Houseboats

[longboard]

Can anyone recommend one or more sources for houseboat designs/plans??

[Eric.B]

Here is some at glen-L
https://www.boatdesigns.com/departments.asp?dept=7

Im sure more folks will be along soon to help

[davidrparker]

Harry Bryan has a nice shanty boat design.

[David G]

You don't give much by way of parameters, but there are a few at the Atkin site you could look at:

http://www.boat-links.com/Atkinco/Misc/index.html

[MiddleAgesMan]

My favorite is Bolger's Illinois, a houseboat in disguise (and a good disguise it is). Sixty-three feet long and powered by a 50hp outboard hidden deep within the stern. Designed for plywood construction.

http://www.hallman.org/bolger/Illinois/

[Steve Paskey]

I really like the looks of Reuel Parker's Sampan 36 ...

http://www.parker-marine.com/sam36page.html

[Woxbox]

The Illinois is brilliant. Bolger reasons that snotty locals along the ICW won't kick you out if you anchor long-term in a boat with that sort of profile.

[P.L.Lenihan]

And for something a bit smaller from the Bolger genius,PUFFER at 40' LOA.

Peter

[MiddleAgesMan]

Illinois is why I'm on the WBF. I fell in love with it a few years ago but had no experience with building anything of size in plywood. I started with a pirogue and now a Goat Island Skiff and someday may make my way to Illinois.

On the other hand, last night I calculated the costs to get an Illinois started--450 sheets of 1/2" okoume would be about $45,000. Add the epoxy, a little glass and the other necessaries and you're approaching $100,000 if you self-build. As has been pointed out many times you can buy something used for less than the cost of building new in wood or ply.

The problem for me would be--there are no used Illinois on the market, none ever having been built as far as I know.

[P.L.Lenihan]

MiddleAgesMan,

Illinois is a BIG project for a solo builder working part-time. At that size,unless you have a nice big piece of property close to home, a building site has to be figured into the budget.
A rough guessestimate of $186,000.00 would be a good starting point for the boat alone.
Have you considered just downsizing a bit to help advance the dream? Bolger does offer a number of designs in the "state" series.

Peter

[Mark Van]

You could always build one of these:

I just sold mine after living on it for 6 1/2 years.
http://markvdesigns.tripod.com/boatbuilding/id12.html

[Mark Van]

The first two Mark V 39's

[rbj37]

try: http://www.georgebuehler.com/Rufus.html

[P.L.Lenihan]

The MARK V 39 ,in the above posts,is a wonderful good option for you, and quicker still to build then the bigger Bolger boats.

This one here is a smaller boat still,at 31'LOA and also built out of plywood and a Bolger too,if you are a particular fan. This is his design called WINDERMERE and one which I hope to launch this year

Peter

[outofthenorm]

Peter, I really like the looks of Windermere. Is she described in one of Bolger's books?

- Norm

[Sancho]

Look at this

http://www.aussteigen.de/4555.html

simple german projekt, for living on the water.

S

[P.L.Lenihan]

Peter, I really like the looks of Windermere. Is she described in one of Bolger's books?

- Norm

Hi Norm,

She is not in any Bolger book as of yet. I started building this prototype 6 years ago and expect to launch this summer, with any kind of luck

I do, however , seem to recall Bolger did have a write-up about her in the Messing About In Boats magazine in 2001 or 2002( not enough memory cells left to recall the date)

If you ever come up to Montreal, let me know and you can check her out as she nears completion or, if later in the summer, come for a ride

Peter

[Tom Robb]

Since you have'nt said one way or the other, if it's a Sleepless in Seattle sort of house on the water - small house on a concrete barge that doesn't move often if ever - hire an archetect, buy a barge, have at it.

[SamSam]

Here's a possibility...
http://modelplans.steamboats.org/p1-alligator.html
Here's another...

[Tom Robb]

The Bolger Puffer above reminds me of Jay Benford's Florida Bay Coaster small ships. They have a sort of Tonka Toy aesthetic that appeals to the boy-child in some of us. To me, it's sort of like the impulse that leads to tree houses and snow forts. Fun, whimsical.

[Kermit]

If you're thinking more along the lines of a barge to moor or pull/push with a wee tug, I've always liked these:

http://www.macnaughtongroup.com/hush.htm

There's a smaller one called Evening Song at 25' or so.

[Chip-skiff]

There's a Bolger-inspired, Duck Flat built 35-ft. solar-powered cruiser called Nomad III that looks quite habitable for one or two, covered in Wooden Boat #185, July/August 2005, p. 74.

Quite nice looking, easily-driven hull, and trailerable. The only lack for me would be outdoor deck space, which is pretty limited with this design.

[Tom Robb]

I notice that "Longboard" hasn't chimed in or specified what sort of structure/craft was imagined in the first place.

Longboard, what are you looking for?

[trunnel]

Devlin used to list the Moss Rock design in his catalog. Seems to be missing now. He also lists the Millie Hill.

[Spokaloo]

www.bateau.com

there are a few there, small and moderately sized.

E