Perhaps it’s time to stop dreaming, and start living…
The houseboat in the photo above has inspired me and Amy to seek treatment for our Obsessive Compulsive Houseboat Disorder (OCHD) and begin a design process for a houseboat to be used for slow-cruising the coast of Maine.
My three-week cruise last summer of the entire Maine coast aboard our little Caledonia Yawl HOWDY was amazing in so many ways, but it was much too fast. Rather tha a leisurely “cruise”, the voyage felt more like a skipping rock, with me barely touching down as I skittered along the coast, giving no time to sync-in and appreciate any of the wonderful communities en route. And it was a bit cramped…
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John Delk says:
Havilah Hawkins had a retirement boat design in mind called Creek Crawler.
Having sold VELA, has he built Creek Crawler or something similar?
Steve Stone says:
Yes, John, he’s slowly chipping away at such a thing in his shed. She’ll have a lobster boat hull.
roy gorman says:
I possess two hulls, built by myself, according to Kurt Hughes design. The hulls are designed for his, “46’ Racer-cruiser” catamaran, It would be a huge shortcut for anyone attempting to build a houseboat to incorporate these strip-planked hulls into their design. The hulls are clad in epoxy and bi-axil e glass inside and out. They are available for less than the material that’s in them cost, not counting labor at all! If. Anyone is serious, they are stored in a boat shed in
Beaumont, Texas. Kurt can give design specs on the hulls, and tell you how to contact me. Thanks, Roy Gorman
Jerry McIntire says:
I, too, have been thinking and drawing a houseboat for years. With room for both our offices and a guest quarters, it is 40′ x 14′. What size are you thinking Steve?
I priced an aluminum catamaran hull to be built here in Port Townsend, but the cost was much too much. Plywood and epoxy, twin or triple hulls seems right. Our plan is for two electric outboards and half of the roof covered with solar panels.
Steve Stone says:
Hey Jerry. Our hull footprint is 40′ x 16′. I’ve been down every conceivable path I can think of for hull type/construction and alway end up at a fiberglass-sheathed marine plywood/epoxy box with tapered ends that looks very similar to the one in the photo. One hull, not two or three. One of my design criteria is that the hull has to be able to be built in less than 30 days by two people. Same for the house. Very little sanding and no sandpaper finer than 80 grit. Otherwise it turns into something that is too precious, too costly, and too time consuming … and thus doesn’t get built.
John Wujack says:
Steve, I hope that we get the chance to discuss in Port Townsend this year. Right now, my houseboat-brain swirl is a mothership concept for my Whitehall carried on a lengthy afterdeck with an open transom. A flat-bottom, low freeboard barge/garvey/pram capable of taking the bottom at low tide. Something akin to a narrow boat with an elevated steering-cockpit with living accommodations below and forward. Add a partially covered, rear-facing cooking counter/galley serving the “patio” (when the Whitehall is jettisoned). Break out the Director’s chairs and dining table in fair weather. Could that be made aesthetically pleasing in a 34’x10′ hull form?
Trisha McElroy says:
check out government auction sites for pontoons.
David Tew says:
two young friends built a houseboat for themselves when we were young. It was no more than a six foot high box on a nine by nine foot raft, painted red, with windows from the dump and a flat roof covered with tar paper. A hole in the floor for a three h HP outboard got her out to a mooring where we would row out to play cards, climb onto the roof at night, tell stories, brag and lies as young boys do and jump into the bay. It was a perfect place for watching the Fourth of July fireworks out over the harbor. If too many kids climbed up onto the roof for that it became unstable so some of us jumped into the water. The funniest thing of all was that the ‘houseboat’ had its own listing in Lloyd’s Register of American Yachts. The LOA was measured at the circumference, i.e., 36′!
Alan Kane says:
Some of these houseboats can be defined as Paradise.
OCH needs to take a look at Great Auk, Shemaya Laurel’s 24 footer. It has a junk rig sail and 2 electric motors powered by the sun. The cabin features a wood stove to keep things cosey during her early cruising. She handles this alone, and has cruised extensively along the coast. She is returning from a voyage to her old sailing grounds in Connecticut and Long Island Sound. It is an amazing craft designed for comfort and ease of handling.
