A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a human dwelling. Some houseboats are not motorized, because they are usually moored, kept stationary at a fixed point and often tethered to land to provide utilities. However, many are capable of operation under their own power.
Contents 1 By country 1.1 Australia 1.2 Canada 1.3 China 1.4 Laos 1.5 The Netherlands 1.6 India 1.6.1 Kerala houseboats 1.6.2 Kashmir houseboats 1.7 Germany 1.8 New Zealand 1.9 United Kingdom 1.10 United States 1.10.1 For recreation 1.10.2 Houseboating lakes 1.10.3 Unofficial houseboats 1.11 Venezuela 1.12 Zimbabwe 2 Carbon monoxide from gasoline-powered generators 3 References 4 External links // By country Australia Houseboat for Students in Zwolle, NetherlandsIn Australia, especially on the Murray River and the sunny coastline of Queensland, there are many motorized, pontoon-based houseboats with two or more bedrooms; some of these houseboats have more than one level or multiple stories (floors). Some are privately owned as either a primary residence or a holiday shack. Many are also available for hire (rent) as self-driven holiday destinations with accommodation for four to perhaps a dozen persons. Coomera River, the Great Sandy Straits near the world's largest sand island - Fraser Island and in recent times the Tweed River (near Barri Island during the popular Tournament Crabbing competitions) are especially popular with Queenslanders and interstate tourists. Lake Eildon in Victoria and the Hawkesbury River near Sydney in New South Wales are popular houseboating areas.
CanadaIn Canada, houseboats are gaining major popularity in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec as there is an abundance of perfectly suited rivers and lakes for houseboaters to enjoy. Houseboats in Canada are generally motorised and used recreationally, rather than as a permanent dwelling. The Rideau Canal system is a historic waterway known for its picturesque setting and quaint villages. The town of Sicamous, on Shuswap Lake, British Columbia, is said to be the "Houseboat Capital of the World".
ChinaThere is a houseboat and fishing community in Hong Kong known as Aberdeen floating village.
LaosIn Laos, houseboats are used to accommodate tourists on the Mekong river. The houseboats are usually referred to as 'slow boats' and exist in wooden or steel variants.123
The Netherlands Another houseboat in Amsterdam, Netherlands.In Europe, some of the finest and costliest examples of houseboats can be seen along the canals of Amsterdam, which even has houseboat hotels. Houseboats are very expensive nowadays in Amsterdam because of the limited number of moorings; this expense has reduced the likelihood that the approximately 2,400 families that live on the inner waters of Amsterdam will find themselves confronted by new neighbor boats. The Bloemenmarkt is a houseboat borne flower market along the Singel in Amsterdam.
A Kerala House boat in Kumarakom, India IndiaIn India, houseboats are common on the backwaters of Kerala, see below, and on the Dal Lake near Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kerala houseboats Main article: KettuvallomsThe houseboats in Kerala, south India, are huge, slow-moving, exotic barges used for leisure trips. They are a reworked model of Kettuvallams (in the Malayalam language, Kettu means "tied with ropes", and vallam means "boat"), which, in earlier times, were used to carry rice and spices from Kuttanad to the Kochi port. Kerala houseboats were considered a convenient means of transportation.
The popularity of Kettuvallams has returned in the function as major tourist attractions.
Such a houseboat is about 60 to 70 feet (about 18 to 21 meters) long and about 15 feet (about 5 m) wide at the middle. The hull is made of wooden planks that are held together by ropes of coconut fiber; the usual wood is 'Anjili'. The roof is made of bamboo poles and palm leaves. The exterior of the boat is painted with protective coats of cashew nut oil.
Houseboat at Kochi Kashmir houseboats Houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir House boats on Nageen Lake, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India.Unlike their counterparts in Kerala, the houseboats in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir are usually stationary. They are usually moored at the edges of the Dal and Nageen lakes. Some of the houseboats there were built in the early 1900s, and are still being rented out to tourists. These houseboats are made of wood, and usually have intricately carved wood paneling. The houseboats are of different sizes, some having up to three bedrooms apart from a living room and kitchen.
