Why do you own a houseboat?

lowkee

lowkee

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Call me naive, but I always though houseboats were simply large, barge-like primary residences which rarely, if ever, left the dock they were tied to.

I see quite a few people here as houseboat owners and, upon realizing people move them quite often, am wondering the purpose of a houseboat if not a primary residence.

So, why do you own a houseboat and what do you use it for?

Are there 'houseboat communities'? Something like dry land communities?
 
U

Utahboatnut

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

Here in Utah there is a lake on the south end of our state and goes in Arizona as well Lake Powell is one of the largest houseboat destinations in the world. I am in a time share on a 55 footer and have been for 14 years now. When you spend 7-8-9 days at Powell a houseboat is the ONLY way to fly. July and August 105+ degrees every day with not much relief at night. It is nice to be abel to get out of the sun and sand and heat for a while becuase it can be relentless down there if your beach camping. We usually tie the runabout (20' bowrider) to the houseboat and travel 20-30 miles down the lake and find a secluded canyon to camp for the week. All of our gear,food, and even gas(houseboat has a 200 gal toy tank) is right there. Its awesome to get lost for a week... Some people will take a whole week just to go to the dam and back. start at Bullfrog and drive to Wahweep and then back(thats over 200 miles round trip) and just camp along the way and site see. If you have never seen Lake Powell google it and check it out I would guess there are 500+ houseboats on that lake..
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

the term house boat has a lot of meanings. a barge with a shelter on it. then you have the yacht style. barge is usually more permanent. the yacht type are weekend and vacation getaways, not say the barge is not.

Sausalito, Calif, is mostly a house boat community.
 
lowkee

lowkee

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

I guess I just haven't been around big enough bodies of water to see where one would tie off, as in the northeast, every square inch of waterfront is owned and has a house, so you would be dropping anchor in front of someone's cabin.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I feel less ignorant, now :)
 
bowman316

bowman316

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

Yea, on the bay, I owuld rather just have a house near the water, and have a runabout for having fun on the water.

you can't water ski or anything behind a houseboat.

You almost have to have 2 boats if you have a house boat.
 
Dunaruna

Dunaruna

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

Where else can you get out of bed, make a cuppa coffee, visit the bathroom, and then start fishing - all within a 30ft radius!
 
Tacklewasher

Tacklewasher

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

lowkee said:
I guess I just haven't been around big enough bodies of water to see where one would tie off, as in the northeast, every square inch of waterfront is owned and has a house, so you would be dropping anchor in front of someone's cabin.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I feel less ignorant, now :)
Click to expand...

Around here, they just seem to drop anchor in any bay they feel like.

Then they leave them basically abandoned for most of the time and won't help out if they sink.

Real nice, big one sitting in the parking lot of a nearby launch with a hole in a pontoon. No one will lay claim to it and foot the bill for the recovery and storage.
 
SS MAYFLOAT

SS MAYFLOAT

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

Eventually we plan on moving up to a houseboat. We use our cruiser every weekend of the season. My wife and I love the outdoors and water, so why not combine the two. Seasonal campsites are double the price of what a dock with shore power has. We both love it. Having a boat with a cabin on it allows us to enjoy our weekends regardless of the weather. The only thing that we missed was a campfire,,,,,,but the marina put in a fire ring on the shore where our dock starts 2 years ago. All of the dockers are just as dedicated to spending time on their boats just as much as my wife and I. What is nice is when you don't want to party with the others or you just want some piece and quiet, we just untie and go out into the lake and anchor. FREEDOM is what I think it is called.

Why do we? Because we Love it :D
 
JCMINIS

JCMINIS

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

We have some house boats on Fontana lake in nc,which have authorized numbers from the TVA.They arent selling anymore and just a number goes for around 10k.These are what I call house boats,they have large foam blocks they float on and are just that,a floating house usually inbetween 750 and 1000 sqft.No motor,they are tugged to your season long spot by your marina of choice.Only lake I have ever been to that has this style of "house boat".I will see if I can dig up some pics.