Home port is on Joy Bay in Gouldsboro. We love to see her sailing. You can’t miss it, with the joyful colors. Talk about an ideal getaway, or just an ideal picnic, Great Auk is great for either.
Steve Stone says:
Good suggestion for ideas, Alan. Leeboard, junk rig, rudder to name a few. She’s a bit homely/boxy for my tasted, but plenty of good ideas to pursue. Here’s a link for anyone interested: https://sailingauklet.com/2019/12/01/second-float-test-for-great-auk/
David Tew says:
‘Slow Loris’ by Paul Gartside. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=729134574120685
Plus I’d think Doug Hylan might sketch something out for you (us!) pretty quick if invited. He’s enjoyed designing a few more ‘boat-like’ versions of houseboats as you know.
Steve Stone says:
Nice hull shape on Slow Loris, Dave, but the rest above the waterline…. Doug Hylan is a good suggestion. He’s on the list of those I’ll consult.
Walter Baron says:
Here’s one to think about- John Atkins “Rocking Chair” – http://www.atkinboatplans.com/Misc/RockingChair.html .
Steve Stone says:
Good suggestion for a bit of study, Walter. Thanks.
John Trussell says:
About 50 years ago, Small Boat Journal published some study plans of a small barge houseboat with a small tug/tow boat. Plans were offered, though I’m sure the architect is now long gone. The concept made sense if you are willing to commit the time and expense of building two boats…
Cap'n Rick Urban says:
I had a subscription to SBJ from the get go, somewhere in my files I have that article saved, I sold my collection of SBJ at one of the St. Michaels small boat festivals a few years back. Have been involved with van life now. It would be a lot easier to find a cove on the Chesapeake now than to find a good boondocking site ,now and all the (Pay) campgrounds want your hard earned Sheckles. What if the marinas said you could not dock if your boat was over 10 years old.
Ron Letourneau says:
I’ve dreamed a similar dream now for years. Something very modest and sweet, with a very shallow draft for slipping into shallow anchorages.
But I’m confused by the photos–Is this a pop-top houseboat? What happened to the top floor in the second photo?
Aaron Milligan says:
The second photo is a photoshopped version of the first, showing the author’s concept. He doesn’t want a second floor.
Ian Hendrie says:
The rectangular shape looks difficult to power and manoeuvre. What about upping the size of the outboard tender to 16’ or so and towing the houseboat? Save all the houseboat space for living and still be able to travel. Attach to the houseboat bow; strong lines from the houseboat’s bow quarters attached perhaps 2/3 along the tender. Dock the tender stern to the houseboat’s bow, perhaps with a 2’ – 4’ platform between with hinges front and back, allowing vertical motion between the houseboat and the tender, but fixing the horizontal directions for forward, reverse and turning control.
One boat for living and one boat for moving. Waterskiing too.
Philip Myer says:
Great idea Steve. I think you owe me a royalty on “Boat-House-Boat”.
Steve Stone says:
Ahhhh, so I do Philip. I just searched our houseboat design contest from a few years ago and see the name for your entry: “Boat-House-Boat”. Interesting how your name was derived more from the function of actually being a boathouse, and I came at the name more from a desire to have the feeling of being in a boathouse. Maybe your royalty is getting her for a week … IF you ever actually make it here to visit from down under?
Kit Laughlin says:
Brilliant idea, Steve. With that roof line, covered with solar panels and a decent battery bank, and an electric engine in each hull, this should be easy to handle. A houseboat does not need a huge range, I think. Here in Australia, any moored vessel has to be able to move under its own power, so here the barge + utility boat concept cannot be used. A local company here has a wide range of electric outboards; being able to lift the legs out of the water has a number of pluses. And these could be internally housed, too, for security. Twin hulls for sure.
Excellent!
Steve Stone says:
All good suggestions, Kit. But every time I go down the path of twin hulls, it gets much more complicated.
Thomas Wentworth says:
I love the idea, but the impression from the photo(shopped) was one of sterility. Looks like an unwelcoming box or storage shed on a barge. Sorry, but first impressions matter.
Jay Knight says:
Well, there is a cool boat site….Off Center Harbor or something like that, they had a “competition “ of sorts for houseboat designs a while back…….ooops, this is OCH!
Best with the design! We are plagued with too many hurricanes to consider a houseboat.
