Updated at: 23-09-2021 - By: Lucas

A houseboat is a boat that you live on. It’s not an accessory like a jet ski or a lobster boat. In fact, a houseboat is usually so livable that you may decide to make it your primary residence. Many people do this because it allows them to travel with the comforts of home. Others buy houseboats as investments and live in them for years. 

Whatever the case, a houseboat is a very special kind of vessel. It is unique in many ways and there are certain things you should know before you decide to buy or rent one. In this informative article, we’ll cover what you need to know when you are thinking about buying or renting a houseboat.

Canal Style

Canal Style

A canal-style houseboat is a floating home that has been built specifically to live in a canal or other waterway. A canal-style houseboat is also sometimes called a “house-boat” or a “watercraft”.

Canal-style houseboats are built much like a canal boat. They have a flat bottom with a slight upward slope. The front of the boat is slightly raised above the rear of the boat. This allows the boat to be tied up to a stationary object such as a bank or dock. The front of the boat usually has two ramps or steps that allow the occupants easy access to the land. One ramp is for getting on the boat, and the other is for getting off the boat.

Canal-style houseboats are designed for easy and convenient living. They have a small amount of storage space, but this can be expanded by removing some of the interior panels. There is usually a combination electrical/telephone junction box located near the front of the boat.

The kitchen area is located on the main level of the houseboat.

Pontoon

A pontoon houseboat is a floating home that has pontoons (paddle-like pieces of wood) under the hull. This type of boat was originally designed for use by military personnel who needed a mobile, transportable home. These days, you can get a pontoon houseboat in a variety of sizes and styles. Some of them even have full kitchens and bathrooms!

Pontoons are attached to the bottom of the boat with cleats. The pontoons keep the boat afloat and provide a stable base for the rest of the structure. The houseboat sits high above the waterline and has a “floating floor” that is supported by the pontoons. A pontoon houseboat is ideal for boaters who like to spend a lot of time on the water. You can travel the world and visit exotic places while maintaining your houseboat at your home port.

Floating Home

A floating home is a house that is designed to be built upon pontoons or other floating structures. This allows the homeowner to live in one place while enjoying the benefits of living in another. It also makes the house more energy efficient.

There are many benefits to floating a home. Not only does it allow you to enjoy the comforts of home without having to give up the outdoor life, but it also lets you travel the country without ever having to unpack. You can literally “settle down” in a new city every few years if you so choose.

River Houseboat

River Houseboat

A river houseboat is a floating home located on or near a body of water. It is designed to be completely self-sufficient and to offer complete protection from the elements. Houses of this type are often used as seasonal or recreational homes. 

They are perfect for boating enthusiasts who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. These houses are built with ample living space and are usually well insulated. They are also extremely stable and can easily be tied up to a pier or mooring ball.

River houseboats come in all sizes and can sleep anywhere from 2 to 20 people. They are perfect for families or groups of friends who want to enjoy the peace and quiet of the river without having to rough it out in the woods. 

They are also great for fishermen who want to get away from it all and enjoy the sport of fishing, even when they aren’t catching anything. These floating homes are so popular that there are actually websites devoted to them. You can find information on everything from where to buy one to how much it will cost to outfit it with all the amenities you desire.

Leisure Boat

A leisure boat is a boat that is designed for pleasure and relaxation rather than for commercial purposes. The term “pleasure boat” can be a misnomer because many of these boats are quite seaworthy and can be used for fishing or other commercial purposes.

These types of boats are usually between 16 and 45 feet long. You can find them in all sizes and styles. Some of them are motorized, while others are sailboats. Regardless of how they’re propelled, they all have a few things in common. 

For example, they are usually of stable construction with a wide beam and flat floor. They also have a shallow draft so they won’t get hung up on submerged objects.

Full hull

A full-hull houseboat is one that has a complete, solid hull. This means that the bottom, sides, and top of the boat are all made out of one piece of material. A full-hull houseboat will usually have some kind of liner or core inside the hull. 

However, the outside of the hull is just as important as the inside. You see, the outside of the hull acts as a protective coating. It keeps the elements out and helps the boat remain seaworthy.

Houseboats with a full-hull are the most common type of houseboat you will find for sale. They are the most economical type of houseboat and they are the most stable. They also tend to be the easiest to maintain. Plus, they are the most durable of all houseboat types. In fact, many houseboat owners choose to simply replace the deck liners every couple of years instead of completely replacing the entire boat.

