the house boat

[oops!]

someone asked me on one of the threads i have been following to post some pics of the 50 footer im rebuilding.

its an older house boat that had badly delaminated, and actually failed a hull inspection, (i didnt get to do the inspection because of a conflict of interest).

much of the decking was rotten and the railings were just sitting on top of rotted wood.....if you touched them....the could just fall over and would not support any stress or weight against them.

some of the decking was done on land......but due to the storage costs of the yard...the boat was launched.

so........this is my transportation to and from work.

this is a small bay where i launch.....its known as tugboat bay.....or sutherland bay.

yep....real lousy going to work .....lol

there are several house boats in the bay.....and its great contention at city hall.......but we have not been asked to move yet.

fifty feet, is not long for a house boat.......but you gotta be back quite a ways to get it in the view finder....lol

you can kinds see the solar panel here on the front of the boat above the forward lower deck

 

[oops!]

Re: the house boat

this is the reason the current owner bought the barge

the purchase price was 8k........the motor alone was worth the price

this motor will push the boat fast enough to water ski behind it.....over 14 knots.....about 17 mph according to the latest gps.

this is a shot of a front quarter that was totally replaced.....the whole front side.....there was actually nothing to attach the new plywood to....it was all just rotten away......nothing holding up the upper deck......it was a real trick to get it to the point that i had a structural part just to build off !

lol.....this is my lunch room !

view off the top command.....i just re covered the helm seat....so its under cover.

you can see from the above shot that there is still some structural repairs to the storage area doors.....as well as paint.

the view from my the top deck.

 

[oops!]

Re: the house boat

the main salon

the futon folds down to a bed

the galley

looking aft

the view off the aft lower deck

there is something really calming about working here.....lol

 

[oops!]

Re: the house boat

this is the front quarter that was replaced....

actually i had to rebuild the entire front deck....both hatches..

as well as the hatches.....all the railings needed to be re enforced.

this is what i saw just at quitting time......

im currently doing all the painting on the boat......the above shots were taken before the last coat of paint......its really starting to finally look like a ship.

i have to totally go thru the electrical and all of the ships systems.....head...shower....the inverter and shore power ....freshwater....all systems must be up and working before the winter.
the boat has a propane heater, and stove......the owner wnats to come stay on it for a little while in the winter.....so it has to be ready.....thats a lot of systems to trouble shoot.

lol......im just about done......but i gotta admit i really dont want to leave this job site....lol

cheers
oops

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: the house boat

There is nothing like taking your boat to go to work everyday. I have been rebuilding a 35 ft Gibson for a customer off and on for the last year basically. The interior work is pretty much done, and I'm finishing the exterior this week. What brand of houseboat is that? Is it on aluminum pontoons?

 

[oops!]

Re: the house boat

hi chris.....the two out board toons are glass.......but someone added a third middle toon that is alum.

im not sure of the brand of boat. however it looks like a type of house boat used on the shuswap lakes here by a company called portside. they run a fleet of about fifty boats.....the design is very similar.

im sure it was converted from an inboard to an outboard....i found a large fuel tank that had been blocked off, the thing had 100 gallons of fuel in it!....and yes....they used stabil.....!
im runnung some of the gas in the gennie.......and the genset loves the stuff !

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: the house boat

hi chris.....the two out board toons are glass.......but someone added a third middle toon that is alum.

im not sure of the brand of boat. however it looks like a type of house boat used on the shuswap lakes here by a company called portside. they run a fleet of about fifty boats.....the design is very similar.

im sure it was converted from an inboard to an outboard....i found a large fuel tank that had been blocked off, the thing had 100 gallons of fuel in it!....and yes....they used stabil.....!
im runnung some of the gas in the gennie.......and the genset loves the stuff !

Yeah, thats why I asked, they looked like they were fiberglass. I can say I have never seen that before. Pretty interesting.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: the house boat

Sorry you have to endure such deplorable working environment/conditions.

Interesting that the owner wants to spend part of the winter on the boat. Get's pretty chilly up there doesn't it?

Thanks for posting; this is interesting.

 

[oops!]

Re: the house boat

it would be only for a week or two during early winter....still around freezing.....or in very early spring....march after he goes to or get back form mexico.

as far as working conditions......im talking to the union rep...lol

 

[bbodin]

Re: the house boat

Hey Oops! It was me that asked about you posting he pics. The boat looks great. My Son and I would love to have a houseboat down here on the river.
Looks like you'll have some relaxing days on the thing.
Congratulations.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: the house boat

Wow! That little red alum rig looks excellent! I bet you love that rig

Fiberglass houseboat, eh

Cheers buddy

 

[ondarvr]

Re: the house boat

opps!


I was up there last week but it was hectic and I didn't have time to contact you, I may be back up there next week, If I am I'll let you know.

 

[oops!]

Re: the house boat

opps!


I was up there last week but it was hectic and I didn't have time to contact you, I may be back up there next week, If I am I'll let you know.

looking forward to it.......glad to see you still have the area.....was worried with the trainee !...lol

 

[sasto]

Re: the house boat

Looks like a beautiful area you working at, oops, and well protected. I'd bet all worries go away as soon as you launch your transportation. Especially OSHA!

Where does the bay lead to?

Good luck and enjoy.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: the house boat

Hey oops - you said you weren't looking to finish at the job site. Have you talked to the owner about a hull extension. You have the credentials.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: the house boat

I have been looking at a few of these around here. Mostly steel hulls and nobody wants to insure one. Might explain all the great deals lately. I feel so bad about your working conditions. Ill just come on up and lend some moral support while I sip a drink on the upper deck.

 

[oops!]

Re: the house boat

Looks like a beautiful area you working at, oops, and well protected. I'd bet all worries go away as soon as you launch your transportation. Especially OSHA!

Where does the bay lead to?

Good luck and enjoy.

Its on a lake Captain Sasto...

The lake is called the Okanagan. 50-70 miles long.....5 citys on it. It is also called California north....lol. That is a small bay that is about the only real shelter in the area...
to tell you the truth.....i can wait to get out there.....and im sad when i the sun goes down and i have to come home......if i didn't have Mrs oops here......i would sleep out there and just come off for materials.....i have never had a bad day out there.....even things go horribly wrong sometimes.....i always come home very relaxed....and looking forward to the next day at work.......kinda like you, but nowhere in the same class !....this is just an older house boat that needs fixing.....however...i cant wait to get into some more of the systems....i just love figuring out the way they have it and trying to make it work properly if need be.

 

[oops!]

Re: the house boat

Hey oops - you said you weren't looking to finish at the job site. Have you talked to the owner about a hull extension. You have the credentials.

lol.....he is talking about making the little glass skiff he bought longer.....that one would take about 3 days till done !

actually that is one project i will be able to post in full. im expecting to be on that job as soon as im done here........

however.......to my dismay......the owner keeps finding things he would like changed on this boat, or made better, things that were not in his plans at first.....

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: the house boat

however.......to my dismay......the owner keeps finding things he would like changed on this boat, or made better, things that were not in his plans at first.....

I am so sorry you have stay longer on site with that commute. HaHa The skiff stretch sounds nice too.

 

[sasto]

Re: the house boat

I certainally get the idea of staying on her till you finish. I see one problem.....the owner may not be able to get you off her.

You are doing what you love and love what you do. Doesn't get any better than that!