Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

[jelliott3]

I have a 34' slip located in San Francisco that currently holds my sailboat. I'm moving the sailboat and am wondering what would be a relatively inexpensive choice for a boat that would give me a good weekend getaway at the marina?

A appropriately sized houseboat would be ideal, but pure houseboats are not allowed. My priority would be space and livability at the dock rather than cruising performance. I've looked at more traditional power yachts like Bayliner, Uniflite, Silverton, etc., but was hoping there may be something out there that combines the interior space of a houseboat with just enough seaworthiness to pass muster at the marina.

Any ideas would be very appreciated. Thanks for your help!

 

[KCook]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

Trawlers that small are rare. But I would say a search would be worth your effort. Otherwise may as well stick with the Carver types.

Kelly Cook

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

Egg Harbor. Chris Craft, Huckins. for cheaper can you got to pontoon? there are some nice big pontoons. i have an aquaintance that has a 70' custom made pontoon. 3br/2ba, w/d, central HVAC.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

second the trawler idea, but also not sure you can find one that small. 34' max or can you stick out a little?

 

[jelliott3]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

Thanks for the replies. Haven't heard of Egg Harbor or Huckins, but will look for them. I have looked at some nice Carvers and older Chris-Craft boats, which could fit the bill (and slip). The marina is pretty tight on allowed lengths. BTW, pontoons are defiinitely out of bounds in the marina.

 

[QC]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

There are some V-hull kinda Houseboat hybrid things that might qualify. A lot of them on the Sacramento River that may be able to get to you . . . Look for Gibson and Bluewater as examples. May be right up your alley. Here's one on iboats:

Bluewater

 

[jelliott3]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

This certainly does look like a possible "non-houseboat" houseboat that might pass the inspection. I'll check out yachtworld as well. We have had brokers on the Delta looking for us, but none have mentioned these makes. Thanks!

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

they make 34' trawlers all day long!!!!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

Huckins, is a top of the line, built in Jacksonville, FL. they built PT Boats for the Navy in WW II. Were all wood until the '70'. Egg Harbor is also high end, Built in Egg Harbor Maine.

 

[QC]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

Yup. Eggies, Berties and Hatties. Can't go wrong there if you've got the coin.

 

[Bill Adkins]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

The trawlers in the 30 foot range have a tendancy to be narrow n the salon because of the walkway around the outside of the cabin. There are a number of older, still glass boats that can be had for less money and provide a roomy platform for entertaining. Canoe Coe or Cove I think was a Canadian built boat that started as a working trawler and they modified it to a cabin cruiser hull so they were roomy and not flimsey at all.
Bill

 

[seven up]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

harbor master is another possibility for a dock queen. they have a boston whaler shape to the hull. they're fiberglass and stable but not an ocean boat.


Enjoy

 

[blouderback]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

The best boat to have is your friend's boat.

 

[YDream]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

what about the Yukon Delta houseboats?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

this post is over a year old.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

Egg Harbor Boats are built in Egg Harbor, NJ. They are great boats but definately not inexpensive. My guess is that you won't find many of them on the west coat either, at least not in that size. I would look for a trawler, an aft-cabin motoryacht or a hybrid that has an interior design like a houseboat but is on a hull that will get you by the marina's restrictions. In a 34 foot boat, floor space is going to be important for any sort of live-aboard situation.

 

[Scout Sport Fish]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

What kinda draft are you talking? And are you looking to fill all 34'?

Silverton and Carver's I would recomend.

 

[amynbill]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

BTW, pontoons are defiinitely out of bounds in the marina.

I always wondered about pontoons in the seas...people have them all over on the lakes and rivers, but I never see any out in the LI sound or other salt water bodies.

What makes them un-sea worthy or is it something else about them?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

I just noticed that this is an old post so he probably won't answer. That said, there's always someone with a similar interest. I can't tell you that I am an expert but I would take a guess at two reasons why pontoon boats, and even hulled houseboats are not seaworty - not enough lift in the sponsons on the pontoon boats to climb waves and not enough freeboard in either for safe rough water cruising. San Francisco Bay is an enlcosed body of water but it is a very large area, subject to wind borne waves of considerable size. It can actually get very rough and very dangerous for any type of boat.

 

[KCook]

Re: Best boat for dockside living/entertaining?

This post may give you an idea why 'toons are not popular on big water -

http://forums.iboats.com/showpost.php?p=456409&postcount=5

Kelly Cook