Barge

Barge

A barge houseboat is a boat that is built on land and then floated out into the water. Once it is in the water, it becomes a houseboat. These boats are great for people who want a low-maintenance houseboat. There are no engines to maintain, no batteries to change or repair, and no plumbing or electrical systems to deal with. 

They are also a great choice for people who live in an area with lots of flooding. Houseboats built on barges can be raised up out of the water when there is no flooding and turned into floating homes.

Barge houseboats are usually about 30-feet long and 10-feet wide. They sleep from 4 to 8 people and have a full kitchen, two full bathrooms, and plenty of living space. Most have a washer and dryer, so you don’t have to keep running back and forth to the laundromat. They are great for families or groups of friends who want to spend time together without having to worry about maintaining a home or yard.

Trailerable

A trailerable houseboat is exactly what it sounds like: a boat you tow behind a motor vehicle. Most often, these boats are manufactured with an aluminum or steel frame and are covered with vinyl or canvas. They usually have room for up to four adults and are ideal for vacationing families or individuals who want to explore remote areas.

You can tow a trailerable houseboat with any type of vehicle, including a car, a pickup truck, or even a recreational vehicle. To make things even easier, many of these houseboats come with towing packages that include a towing ball mount, wiring harness, and other accessories. This makes the process of towing a houseboat a piece of cake.

Luxury Houseboat

Luxury houseboat

A luxury houseboat is a boat built especially for living in. They are usually larger than typical houseboats and have many luxurious features. Most often, these boats are motorized and are able to travel up and down rivers and other waterways.

Some people prefer to live on houseboats because they enjoy the water. Others like the idea of having a boat they can travel on land. Still others find the idea of living on a boat appealing because it allows them to avoid the weather conditions of the land. 

Whatever the reason, houseboats are now very popular and can be had for a reasonable price. You should check with your local houseboat dealer to see if there are any new models that you might be interested in.

FAQS

What defines a houseboat?

A houseboat is a self-propelled craft that is used primarily for living and recreation, and may provide the amenities of a home, including a kitchen and bathroom.

It is not required by law to have these facilities, but many houseboat owners choose to add them anyway. Houseboats are usually between 30 and 50 feet long and can range in size from a few hundred square feet to several thousand. Houseboats come in all styles and shapes.

What is it like to live on a houseboat?

Living aboard a houseboat is similar to living in a house on land. However, all of your living space is on one floor. You have no upstairs. Instead, you have a “great room” which is similar to a living room and a kitchen area. Above the great room is a loft or “second story” which is similar to a bedroom.

Basically, what this means is that whenever you want to go someplace or do something, you simply walk across the great room to where you want to go or to where you want to do something. If the boat has two stories, then you simply walk up one flight of stairs to get to the loft or second floor. Houseboats are very stable boats.

What are the advantages of living on a houseboat?

There are many advantages to living on a houseboat, both financial and societal. First, houseboating can be an excellent alternative to renting an apartment or buying a home. Houseboats are much less expensive than apartments or homes.

In fact, a large percentage of houseboat owners actually pay nothing for their houseboat. And if the houseboat is well maintained, it will probably last the life of the owner which means the owner may never have to buy another place to live! Houseboat ownership also provides a certain type of freedom and flexibility that is not available with other types of dwellings.

What are the disadvantages of living on a houseboat?

Not everyone is suited to living on a houseboat, even if it’s a luxury houseboat. If you are thinking of living on a houseboat you should think about the following disadvantages.

Houseboats are not for everyone. They are extremely difficult to buy and very expensive to maintain. If you have a family or other financial responsibilities, a houseboat may not be the best option for you.

Also, if you have mobility problems or another medical condition that makes it difficult for you to maintain a conventional home, a houseboat may not be the best option for you. Houseboats are large, they weigh a lot and they are extremely difficult and very expensive to move. 

They can cause major problems with your local government if you decide to live in one of the many states that restrict houseboat ownership. Finally, there is always the danger of running into another boat (even a small one) while you are moored to a dock or even worse, a houseboat may run aground!

Can you get a mortgage for a houseboat?

The answer is probably yes. Depending on the type of houseboat you are looking at, there are many finance options available. If you are buying a new boat, you can often get a loan with as little as 5% down. If you are looking at a used boat, you should check into the title and make sure it is free and clear of liens.

Conclusion

A houseboat is a floating home. It has a kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and even a bathroom. Houseboats have two or three levels with living space on each level. They are usually used as permanent or semi-permanent residences. You can also use them as recreational boats or vacation homes.

Houseboats are very popular these days because they are easy to maintain and inexpensive to operate. Many people who buy houseboats do so because they want to live aboard the boat, but don’t necessarily want to own the boat itself.