Jay
Jim Watters says:
There were many similar boats to your photoshopped image built early in the 20th century and ties to various shorelines around San Francisco Bay. They are referred to as Arks. Many have been well maintained and are still afloat. Some eventually had piling foundations built and are now small waterfront homes in very affluent neighborhoods!
Steve Stone says:
I googled “Ark houseboats san francisco” and got some interesting images.
Brad Babcock says:
Having lived on a similarly configured 20′ X 40′ houseboat in the Florida Keys for a year, I have a couple of thoughts. If it is to move under its own power, there is a lot of hardware to maintain for occasional use. I would build it with a semi-pontoon shape to allow a tunnel under the middle, and a recess at one end that a small power boat could be secured into. This would provide a modular “power unit”, and the boat could be used as a separate tender for recreation and transportation.
Steve Stone says:
Thanks Brad. We’ll need to install a motor so it moves under it’s own power to meet regulations as a “boat” here in Maine.
robert jones says:
I was always impressed by Harry Bryon’s “Shanty Boat”.
https://www.harrybryan.com/products/shanty-boat
A little smaller than what it’s seems you are thinking but the minimalist design I found very appealing. I also envisioned it a little longer, maybe 25-30′ as opposed to 20′, with a bit more deck, [porch?] at the bow with a minimal steering station, [stick steering] and a second station just inside the cabin.
It still occupies my dreams…
Steve Stone says:
Thanks Robert. I added a bit into the post above upon seeing your comment here so everyone could see Harry’s Shanty Boat.
Ron Badley says:
There is a passenger ferry that runs out of Port Townsend. It’s a catamaran with traditional styling. Very pretty. Designed and built by Devlin, I think. Something to consider… blending in is good.
Allaz Fabrice says:
Is it the Admiral Jack ? I do like the looks. Could be a nice base design
Chad Morse says:
It is Admiral Jack, now owned by the NW Maritime Center, I believe. Sam also has the Millie Hill series. devlinboat.com/millie-hill-20/ and devlinboat.com/millie-hill-28/
He also has the Lingcod series, which s a planing hull, garvey-style houseboat, in 27 and 29 ft. versions devlinboat.com/lingcod-27/ and devlinboat.com/lingcod-29-houseboat/
Steve Stone says:
Sam is definitely one of the designers who I’m going to consult with.
Chas Bicking says:
With all that roof space, solar generated electricity will go a long way.
John Walker says:
Perhaps electric propulsion. Maybe twin hulls to minimize propulsive power need. Hulls at least partially foam filled for “Unsinkability”
Will watch with interest.
Steve Stone says:
Definitely considering all electric powered solely by solar. The hull with have quite a few water-tight compartments throughout so shouldn’t need foam I would think.
Kent Lacey says:
It is not so much “the boat” itself, but the big factor is how you plan to use the boat. If it is for weekends most any type of boat will do. If it for the summer months then another boat would fit the bill. And if it is intended for year round living then it requires some serious thought and execution. And if you change your mind after some time, can you readily market the boat?
.
With the cost of a new building lot and conventional house climbing fast, it may be a rational alternative for folks who could live on the water. Best place to start is reading some books: The authors Mark Gabor, Russell Conder, William C. Anderson and of course Harland Hubbard may be the way to start.
.
When feeling a little blue in the winter months I often find myself reading about and looking at photos of house boats. It does ignite the imagination.
Steve Stone says:
Good suggestions Ken. Especially “And if you change your mind after some time, can you readily market the boat?” One thing I’ve considered also is having the house and hull be easily separated to sell separately if/when desired. Thanks.
Gary Evers says:
Love, Love, Love this concept… If you already own a “utility” boat, why not a Notch in the barge and move it with your utility boat? Much like the tug and barge concept. I have considered a “partial” pontoon/barge type build where the utility boat can hang in slings out of the water between the pontoons, sheltered under the house like on a boat lift. The barge itself will require some thought…compartmentalized so a leak or minor breach isn’t a disaster, yet think of the storage possibilities with that much room in the hull? This idea gets my mind racing, can’t wait to see your concept.
Crayke Windsor says:
I have seen this in Camden harbor and have been so impressed with it. It has inspired me to start designing one for myself! Would love to see the inside.