How to Live on a River Boat

Living on the water in a houseboat is cheaper and simpler yet has challenges.

Mark Twain wrote about life on the great river boats that steamed down the Mississippi River in the 19th century, carrying passengers and cargo to the expanding western frontier. Today, river boats host tourist cruises. People seeking a simpler life chose to live aboard a modern river boat, often called a houseboat. The lifestyle looks simplistic and is not without challenges.

Things You'll Need

• River boat or house boat
• Dock space
• Dock lines
• Electrical cord
• TV hookup
• Fresh water source
• Fenders

Instructions

1. Purchase or rent a boat large enough to fit your lifestyle and financial situation. Boats as large as 100 feet are available but may be cost prohibitive. Treat the search for a boat like a house hunting trip. Look at many different sizes, styles and engine ranges before making a final decision.

2. Find a marina or dock to keep the boat. Marinas generally set rates monthly and charge by the foot, although they have rates for transient boaters too. Also check to see if each slip has separate electrical and water hookups that are charged separately to a slip owner. Marinas offer many amenities---pools, playgrounds, food, showers and restrooms---but some marinas can be spartan. Determine what is important. Some marinas do not allow live-aboard boaters, so ask first. Private docks are also available for rent along many riverfronts. Those can be cheaper than commercial marinas, so check local want ads to search for the best price.

3. Sort through belongings and keep only what is needed on a daily basis. Boats do not have a lot of storage space and are designed with tight living quarters. Storage is often tucked away in tight places. Give away extra belongings or put it in long-term storage. Be ruthless and only keep necessities.

4. Secure the boat to dock and add fenders to the sides to keep the boat from rubbing on the dock. Adjust the lines as the tides go in and out to provide enough slack to hold the boat in the slip but make sure the lines are not too tight. If the lines are too taut, a storm surge that dramatically lowers or raises the water can cause the cleats on the boat and dock to pull free.

5. Hook up utilities. Use a marine-grade electrical power cord to connect the boat power source to the shore power. If satellite or cable television is available, run the cables to the boat and through a port or hatch. Ensure the opening is waterproofed to prevent leaks. Fill the water tanks with freshwater from a hose or other water source on the dock or shore. Follow local regulations and marina rules for sewage and bilge disposal. Protect your house boat from lightning.

6. Store and secure breakable items. Waves, wakes and weather events can cause quick, sudden motion while docked, jarring loose items sitting on counters or piled up in a corner.

Tips & Warnings

• In cold climates, find a marina that places de-icers in the water to prevent freezing around the boat.

• Insert screens into ports and hatches to keep out bugs.

• Hurricanes with storm surges and flooding can cause damage to a docked boat. Find a place nearby the boat can be moved to and wait out the storm.

• Boat financing offers often have higher interest rates and shorter terms than traditional home mortgages.

References

• The Cincinnati Enquirer; Living the river life; When a houseboat is your home, fun and beauty are on your doorstep; Maggie Downs; Oct. 2003
• Tiny House Blog; Living on a Boat; Christina Nellemann; November 2008

Resources

• Coastal Living: So You Want to Live on ... a Boat
• Liveaboard Living: So, You Want to Live on a Boat?