Retirement Houseboat or Floating Home

[brian eiland]

Rafting and Living Aboard on a River in Thailand

Over in Thailand at the moment and looking thru a few forums I ran into this reference to a series of photos where a fellow 'rafted' some rivers of Thailand...

"Forget the Mekong…get whatever rig you want and stay on any of the many rivers in Thailand…I just sold a raft I lived on for four years on the Mae Klong River (think up and down from Kanchanaburi (Kwae Yai, Kwae Noi))…loved it, miss it…needed the dough or I'd still be there…many photos at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/pramaprow/Raft#slideshow/5179203670784945714

 

[u4ea32]

My wife and I fully intend to retire aboard. We'll keep a house somewhere too, but the boat will be the most-of-the-time residence.

However, the boat will be fully mobile, in that we want to at least be able to cruise throughout the major US and European rivers and lakes. But displacement speeds only.

Easy overland transportation is a key part of our requirements, as ya just can't get to Lake Mead except overland.

And for certain, most of the requirements are about live-ability.

 

[srimes]

love those thai rafts.

 

[d lester]

I had an idea to use a motorbike as the engine drive on a pontoon type house boat. You can drive the bike onto your boat and wheels lock into mechanism allowing the bike to be used as the drive and steering system.

 

[rwatson]

I had an idea to use a motorbike as the engine drive on a pontoon type house boat. You can drive the bike onto your boat and wheels lock into mechanism allowing the bike to be used as the drive and steering system.

Innovative - but it would need to have a water cooled engine, and even then, it might overheat unless there was a good breeze blowing.

 

[KnottyBuoyz]

My wife and I fully intend to retire aboard. We'll keep a house somewhere too, but the boat will be the most-of-the-time residence.

However, the boat will be fully mobile, in that we want to at least be able to cruise throughout the major US and European rivers and lakes. But displacement speeds only.

Easy overland transportation is a key part of our requirements, as ya just can't get to Lake Mead except overland.

And for certain, most of the requirements are about live-ability.

That's exactly what we're doing. Only hitch is wide load permits for hauling it overland but that isn't a deal breaker either.

 

[FAST FRED]

"Only hitch is wide load permits for hauling it overland but that isn't a deal breaker either."


Need not be,,, visit the many wonderful Brit canal boats , skinny is just fine , when designed for it.

The 8ft 6 boat needs NO permits in the USA , the only stopper is the 65 ft LOA in many states.

A Pre 2003 tractor from an 18 wheeler ( better mileage from no EGR), with a big bunk house , so IT can be used as a camper is easy to get under $10,000Us ,Hard looking may find an air ride and auto shift.

One set of rear axles cam be removed to reduce road / bridge tolls.

This will run about 20 ft from the front bumper to the swiveling plate or gooseneck.

That means close to a 40 ft boat (perhaps more) can be legally towed.

Registered as a "camper" no truck drivers license, CDL, and insurance would be under $150 a year.

Skinny boats can go at good cruise speeds with minimal fuel burn, and an offshore design would be very sea kindly , you would be the last boat of your size to run and hide.

FF

 

[Wavewacker]

What I saw were two different things, a floating house to evade taxes and reduce living expenses and a transportable houseboat.

If the OP needs a cheap place to eat and sleep, I would suggest you find a farmer who will give you a long term lease on a pond. Build your floting dock house. In some states, it will not need to be registered, therefore, no taxes. Renting means you'll pay a prorated portion of the farmer's taxes in rent, but the assessor won't know you live there, unless you have a vehicle.

As to a houseboat, I have looked for some time. I think, for the money, is a used one and now that I have decided not to buy,specifically, a Cari-Craft seems to be a very good choice. There were recently 3, a 60', a 54' and a 45'. These have catamaran hulls and are more efficient than tug hulls or pontoons. At 14' wide you'll need a permit, but would you want to live in an 8' wide house? The Cari-Craft is not made any more. The 54' craft, IMO, needed serious updating. The 60' and 45 were very nice, especially the 45'. These have been sailed offshore, bahamas and south america and have a 3 ft. draft that will go up on the shore or make it up major rivers. The 60 ft was about 100K, the 54 and 45' were at about 50/55 K, very reasonable for what there seemed to be.

A trailerable Houseboat to liveaboard? I would think of an RV for dwelling and pull a boat for those week end jaunts!

 

[brian eiland]

European Canal Boat Ideas for minimal width accommodations

...., but would you want to live in an 8' wide house?

You might be surprised what you can do with minimal width accommodations. Have a look thru a few of these canal boat ideas.
Dutch Barge long distance crusiers

 

[Willallison]

This is more my speed...

http://luxurycatamaran.blogspot.com/2009/02/catamaran-styled-houseboat-in-dubai.html

 

[keysdisease]

The "vessel" Stranded Naked crosses from Florida to the Abaco's in the Bahamas (over 100 ocean miles including the Gulf Stream) every year to participate in the extended party called Abaco Race Week.

The "steering wheel" is on the front porch and is a two bladed propeller from an airplane, power is a single outboard of varying HP over the years. This same "vessel" just celebrated it's 20th year going to Abaco.

I have "participated" in this adventure several times, towing a Santana 35 race boat with my 34' Mainship which acted as "mother ship" as the race goes from island to island over the span of a week. There is a party of epic proportions sponsored by stranded naked held before each race week titled "cheeseburger in paradise."

I wish I could remember more, but I was there too many times.

Steve

 

[brian eiland]

The "vessel" Stranded Naked crosses from Florida to the Abaco's in the Bahamas (over 100 ocean miles including the Gulf Stream) every year to participate in the extended party called Abaco Race Week.

The "steering wheel" is on the front porch and is a two bladed propeller from an airplane, power is a single outboard of varying HP over the years. This same "vessel" just celebrated it's 20th year going to Abaco.

You're kidding us aren't you?

Or they must pick the weather VERY carefully.

 

[brian eiland]

...If the OP needs a cheap place to eat and sleep, I would suggest you find a farmer who will give you a long term lease on a pond. Build your floting dock house. In some states, it will not need to be registered, therefore, no taxes. Renting means you'll pay a prorated portion of the farmer's taxes in rent, but the assessor won't know you live there, unless you have a vehicle.

Thought about that idea recently for the inland areas of Thailand. If your 'house' was 'floating capable' it might have made out better in those bad floods they experienced this year.

Also since foreigners can't own land in Thailand, many times they build a house there and have to give it up for a total lose as they don't own the land it is built on. Now if it was mobile...as in floatable, or sectional...or....they just might salvage part of their investment :idea:

..A trailerable Houseboat to liveaboard?

Just have to get a little creative.

Besides if your house could 'float' you might have this garden/pond scene without all of the foundation problems associated with being right next to water :idea:

 

[sabahcat]

You're kidding us aren't you?

Or they must pick the weather VERY carefully.

http://www.strandednaked.com/

 

[Willallison]

http://www.strandednaked.com/

How hideous!!

Each to their own of course, but I go boating to get AWAY from crowds like that....