Many tourists are attracted to Srinagar by the charm of staying on a houseboat, which provides the unique experience of living on the water in a cedar-paneled elegant bedroom, with all the conveniences of a luxury hotel. Srinagar's thousand or so houseboats are moored along sections of the Dal and Nagin Lakes and the Jhelum River, each decorated fancifully and named romantically and even whimsically. Like hotels, houseboats vary in degree of luxury and have been accordingly graded by the Department of Tourism. A luxury houseboat, like a luxury hotel has fine furniture, good carpets and modern bathroom fittings, while the ‘D category’ (the lowest category) of houseboats, like low-budget hotels, is spartanly furnished. Like hotels too, houseboats vary widely in their locations. Some overlook the main road, others look out onto lotus gardens and yet others face tiny local markets and villages, which are also floating on the lake. All houseboats, regardless of category, have highly personalized service. Not only is there always a "houseboy" for every boat, but the owner and his family are often close by. The cost per day of hiring a houseboat includes all meals and free rides from the houseboat to the nearest jetty and back, as no houseboat on the lakes is directly accessible from the banks.
Every standard houseboat provides a balcony in the front, a lounge, dining room, pantry and 3 or more bedrooms with attached bathrooms. All houseboats not moored to the bank of the river or lakes provide a shikara as a free service from the houseboat to the nearest Ghat (jetty). Virtually every houseboat in Srinagar has been provided with a municipal water connection.
GermanyThe Port of Hamburg has a sizable water borne community that includes a Flussschifferkirche or Boatman's Church.
New ZealandIn New Zealand houseboating is developing as a holiday activity. Whangaroa Harbour [1] on Northland's east coast is a land locked harbour that provides houseboating.
United Kingdom Narrowboats at Braunston on the Grand Union Canal, UK Beached hull house boats at Hayling Island, UKIn the United Kingdom, canal narrowboats are used as homes and also as mobile, rented, holiday accommodation. Narrowboats were originally used for bulk transport of raw materials and fuel on canals constructed at the start of the Industrial revolution. Nowadays, the canal network is mainly used for recreation and is different to typical holiday locations, which are usually based in coastal or rural areas, because canals are inland and often pass through many former historical, industrial, urban areas.
In coastal regions of the United Kingdom, the beached hulls of old boats and ships have been used as homes in the past, for example, Peggotty's houseboat of the 1840s in the novel David Copperfield. Today in the very same area (Hoo Peninsula) there are hundreds of converted ships, barges and other boats being used as homes by many families. The Houseboat Centre is located in Hoo St Werburgh and is used as a reference resource by the UK media on Houseboat matters Substantiated claim.[2]
Over 15,000 people live afloat in Great Britain. They are found throughout the canals, rivers and coasts; in cities, in the country and in harbours. Some cruise continuously, some are permanently moored and the others mix cruising and mooring to suit themselves.
Liveaboards come from all walks of life: families to pensioners, professionals to artists to boatbuilders. Some live in narrow boats, some in sea-going craft, some in houseboats. Their homes may be owned (possibly with the aid of a loan) or rented.
Liveaboards are attracted to their lifestyle for many reasons, including:
economies of combining home with pleasure closeness to Nature camaraderie escape from day-to-day pressures of life ashoreResearch has shown that liveaboards are not a sub-culture; actually they are a very diverse group. Often they have a strong sense of their local community and its environment. Substantiated Claim.[3]
There are a number of residential houseboats/moorings in the London Port Health Authority (LPHA) District. Although a significant number of houseboats are permanent floating residences, many are occupied only at weekends and seldom move whilst others may periodically leave the moorings for short cruises.
The various moorings stretch from Broadness Creek and Benfleet Creek in the lower part of the London Port Health Authority District up to Twickenham in the upper part. Many of these are Port of London Authority (PLA) licensed moorings which also have Riparian Local Authority planning approval for their existence, whilst others have neither. Substantiated claim.[4]
United StatesIn the United States, houseboats are gaining in popularity. Recreational houseboating in the United States started in the late 1940s when people were looking to stay on the water for longer periods of time. Lake Cumberland in Kentucky is considered the birthplace of houseboating in the USA. Today one can find motorized houseboats with over 2,000 sq ft (200 m2) of living space.
Seattle, Washington is home to a relatively large collection of floating houseboat neighborhoods, particularly in Lake Union and Portage Bay. The earliest houseboats in Seattle were recorded in 1905, and peaked with over 2000 houseboats in the 1930s. There are currently approximately 500 houseboats in Seattle. Most houseboats are designed and built for inland lakes and waterways only. Portland, Oregon also has many houseboats along both the Willamette River and the Columbia River, with the neighborhood of Hayden Island as a prominent example.
