Is it possible and/or safe to sail a houseboat in open saltwater?

Question

I'm not talking about the cube-shaped houseboats. I mean the ones with actual curved hulls.

Answer 1

If indeed you have a "V" shaped hull with high freeboard, (I suggest more than four feet) you can do it on a very calm day.  Just remember... one over the bow wave, or worse - one broad side - and your vessel  and everything in it will probably end up in Davy Jone's Locker.  I have known two (exactly two) "Great Loopers" that have made the trip in large "Holiday Mansion" houseboats.  Great Loopers of course, cruise up the east coast in the ICW - through the Great Lakes - and down the Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, and the Tenn-Ton to the Gulf of Mexico, and take that leg across the Gulf (no ICW) from Mobile Bay, AL to Tampa Bay, FL. I don't know if making the Great Loop is your plan or not, but if so... I can certainly understand the feeling and the desire to do it... though no one knows your boat better than you - still, most everyone would say you are crazy... and advise you not too.

One of those Holiday Mansion boaters (I know) put his wife on a bus in Alabama, and took the boat across himself.

Personally, other than making the Great Loop,  I don't know of any reason why someone would want to do such a thing.  But consider this: having your boat hauled around from Mobile to Tampa will most likely be cheaper than the bill you will get from the Coast Guard if they have to come rescue you.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Not for long.....it's build for calm waters.  You'd flip with one good wave.

Answer 3

Its possible but EXTREMELY unsafe because of the design of a houseboat. It has a flat bottom and is not meant to sail on open water x*x

Answer 4

Only on the best of days.

Smooth sailing ONLY!

Answer 5

Its possible. Not sure how safe. I live at the beach and see them all the time around and island that takes 30 minutes by speedboat to get to. They are usually out there on calm days.