Is it hard to maintain and live on a small houseboat?? What are the main costs and/or repairs that you entail?

Question

Is it hard to maintain and live on a small houseboat?? What are the main costs and/or repairs that you entail?

Answer 1

No, it is not hard to maintain and live on a housboat.  In fact, the life and life-style of living aboard is a very laid back and easy life... no yard to mow, no leaves to rake, no gutters to clean, no driveways to shovel (for those that have lived up north)...

I live on the sternwheeler SummerWind. Though "techniqually" it is not a "houseboat" it is about as close to one - one can get and not be one...  In fact, I am sure it is much more difficult to maintain than an actual houseboat... an she is not difficult at all.

My main cost (other than fuel when cruising) is the slip or dock fees... SummerWind is 60 feet in length and I pay $10 a foot or $600 a month.  At my Marina this covers my water, electric, and pump outs.  The Marina also furnishes a really nice (free - can you believe that) laundry room - you just take your clothes and soap... They also have a pool, spa, workout gym, shower facilities etc. and they even show movies on Thursday nights... with free popcorn.  They also have several "guest houses" for those guests you don't want to sleep with, don't want to sleep with you, or you simple don't want 'em on your boat, or don't have room.  I have been here for 7 years and have yet to use any of that... though I do go to the movies if it is a good one. lol

So... there you have it... I have a cell phone, satellite TV and Internet service, and the Marina has US postal boxes for every slip...

As for maintainence, I do all my own... I have a power washer and power wash my vessel about six times a year... I have her hauled out every third year for new bottom paint (which I do myself).

I love the life...

Course, I also know live aboard boaters (including houseboaters) that "anchor out" and have no monthly fees whatso ever... but that is becoming less and less attractive to them as the price of fuel to run their generator is getting so high... There are also places where houseboaters live "up river" or in coves and off navigational waters where they dock shore side, live, and pay nothing monthly... Some of these in fact, have electric poles and meters with electic running to their vessel.  

So... is it "hard" to live on a houseboat?  Certainly not... Easier ( I would say ) than falling off a log... my biggest problem, is resisting the tempation of becoming an absolute boat bum... lol

PS. my oldest son and his girlfriend live next door to me in their boat... my youngest lives on his boat in NYC...

Once you do it... it just kinda gets in your blood...

If your not big on owning lots of "stuff" (there is never enough room for "stuff" on a boat...  then you should love it!

So check it out... my vessel and live aboard life-style at:

> www.boatwrights.org <

Answer 2

I agree fully with "Capt. John" as long as you are an experienced boater. And he is right, it is a wonderful time, if that is your bag. The problem is that with asking the question it leads me to believe that you don't have a lot of experience in doing it. Anything is "Easy" once you know how" A  surgeon most likely thinks it's easy once he has done a certain procedure a few 100 times, but I certainly wouldn't try it. So if you proceed just understand that there will be a learning curve to it. If you are a "Handy" type person then most likely you will take to it like a duck to water. If not you may want to investigate more. Boating and all that it offers is a great way of life, IF that's how you like to live. I LOVE IT! But I have a brother-in -law that would rather eat nails. So in the end it is about your personality and hobbies as to if you would like it. If this is about saving on living expenses then you better make real sure before you proceed. I would recommend renting a houseboat for a week or longer, just to get a feel for it. Renting is not cheap, but in the end could be much cheaper than getting into something that you are not too sure about. Happy Boating!