A doghouseboat on the Charles River in Cambridge, MassachusettsRenting houseboats has also become popular. In addition, houseboats have been used for commerce; on the Northern Neck of Virginia, Chesapeake National Bank had a floating bank branch called the Boat 'n Bank that provided bank services to watermen. Halibut Cove, Alaska has one of the only floating post offices in the US. Mystic Island, New Jersey had a 'boatel' (hotel for boaters with water access) when it started in the 1960s but the building has since changed ownership and no longer operates as such.
A houseboat in Silver Glen Springs, just off Lake George Literally a houseboat in Lake Bigeaux, near Henderson, LASausalito, California, also has one of the most noted collections of float homes that were owned at various times by the likes of famous musicians, film stars, authors, and other notables, from the hippie era until even today. Like many areas where float homes have taken hold, battles have brewed between float home owners, local and state government, and the local establishment (which includes land-based home owners). Float home owners had fought established land-based tax schemes whereby float home owners sought relief from real estate taxes. The state won the battle with the shadow tax allowing the state to make the case that property beneath the float home was improved by the shadow the float home cast upon the bottom.citation needed
For recreationHouseboating is a very popular recreational activity for groups of people of all ages, aboard houseboats of all varieties, ranging from more modest 30–40 foot boats to 70-foot (21 m)-plus luxury houseboat models. Houseboating is appealing due to the ability to more completely explore the local scenery, remain in close proximity to other outdoor activities (hiking, boating, beaches, etc.), and finally, retain the potential to move the living quarters for a change of view or neighbors, on a whim.
Houseboating lakesHouseboating on Lake Powell is a popular vacation option since the Glen Canyon Dam impounds water from the Colorado River to form almost 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of shoreline. Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake in North America, about 30 minutes from Las Vegas, New Bullards Bar Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills about 45 minutes from Nevada City, California, and Lake Shasta in the mountains just outside of Redding, California, are also popular spots for houseboats. Four rivers or "arms" merge together to creat this man-made wonder: the Sacramento, McCloud, Squaw Creek, and Pit. Each has its own personality and unique beauty. Shasta Dam, the highest center spillway dam in the world, can be found at the southwest corner of the lake. Lake Shasta Caverns, a fascinationg natural wonder that can onl be reach from the lake, offers daily tours year round. With Mount Shasta rising majestically to the north and the Lassen volcanic peaks to the east, the scenery and views are endlessly breathtaking. Jones Valley Resort on Lake Shasta rents the largest three story houseboat on the lake, in the twenty-two passenger Titan. Houseboats.com, which specializes in luxury rentals on Lake Shasta, also carries houseboat rentals on Lake McClure and New Melones Lake just southeast of Sacramento.
Houseboating is also common in Lake Cumberland, Lake Amistad, Trinity Lake, Lake Mohave and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. In New York, houseboats have also become a major part of the great South Bay on Long Island. Houseboats are also available for rental at Lake Billy Chinook in Central Oregon where waterskiing is popular. Lake Billy Chinook has many little coves to anchor the houseboat.
Unofficial houseboatsMany owners of yachts do not sail them often; and some use them exclusively for shoreside entertaining. A few yacht owners who can afford the cost of a comfortable yacht but temporarily lack a long-term onshore home may choose to live on a yacht. In some jurisdictions, this is illegal, but some such people have escaped notice by living quietly.citation needed
VenezuelaIn Maracaibo, Venezuela, there is a big house called La Casa Barco, which was built by a former captain of the Venezuelan Navy in the 20th century. The building resembles a real ship with its anchors, lifeboats, and radars, floating on water. It is located in the neighborhood La Estrella. Nowadays La Casa Barco has become a city icon for tourists.
ZimbabweIn Zimbabwe, specifically on Lake Kariba houseboats have been in use since the creation of the lake in the late 1950s/early 1960s. This is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious ways to experience the Zambezi basin and all the associated wildlife, as it is possible to view a lot of game as they come down to the water for drinking, and to cool themselves down.
