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What timing - after yet another small disaster with our manufactured home, my husband looked at me a couple of days ago and suggested we sell everything and buy a houseboat. I was ready to just pile everything in the front yard with a hugh "Free" sign!

So long as it's well designed and well built, I'd very much enjoy living on the water.

In a heartbeat.

It seems like a lot of fun---would need to know how much real trouble it is to deal with. How often it needs to be taken out of the water and cleaned or fixed. What happens during a real bad storm, etc.

Location and stabelizers would be my 2 main priorities.

"Location and stabelizers would be my 2 main priorities."

Stabilizers only work on vessels that are underway at speed - they do absolutely nothing for vessels that are moving slowly or stopped, such as a houseboat.

"What happens during a real bad storm, etc."

You either move your houseboat out of harm's way as best you can - or you simply make sure the insurance is paid, go inland with everyone else and hope for the best.

I was at the 79th St Boat Basin this weekend (NYC) where there are a lot of house boats and was noticing how loud everything was even on a relatively calm day. The boats creaked, the docks moaned, floating landings banged into each other. I guess your brain would get used to it after a while, but I can't imagine what it would be like if you had a wakes from other boats coming in regularly or some bad weather hit.

It's one of my fantasies, though I'll probably never do it.

I like the idea of being able to move my residence if I don't like my neighbors (lol) and weather is not an issue here, but I'm not sure a houseboat would have enough room for my huge industrial pattern-making table...and I know any loud noises or wave-induced motion would drive my cat crazy.

Actually, many houseboats have propylene barrels placed underneath to help stabelize the structure.

"Actually, many houseboats have propylene barrels placed underneath to help stabelize the structure."

Um, those are there for bouyancy - nothing is going to keep the thing from rocking.

They depreciate over time, getting financing for them is difficult, and if you're not paying property taxes, then you're paying someone who is - and they can have you move at a whim (or very nearly a whim).

But if money were not an issue, I would absolutely do it.

I'm open to the idea.

i just got back from living on a boat for two weeks (not a houseboat but fully-equipped 12 metre Tasman P4000 Flybridge Power Cataraman). it was fantastic! my new dream now is to buy a houseboat for keeps.

oops, i meant "catamaran".

Unfortunately, I live in Minnesota, where the winters are long and cold, so I don't think houseboat living would actually be that fun. But I'd love to try it sometime - it would mean I would have to get rid of nearly everything I own though, and my husband would have to get rid of most of his computers. Probably not practical for most people, but awesome for those who can do it (imho).

I live in the Puget Sound area of Washington, we have quite a few houseboats and floating homes and they are so cool. I would totally do this except I live two blocks from work and am not sure I can give up that convenience... I am home before my coworkers are out of the parking garage!

I'm not sure if I'd live full time on a houseboat but I would love to stay in one for a month every summer. (when I have the $$$)