I have legal/economic questions

[jmschmidt]

There were many so-called house boats (really just unpowered rafts fitted out for fulltime living) on Lake Union and maybe elsewhere in the Seattle area.

I also saw a TV show a couple of years ago about million dollar plus "house boats" being built in Vancouver BC and moored in a special marina for floating residences on the Fraiser River. The had heating and A/C, approved sanitation systems, fireplaces and all the comforts of a land-based home.

[Captain Graham]

Interesting question.
I will try to help you out.

I would recommend you do the following.
1. Talk with some of the Marinas in your area and tell them you want a slip for a pontoon boat.
If they have room find out about their rules.
Can you liveaboard on the weekends?
Can you liveaboard for the summer?
Can you liveaboard all year?
(Notice how I started with an easy just weekend question first)
Find out about what insurance you are required to get?
My Marina costs me $2,200 per summer (I live in Ohio) for a 32 ft slip with water and electriciy included.
The insurance on my old sailboat is $100 per year because it is old and I get just liability.
2. Buy and old Pontoon boat that is large enough.
3. Using canvas (think cabin Tent) make a temporary living space on the boat.
4. Live on it for a few months and see how you like it.
This way if you do not like it you can sell everything and go another way.
5. Then If you still like this life style you can go ahead and build or buy a small cabin/shed.
I would recommend buying a shed as the basic shelter and doing the interior yourself.

Another option is to buy an old sailboat.
My Watkins27 sailboat cost me $4,000 in Ohio
I did do a total overhaul of the engine that cost me $2,500 but the engine did not need this work. I did it because I will be doing some trips with the boat and just wanted to make sure.

[JC Reefer]

Can we get more details about the religious persecution? Very sad but also fascinating.

What is the religion?
And what is the country?

[captlloyd]

There is a ton of videos on YouTube concerning houseboats. Lots and lots of them on the US river systems, many houseboat communities. All sizes and types, from shanty boats to beautiful floating homes. There are some in marinas, but it would be more problematic. Not a bad life.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by JC Reefer

Can we get more details about the religious persecution? Very sad but also fascinating.

What is the religion?
And what is the country?

+++


That was my first question. Would be a more interesting "read", too.

[waterman46]

I'm sorry you were nearly homeless and especially due to religious persecution. OK, that's your background.

But what on earth does that have to do with asking about the raft on this cruiser's forum?

[LittleWing77]

Hi Jubal,

Welcome to the Forum.

A local example I can give you is Scarborough Bluffs Marina, east of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The marina allows liveaboard boats (with insurance), plus has its own "millionaire's row" with floating homes tied along one seawall all in a row.

Here's a link to a real estate article about one of them, including taxes and various expenses like power and sanitation:

Call This Gorgeous Scarborough Bluffs Houseboat Home for $325K (Sept 2020)
https://storeys.com/scarborough-bluf...-brimley-road/

Good luck with your search,
LittleWing77

[jubal]

More details.

I live along the Tennessee river around Knox tn. The TVA is my local authority

As for the design

I was thinking something like this.

[Stewie12]

I seriously doubt it.

[Captain Graham]

Thanks for the video fun to watch.

This is a floating kids fort built for fun not as a real boat.
If you built something like it using homemade non approved flotation system, the state will allow you to register it as a boat, no insurance company will insure it and no marina would sell you a slip.

In Ohio when you build a boat the State will inspect it before you can register it, but if it is build by a manufacture it will not be inspected.

You will need to budget about $5,000 and build it correctly or your plans will sink.
The most important and expensive part of building a boat is the Hull or floatation. I strongly recommend you NOT build this part and buy instead.

Here are few option from craigslist in your area
These are asking price and you most likely they will take less.

1. $5,000 asking price for a pontoon boat with no cabin but you could build one.
https://knoxville.craigslist.org/boa...403036025.html
2. $6,000 asking price for a sailboat with cabin
https://knoxville.craigslist.org/boa...415160084.html
3. $1,750 asking price for a beat up pontoon boat.
https://knoxville.craigslist.org/boa...422102830.html

[jubal]

Anyone ever use the manufactured plastics pontoons



Are they worth it? 192 bucks for 17 inch by 36 inches

[denverd0n]

Seriously? You think you're going to LIVE on something like that!?!


I'm sorry. I really don't want to burst your bubble, but living on a raft built from those things is just not at all realistic.

[jubal]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Seriously? You think you're going to LIVE on something like that!?!


I'm sorry. I really don't want to burst your bubble, but living on a raft built from those things is just not at all realistic.

Well that is why I am here...

To find out

[PippaB]

As has been said, location, location, location. Accepted way of life in Ha-Long Bay, Vietnam:


And Lake Titicaca, Peru:


And even in the lovely Alameda, California if you want to live in the western world (although choices here will be far more limited):



Or ever watched the movie “Sleepless in Seattle”?

[jubal]

Morbid curiosity if the dude with the green cabin filled those bins with some kind of foam would his vessel be more buoyant?

I even if he just sealed the lid to the bin it would protect the bins from flooding.