Buying a new houseboat?

Question

I'm thinking about buying a 52" Sunseeker houseboat, and have some questions that I would really appreciate if you guys could answer for me.

First the boat is moored in a different state.

What is the average cost to have to boat moved to my location?

What is the insurance like to cover the boat?

What are the other average fees? (hooking up to electricity and water, etc per month)

Finally, the boat is in fresh water now, and will be put in salt water if I decide to buy. How hard is the transfer on the boat?Any other helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

Answer 1

You are going to have to pay some really "big" bucks to have it moved. I can not tell you how much - because you do not say where the boat is, nor where you are moving it to...

However, my new houseboat neighbor (I live on my boat) just bought his houseboat and had it moved 75 miles from an inland lake to the Gulf Coast. He paid $5,000 - and that was for a straight shot, on and off the freeway, no obstacales - 74 miles of which were all 4 and 6 lane highway miles.  The move began at 3 am and they were done & gone before day break. (They drove 55 mph the entire way.)

It is most likely going to cost you $10 a foot to put her in a slip on the water... (that seems to be about the national average  these days... (that's what I pay).

So, about $520 a month will get you a slip... (maybe).  Some places are more, I know. So be sure to add in at least that much to your boat payments (of what? Another $520 a month... )

You will also most likely have to pay a deposit on electric meter, and pay your own electric and water - You will also need to check (and for sure make arrangements - secure your slip - before you buy the boat.

Bottom line is...

    I can tell by your writing, and questions that you are about 21 years old (give or take a year, maybe two)... because your questions are good questions - but you have not given good thought to them... (kinda like my sons at that age)...

I mean, they would come and ask me some very good questions... but I knew when they were excited about something, and hadn't give it "real  thought" - like how do you expect someone to give you an answer to how much it will cost you to move a houseboat over land - when you don't mention how far?  Or how "wide" or how "tall" the houseboat is? These all determine the cost of moving it...

So, Seeing how I suspect you are a student, and possibly thinking of seating out a semester or two... and having some chick or chicks come down to visit you on your houseboat...

I am going to give you the same advice I would my kids...  

"Keep your pants on - and zipped - over this one."  It is not a good deal unless someone is actually giving you the boat, and all you have to do is move it... even then, it may not be that good a deal.

Don't be so excited over it...  The money you pay to have that vessel moved to your location is, well... you might as well take it and flush it down the toilet... cause once it is done, you will have nothing to show for it. Nothing!

Look for a smaller cheaper houseboat that is already on the water...  My goodness man, if you are on salt water, their must be hundreds of houseboats on the market you can buy that don't have to be transfered over land.  Also - you better worry first about finding a place to keep it - then worry about finding the right houseboat (that's the easy part).

Footnote:  All my kids are now young adults.  All three are boaters and have "big" boats of their own... If you ask any one of them for advice, they will tell you "It is the wrong boat for you if you can't pay cash for it."

My oldest son works a year and then takes off sailing for a year or two... He never was able to really enjoy his boat, until he finally managed to get one fully paid for.

Happy & Safe Boating!

http://boatwrights.org/