Car-Carrying Box Boat?

So, we are talking a shantyboat of sorts....can you imagine it rising up, say 15 or 20 feet and then back down? I have seen it from the air, I'll let someone explain why you might not do that. Danger, danger Will Rogers...

 

Listen, you are already half way there.

You've discovered that you don't need a lot of space to live, or a mansion, right?

Well, the next step to freedom is to discover that you don't need a car.

That's what most of us on boats do. We carry bicycles for long trips. For a couple miles, I use a backpack and my feet. You could maybe put one of those motorized skateboard things aboard.

Lose the car addiction and your dreams of traveling the world from your own neat little home will come to fruition.

What we do is rent a car about once a month to provision (mega grocery shopping) and to go buy whatever is too far away to walk or bike to. You can do this if you are willing to change... just like you changed to live in the CHU.

 

Fuel costs are the reason that I need that sailing rig as I'd originally mentioned. And yes, I do for now have a budget I can work with. What I don't have is Credit. I already looked at that, and at the boats I would have any meager hope of qualifying for said credit. Here in Tacoma and nearby, when the listing says "a little TLC", it usually ends up meaning rotten ribs, non-running engine, needs rigging, taking on water, and needs haul-out and re-hulled. I am fairly handy with some power tools, but I'm not that good.

I can see the landing craft won't pan out for the crossing. It'd have to be shipped. If I planned to stay inland in the US it wouldn't be implausible either. I might be able to acquire a bike once in France and use that, though that still leaves a lacking for studio space.

Loose Moose II has cruised and crossed exactly as I have in mind, she just doesn't open up.

 

We have a lot more in common that you'd think. ha ha ha That's why I keep posting here.

I ran into the same "no loans available" and "all the boats out there are junk" situation you're in. I also can't afford fuel for a power boat. That's why I'm a sailboat guy, catamaran to be specific.

My only solution (which I would not suggest to anyone) was building my own. I've also already been on the water since I was a kid - 20 years+ now, so I kind of knew what boat I wanted, but didn't know all the techniques for epoxy, glass, foam, etc... That's where this forum came in handy for me.

I've spent many years figuring out the same things you are working on, so I hope my posts are helping. I kept trying to find new and creative ways to live on the water. I even came close to buying some troop carrier in the Virginia mothball fleet. The fuel costs are what kept me from it.

I'm not trying to discourage, but trying to help you quickly get to those impassable points where you can then adjust the plan to make it happen.

Shortcut?

Find a blue water capable, small plastic boat (fiberglass) and buy it cash. Make lowball offers to anyone. Look for distressed sales. A really small boat, which you would probably be happy in, but a boat that's seaworthy, would get you there now. Ok, I'll butt out now.

 

There are two reasons why people cross oceans. Some do it because they like ocean sailing. Some because they want to get to the other side.

If you are in the latter category then the sensible thing to do would be to buy a small boat in Europe. There are plenty to chose from!

My Skoota 28 power cat sounds like it would suit you. The living space is 13ft x 10ft x 6ft 6in and it is demountable and can be taken anywhere on a flatbed truck (the cabin travels on its side so is under 8ft wide). We are having the first one built for our own use. It is being built in Sequim (near Port Angeles Wa). We will use it primarily in the PNW but we have the option of trailing it to the east coast

Originally I was going to have a Skoota 36. The reason being that I could then have a 15ft sailing trimaran that fitted in a hull, not on deck. But we decided we didn't want such a large boat again.

I think a motorbike is probably lighter than a 15ft trimaran, and certainly easier to store on board. I'm still having the 15ft trimaran, just haven't worked out yet how to get it on the 28fter

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

Thanks Richard, I'll email you about it.

I wonder if I could call it "Motoskoota"

Fitting a motorcycle in a hull would be great, while mine weighs 325 pounds many off road bikes are lighter, but you would not want to ride them far at highway speeds. (Mine will cruise at 70 easily with two up as long as you want to ride it)

If I were headed back to Europe to cruise I would take a plane and spend the weeks of sailing time to find a good canal boat. I'd love to run the rivers and canals and liveabord. While I'd get a bike intead of a car, if I decided it had to be a car, it would be purchased there as well.

Someone touched on the license and insurance I think. My cars went through a very rough inspection process in Germany, would make my state inspection seem more like a "pay a fee and get a sticker", but not there as they tried to jab a screw drive through the floor from underneath the car in various places, yanked on seat belts and measured the height of my headlights. Probably why there are not many junkers on the road over there....anyway, seems a car over there would meet their requirements. I'm sure you can't get a temp tag/sticker thing for a couple years. Besides, think of the great cars you can get over there!

I'm sure this would be the cheapest way to accomplish such a goal.

Gyrl, I'm not meaning to rain on your parade at all and hope you reach your dream. Glad to hear you dropped the Higgins boat thing, while it's a great craft, that's not it's purpose.

And, since that Skoota build is close to you Gryl, I'd check it out!

Like you I'm concerned about my boat building skills, since I have never built anything like that (except a small hydro when I was a kid with adult supervision). And the budget might constrain any build as I looked at a 26' kit boat and the nails and screws were over a grand....unbeliveable!