Something like this

http://princeboatdock.com/houseboatrentals.html

JC
 
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SS MAYFLOAT

SS MAYFLOAT

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

JCMINIS said:
We have some house boats on Fontana lake in nc,which have authorized numbers from the TVA.They arent selling anymore and just a number goes for around 10k.These are what I call house boats,they have large foam blocks they float on and are just that,a floating house usually inbetween 750 and 1000 sqft.No motor,they are tugged to your season long spot by your marina of choice.Only lake I have ever been to that has this style of "house boat".I will see if I can dig up some pics.


Something like this

http://princeboatdock.com/houseboatrentals.html

JC
Click to expand...
I had watched a special documentary on those awhile back. There was a post and pictures about one that listed and almost sank. I think it was several years ago. They are not popular with a lot of jurisdictions as property taxes cannot be collected on them, but I'm sure they can find other ways to get their share somehow :D
 
JCMINIS

JCMINIS

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

SS MAYFLOAT said:
I had watched a special documentary on those awhile back. There was a post and pictures about one that listed and almost sank. I think it was several years ago. They are not popular with a lot of jurisdictions as property taxes cannot be collected on them, but I'm sure they can find other ways to get their share somehow :D
Click to expand...

I may be mistaken but I believe the TVA(tennesse valley authority) collects taxes on them.I spend alot of time on this lake and their are some very junky ones that I would not step foot on much less sleep on.Then there are the folks with money who have very nice ones,which I beleive I could almost live on.LOL..


Would you happen to remember where you saw the documentary ? I would like to see it.

Thanks JC
 
AZSenza

AZSenza

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

Here in Central Arizona we have a chain of small lakes, the Salt River Chain, people LOVE to drive their house boats (LARGE Pontoons) on them,
 
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bassboy1

bassboy1

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

JCMINIS said:
We have some house boats on Fontana lake in nc,which have authorized numbers from the TVA.They arent selling anymore and just a number goes for around 10k.These are what I call house boats,they have large foam blocks they float on and are just that,a floating house usually inbetween 750 and 1000 sqft.No motor,they are tugged to your season long spot by your marina of choice.Only lake I have ever been to that has this style of "house boat".I will see if I can dig up some pics.


Something like this

http://princeboatdock.com/houseboatrentals.html

JC
Click to expand...
We have got those in at least one of the marinas on Allatoona. Most of them have a "garage" for the boat (looks just like a garage on a house), a front porch which doubles as a boat dock, and often a door that opens up to the water, with just a roof over it for a boat to tie right up to the house with. Styled just like a house, and put in the marina, so it is in a no wake area (this marina has a good set of wave breaks set up), and they just have a gangway going from the back door (the front usually opens to the lake) to the shore.
 
H

houseboater

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

If you really want to know, check out the Houseboat Magazine website sometime. The only way to float, in our opinion.
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

technically, you can anchor a boat anywhere out of the channel or traffic lanes. the shore owners can do nothing. unless the own the land under the water.

we have an old guy who has a house barge, anchored near my favorite ramp. he is about 30ft of shore, and uses his pontoon to get to the ramp area where he docks it during the day. he says his bigest problem is having to carry drinking water. i suspect i know where his sewage is going. which is illegal.
 
S

southtexas

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

Texas Parks and Wildlife awards (or used to) permits for "houseboats" (houses floating on barrels, foam, etc; some even on spoil islands). These are parked along the lower laguna madre into Baffin Bay. If you don't know, this stretch of water is famous for its unbelievable trout and red fishing. It's a 30 or 40 mile run from Corpus Christi to these grounds, hence the popularity of these floating cabins.

People sell JUST the permits for upwards of $50,000, depending on location. It is amazing to wake up in the morning out there, though. Just don't overdo it the night before. The last time I stayed out at a cabin, had too much fun and walked (fell??) off the end of the pier one night:D
 
J

jack1130

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

I think a lot of people live around the Florida Keys in them. Mobility + no property taxes = happiness.
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: Why do you own a houseboat?

Why do you own a houseboat?
Click to expand...

Because My Love wants to be On the water,+ I want to jack my riverhouse up in the air...
When the house is where it's goin',..
I think I've got a deal with the marina across the river to rent it to fishermen for accommodations...

For a $500. auction buy,... It just might turn into a money Maker someday,....
1969 Nauti-line...
 
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