss something?

    Any photos, drawings, sketches.
     
  3. VadimGo
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    VadimGo Junior Member

  4. VadimGo
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    VadimGo Junior Member

    So, obviously,
    a box 8 ft wide, 20 up to 30 ft long would offer a reasonable accommodation. Some ballast in form of a substantial engine + tanks etc. will keep it stable enough for a ride on calm water (canals, small lakes...)
    The appeal of the Kohler's design for me is smaller weight, potentially smaller engine. I wonder what that boat's behavior would be in a bit of a breeze on a bigger lake or bay.
     
  5. Angélique
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    Angélique aka Angel (only by name)

  6. VadimGo
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    VadimGo Junior Member

    Thank you!
    The article is covering the design quite well.
    Now, my own check list would be:
    - possible to be home-build
    - would accommodate two adults-two kids for a long weekend on the water/short vacation on the road+water
    - seaworthy enough for say, NY harbor or a short run on Long Island Sound on a nice day.
    - slides easy trough the water.
    Generally, trailer-weight is not an issue (my current car tows up to 3.5 tons, quite good for a substantial boat on a decent trailer) but engine noise is a problem, so the smaller/quieter the better.
     
  7. myark
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    myark Senior Member

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDfSuAtiVkQ

    This pictures is the outdated version of the Myark folding trailer barge that come in range of sizes to suit 1000 kg to 20,000 kg loads.

    I have a new design that will float a 3500 kg camper van that the pontoon in self trailer form weighs 400 kg.
    The new design structure size in folded trailer form is 6.m long X .900 wide X 1.100 high, unfolded is 6. X 2.8 X .500
    This is the ultimate trailer house boat as you can keep going and then land on remote beach or island or the back of a remote lake or river.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. VadimGo
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    VadimGo Junior Member

    It is an interesting idea, Myark, but somewhat away from my wishes.
    I have seen your work (first thing I did was to run a search "trailerable houseboat" on the net in general and on youtube).
    I am more on the "trailer a boat" wave, than "float a van" for a various reasons, not the least of them is, there aren't many remote beaches around here.
     
  9. VadimGo
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    VadimGo Junior Member

  10. Heimfried
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    Heimfried Senior Member

    Hi Vadim,

    I'm just about to start the build of an ECO 62, previuosly I've to do some work to finish my building shop. Plans, ply and some wood and epoxi is stored already.
     
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  11. rasorinc
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    rasorinc Senior Member

    You can take most any hull form and create a living unit within and above it. So where do you want to go. Big lakes, big rivers, ocean.. You are not limited. The hull shape and unit design, and size are easy after that. Have a great time and I look forward to seeing your final plan. ENJOY......
     
  12. VadimGo
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    VadimGo Junior Member

    Rasorinc, is this just an encouragement, or an advice too?
    So, no ocean, big lakes, rivers, some bays hopefully...
    The way I see it, breeze and wake from passing big boats more that the wave action. For example, if you want to go around the Lady Liberty and then up the Hudson, sometimes it blows quite a lot and the Staten Island ferries and water taxis go by fast. Same probably goes for the Tampa bay or Chesapeake, or cruising up and down the ICW.
    So, inland-coastal cruising capable, trailerability and sleeping for 2 adults + 2 kids (reasonable privacy) are my criteria.
    20-25' long, 8' wide, twin 8 HP outboards, or 1 15 to 20 HP.
    Seems to me, I can get 8 HP with El. start and charging, plus it could work better for tight turns.
    Any advice or comments are very welcome.
     
  13. VadimGo
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    VadimGo Junior Member

    Heimfried,
    What are your plans for the power?
     
  14. Heimfried
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    Heimfried Senior Member

    I definitely will use small electric drives. Probably one electric outboard per hull, 4 kW each.

    Intended use is on sheltered inland waterways. e. g. small rivers, lakes, canals.
     

  15. rasorinc
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    rasorinc Senior Member

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