Trailerable houseboat designs

[jbo_c]

If you have a minute, could you PM me about where you cruised out of on the St. John’s. My wife and I are considering a trip there as well and I’d appreciate knowing what your thoughts were of the place you rented from as well as the cruise from that location.

Thanks.
Jbo

 

[silentneko]

Pm sent.

I'll respond more in a bit, I'm tied up at work.

 

[silentneko]

For displacement hulls, they would be subject to additional drag. The pontoon is not a displacement hull, so rule dna. Pontoons plane with sufficient power and if the hulls are not deeply immersed.

In theory, if the barge, sail, trawler had similar drag, afaik, they could theoretically all have the same length and the same hull speeds. However, it is more practical to consider like hulls vs each other.

I still think that gt23 would serve you well. It is probably a tad small for four.

Composite foam work is dreadfully slow if you want to do it well. The tangible benefit on the gt23 would be that you could build the house in foam...lighter, get some experience, some r value..

Sorry, getting back to it guys.

Right I understand like hulls and such for displacement speeds, but the formula doesn't take into account anything but length. If 2 hulls are 20ft long one being a wide barge, the other being a slick sailer, I can't see them having the same speed. My brain just can't accept that. One would think as length and friction increase speed would be reduced.

I'm not against the GT23, but I would rather a design with a sharper entry. Also, though he has been talking about it for over a decade, Jacques has yet to redo all of the plans for foam. I don't want a wood, especially okoume, hull again. For the obvious reasons, and you can't hardly get them insured anymore.

As far as composite foam work being slow, I'm not talking about vaccum bagging, but more the Chris Morejohn style. I'm not sure if you know who that is, but he was the originator of the Hells Bay designs that is still the standards for high performance skiffs and flats boats. For his new designs like the Conchfish and Beryllium, he specs foam core like CarbonCore sheathed in several layers (3+) of 10oz woven cloth, carbon, or basalt, and epoxy. The result is a very durable boat that is still lighter then plywood cored equivalents. I would need to upside the core and add an addition few layers of glass for something as big as I'm thinking. It does take more time because of the additional layers of glass, but it results in way less failing then biaxial so it's a trade off.

 

[silentneko]

Florida is a paradise for anyone looking for unwanted or discarded fiberglass boat hulls.
For a trailerable houseboat, I’d be looking for a tri hull of maybe 24’ to build out.
Keep the structure light if you’re going to move it about, or you’ll pay a penalty in speed and fuel.

That is a possibility. Those old glass tubs are everywhere, but finding one that isn't completely rotted is a challenge. That is part of the reason I started building my own boats. It was easier to start from scratch then fix other guys mistakes and restore a hull sometimes.

 

[silentneko]

roydesignedthat.com

I've admired this for a while and chatted with Roy. I love the design, and if I was on a smaller lake chain, or river I'd do it. However, on the bays and coast the flat bottom I feel will be uncomfortable when on the hook with the amount of wind we get at times.

 

[DogCavalry]

I think everyone knows what I'd recommend. It's possible I talk too much.

 

[DogCavalry]

That is a possibility. Those old glass tubs are everywhere, but finding one that isn't completely rotted is a challenge. That is part of the reason I started building my own boats. It was easier to start from scratch then fix other guys mistakes and restore a hull sometimes.

And that is why I prefer new residential construction over renovations.

 

[silentneko]

I think everyone knows what I'd recommend. It's possible I talk too much.

I don't frequent this site as much as I used to. So what do you recommend?

 

[silentneko]

So I completely forget about the Glen-L site. So it has some plans that are closer to what I thought.

Like the gypsy
20' Gypsy - trailerable houseboat-boatdesign https://www.boatdesigns.com/20-Gypsy-trailerable-houseboat/products/168/

Or the quest
23' Quest - trailerable houseboat-boatdesign https://www.boatdesigns.com/23-Quest-trailerable-houseboat/products/173/

I like the hulls on these better. They are planing hulls, but that doesn't mean they won't work well on a slow cruise. Especially since I'd be making them from foam core the HP requirements would allow for decent fuel economy. These are old school plans and would need to be modified, and I'd change the style of the cabin, but might be a start?

 

[DogCavalry]

I don't frequent this site as much as I used to. So what do you recommend?

Bateau's tx18. Or check out my build thread on Fiberglass and Composite. 26 by 10, 130 sq' livable inside. Not trailerable, but scaleable.

I'm a big fan of the Hickman Sea Sled form.

 

[bajansailor]

Bateau's tx18. Or check out my build thread on Fiberglass and Composite. 26 by 10, 130 sq' livable inside. Not trailerable, but scaleable.

I'm a big fan of the Hickman Sea Sled form.

Neko, it might be feasible to scale up the TX 18 a bit to suit your requirements?
https://www.boatbuildercentral.com/StudyPlans/TX18_STUDY.pdf

Here is a link to DC's thread about his home designed and built Sea Sled -
Sea Sled madness. It’s in my brain. https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/sea-sled-madness-it%E2%80%99s-in-my-brain.63079/

 

[gonzo]

If 2 hulls are 20ft long one being a wide barge, the other being a slick sailer, I can't see them having the same speed.

Both will have the same hull speed. However, one will need more power to reach it.

 

[silentneko]

I appreciate the thoughts on the Texas sled, but it's not what I'm looking for. It suffers from the same issues as a cat/pontoon, a lack of forward buoyancy. Great for calmer waters especially once on plane, but on the rare occasions when it gets sporty I don't think it's ideal.

I'm trying not to bash bateau to much, but I don't see myself buying another set of plans there.

Thanks guys.

 

[Squidly-Diddly]

I want a trailerable houseboat with its own wheels, so no extra trailer required. Ideally could drive itself on land at least 25mph to nearest parking and don't even care too much about getting a ticket for "not legal vehicle". Something that is 80% boat and 20% RV, instead of that big RV that can go in water. But should be at least able to be pulled out of water on its own wheels and pulled or pushed from there. Carry the wheels (axles) out of the water once floating to save bearings? Maybe, but I hear today's sealed bearings are pretty good. Will that add weight to the boat VS conventional? Sure but in less than huge boat that is built for comfort not speed extra weight isn't all bad. Maybe use the road wheels to protect against grounding damage to hull and/or as bumpers. Sure the black tire rubber will leave a mark on some dude's fancy white yacht but should buff out, or just put those RV style tire covers on them.

 

[DogCavalry]

Well, if we are talking wishes, Jennifer Connelly could stop disappearing from my bed every time I wake up. It's starting to hurt my feelings!