Carbon monoxide from gasoline-powered generatorsMany houseboats use gasoline-powered generators. The carbon monoxide exhaust from these generators has caused problems for some houseboat inhabitants. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in tandem with the National Park Service and the U.S. Coast Guard, performed a number of evaluations on air quality, particularly carbon monoxide (CO) levels, on houseboats beginning in August 2000. Since that initial investigation, over 600 boating-related poisonings in the United States have been identified with over 100 of these poisonings resulting in death. Over 250 of the poisonings occurred on houseboats, with more than 200 of these poisonings attributed to generator exhaust alone. Major houseboat and generator manufacturers have begun working with these government agencies to evaluate engineering controls to reduce CO concentrations in occupied areas on houseboats.4
References ^ Slow boats term for houseboats ^ Steel hull slowboat cruise on Mekong ^ Wooden slowboat cruise on Mekong ^ Carbon Monoxide Dangers in Boating. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Retrieved December 17, 2008. External links This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (February 2008) Living Afloat, the reference website on houseboats and how to convert them Houseboats In Dalake - Kashmir Houseboat Museum Amsterdam Houseboat Trivia (English version) NPS.gov - US National Park Service website Recreation.gov - Recreation information for US public lands All About HouseboatsA houseboating directory of available rental locations throughout North America, including links to other houseboat related sites world wide.
www.houseboat.net
A friend recently told me about the movie "Houseboat," starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren. It was set in Washington, and he was fairly sure parts of it were filmed on the Potomac. Wikipedia confirms this , saying it was filmed on the Potomac and Piscataway Creek near the current Fort Washington... Houseboat - Washington - United States - Sophia Loren - Boats
Beached for the Night This is Jerry Hay s boat the Wabash Queen landed for the night on a beautiful island on the Wabash River Life is good Camper Raft
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Searchable classifieds, message boards and directory of marinas and houseboat rental info by state.
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A friend recently told me about the movie "Houseboat," starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren. It was set in Washington, and he was fairly sure parts of it were filmed on the Potomac. Wikipedia confirms this , saying it was filmed on the Potomac and Piscataway Creek near the current Fort Washington... Houseboat - Washington - United States - Boats - Recreation
This 30 foot houseboat is nearing completion It is being built at a small factory in Louisiana along with a handful of other houseboats See related article at <a href= http www contrabandbayou com >www contrabandbayou com< a>
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A houseboat owner locked in dock by the frozen Fox River last winter is back -- but this time the city is forcing him to move.
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One of the allures of trailerable houseboats is that owners can tow their houseboat to many destinations, rather than being docked at one lake. ...
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It's not the most practical seafaring vessel, but Sal Schaivone's floating home away from home is perfectly suitable for holiday parties, sleepovers with grandkids or watching the sunset over Long Island Sound with a margarita in hand. Houseboat - Long Island - United States - New York - Business and Economy
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It's not the most practical seafaring vessel, but Sal Schaivone's floating home away from home is perfectly suitable for holiday parties, sleepovers with grandkids or watching the sunset over Long Island Sound with a margarita in hand.
With such a beautiful weekend ahead we are gonna spend it on the houseboat We have plenty of room jus drop me a line if ya want to join us
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Directed by Melville Shavelson. With Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer. Visit IMDb ... Most of the story happens on a revamped "houseboat" .Hence the title. ...
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The abandoned remains of a houseboat once moored in North Augusta yielded lots of challenges -- and some unwelcome surprises -- for volunteers who removed it from the Savannah River.
engine mechanic in the Air Force and an electrical engineer on the Apollo missions So it s not surprising that he ended up with this thing after 20 years of working on a travel trailer Most people think it s a spaceship Schaller said of his silver creation that measures 56 feet long 20 feet wide and 17 feet tall It was originally designed to be a hovercraft Now it
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houseboat ( ) n. A barge designed and equipped for use as a dwelling or cruiser.
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Without a doubt, houseboating is one of the best ways to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Our luxurious fleets ... Click here for a complete list of houseboat rates. ...
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For a couple of months now -- well, eight or nine -- I've had a two-inch thick stack of papers sitting on my desk, just to the left of my monitor, a reminder that I need to mail them off to a very nice woman in Maine named Gay Grant. But for some reason I just can't bring myself to. Book - Shopping - Local Interest - Used and Rare - IPad
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Nova Scotia Power website shows outages across much of the province, including metro Halifax area, totaling roughly 90,000 customers
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Seattle is famous for it s houseboats along the shores of Lake Union Our friend Betty was kind enough to host our annual quot old hikers quot group for lunch on Monday I couldn t pass up the chance to record life on a houseboat
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