Starting from scratch. Houseboat

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by vuoladodo, Jun 10, 2014.

  1. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Funnily enough, I was just looking at that very boat on that site. Nice.
     
  2. FAST FRED
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    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    Purchase a used steel barge , have it hauled and painted , go on from there.

    This can handle the weight that slowly creeps into most houseboats.
     
  3. vuoladodo
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    vuoladodo Junior Member

  4. vuoladodo
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    vuoladodo Junior Member

    Hey Fred, thanks but I am ambitious and I plan to move gradually so as to afford material and construction with monthly salary. A used barge is out of the question for me at this stage.
     
  5. vuoladodo
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    vuoladodo Junior Member

    This looks fine but I think I would like to start from a very rectangular platform. How many people would this thing hold?
     
  6. rwatson
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    rwatson Senior Member

    Windage = how much you will be blown around in 20 knot winds. In open water, it means you might get blown into the mudbanks or onto rocks.

    If you are moored at a jetty, you will be bumped up against the dock all night.

    If your boat is tall, the wind will affect you much more
     
  7. vuoladodo
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    vuoladodo Junior Member


    Ok, this is excelent. Can I quote you on the blog?
     
  8. rwatson
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    rwatson Senior Member

    Mr V - read your blog.

    You have two much, much bigger problems than deciding on the boat style.

    1) Where are you going to build it ? Its going to be 30 foot long, so you need a shed at least 40 feet long and ten feet wide.

    2) Where are you going to moor it ?
    If Berlin is your typical big city, places to park it will be very expensive and very rare.

    Also, unless you have a minimum of $10,000 euros to start with, its going to remain a dream.
     
  9. vuoladodo
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    vuoladodo Junior Member

    Wel,Berlin is not quite typical and there is a move in several cities with a lot of water to promote water living. I do not start with 10.000 but with a lot of good will. The mooring in the city area can be as low as 100 euros a month. As for where I will build, I have no idea yet.
     
  10. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I have built boats out in the open, with just a big tarp to throw over when needed. But you do need space, and no narky neighbours also helps !
     
  11. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I guess "outside" in Berlin is not that much like Queensland !
     
  12. vuoladodo
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    vuoladodo Junior Member

    MrE,. that is indeed heartning. We have a lot of outside. Am I right to assume that once the platform is built the rest can be mainly done at the mooring?

    Also Rwatson, can I quote your windage line on the blog?
     
  13. CBD Boat Design
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    CBD Boat Design Junior Member

    I think that is too easy and economic put two standard cilinders of GRP sealled with polyuretane espum and put over this one plattform. If you put one rectangular hull you need make a reinforcement structure and a minimum of compartimentation. This is expensive, and really you don't need the underdeck space.
    It's more easy and cost effective put two industrial cilinders without any internal structure.
     
  14. rwatson
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    rwatson Senior Member

    Wow, you are lucky. But I know that Berlin weather can be severe, so you need a warm, waterproof building location if you are serious , and building in wood and epoxy.

    Make sure you can move the boat to the water too.

    Many boats get abandoned due to water damage during building.

    Unfortunately, goodwill doesnt buy materials. For a boat this size, you might like to check how much marine plywood 2400 x 1200 mm in size is is
    24 sheets of 10 mm thick,
    19 sheets of 12mm thick

    I also attach the sample interior plan, room for 1 living in a small space, 2 people if you are very good friends, 6 people if they are too drunk to go home and dont mind sleeping next to each other on the floor.


    Feel free to use any of my comments in your blog.
     

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  15. rwatson
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    rwatson Senior Member

    On many boats. no you would have to build the whole thing before launching.

    On this one, yes, you can finish the 'base', launch it, and then add the top while it is floating. But, you will need to build a weatherproof temporary cover while you build the superstructure.
     
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