No-Float Tiny House Boat

Rondavous Land Yacht – Tin Valley Retro Rentals shown on Airbnb $85.00*/night Terlingua, Texas

Even when a boat no longer floats, it could still function as a tiny abode.

Every year, hurricanes destroy thousands of boats.

If the cost of the boat repair will exceed the replacement cost, the insurance company will pay for a new boat and send the old one to a scrapyard.

These boats may never be seaworthy again, but they still could function as a comfortable tiny home by applying a little creativity and sweat equity.

I found several examples on Airbnb of smaller boats as rentals, and a few ships that had been transformed into facilities like hotels and restaurants. So I’m thinking outside the box again, and into the realm of “why not?” Why not fix up a houseboat that no longer floats and situate it on a nice property?

Get a No-Float House Boat for Free

This 1980, 52′ Passagemaker was offered for free from John Thorne in Albany, NY. He needed it out of his boatyard, so he advertised it as free to anyone who could have it if they would move it.

If your imagination was sparked and your creative juices started flowing, something like this might be an avenue of housing for you.

Needless to say, that boat needed considerable work to make it seaworthy, but not nearly as much to make it housing-worthy.

Boat Salvage Yards Aplenty

There are hundreds of boat salvage yards in coastal areas. These are usually family-run and operate on a local level, so they can be hard to find. There is a website called Junkyards Near Me that has a listing of these sites. If you are going to be restoring a boat, it’s really nice to know where the salvage yards are so you can get authentic parts.

Fiberglass is a wonderful material that is suitable for a wide variety of purposes. Fiberglass siding has been shown to be superior to any other material in a number of significant ways. At RecPro, we provide high-quality fiberglass siding for all your marine needs.

Be open to opportunities

Converting a boat into a tiny house requires a “perfect storm of opportunity.” Obviously, a suitable boat needs to be available.

Before you even make plans to move it, you’re going to want to get the blessing of local building officers.

Then you must have the ability to move it economically and the skills to do the building. As with any home build, there will be a host of concerns to address and requirements to fulfill, and a lot of hard work. But who knows? Other folks have done it, and you can probably do it, too.

Don’t dismiss unusual avenues

Available on Airbnb. Click on image to see more.

Keep an open mind when searching for housing possibilities. It doesn’t need to be a houseboat to become a tiny home for you. It doesn’t even need to float. We see houses made from old airplanes. So, make a house that feels like a home to you. Whatever floats your boat.

The same obstacles apply to all tiny homes

As with all tiny homes, you want to build economically but you need to provide a safe environment. Every house will need the basic infrastructure of temperature and moisture control, drinking water and waste removal, cooking facilities and storage areas.

Waste Removal

Most larger boats will have been fitted with the marine version of infrastructure for everyday living. It may or may not be in operable condition, but one thing we know is: in this case, it won’t be used in a marine environment.

Most marinas provide fresh water and waste removal. But as a home on land, you’ll need to find an alternative method for wastewater removal. To avoid the expense of a septic system you could use this portable wastewater tank or the popular composting toilet.

Gray water, from the laundry, showers, and sinks can be filtered and used to water plants in the garden.

Building Codes for a No-Float-House-Boat

This boat picture is from Pinterest showing an Airbnb rental at Haleiwa, Oahu. I could not find the listing.

Depending upon where you live, there are probably no specific building codes for homes made from boats. Seattle has developed building codes because it has a robust floating home community.

However, this is one case where it wouldn’t be easier to ask forgiveness than permission. You’d be wise to check your local codes before bringing home a house/boat.

Your local inspectors and commissioners will have the authority over your construction plans. They also have a wide latitude in what they can approve. Be proactive with these folks.

Pirate Ship Tree House in New Zealand

I couldn’t resist posting this clever tree house. You can stay here for $62.00* a night through Airbnb. Here’s what their ad says:

“Looking for a unique getaway from the city? Come stay in the Pirateship Treehouse “Hinemoana” out at Tanglewood Retreat. Set back from the road and surrounded by nature and the sound of native birds, our treehouse is a true gem.
Tanglewood is a short drive to the surf beach Muriwai and only 5 minutes to Waimauku township.”

This pirate ship tiny house was featured on Living Big In A Tiny House. Here’s a link to that YouTube® video.

They started with a 150 year old sailboat and used all reclaimed materials. Tanglewood Retreat has several unique tiny structures you can rent for a relaxing retreat.