A Close Look At The Costs Of Houseboat Living

Posted on: 27 October 2017

Maybe you are infatuated with the idea of living on the water or perhaps you want to break away from the usual. Either way, a houseboat makes it possible for people like you to live out their days in a residence that is adrift on the water. Houseboat life sure does have its advantages, from the open access to fishing and water activities to the serenity that comes with docking your boat at a private location for some peace and quiet. However, living on a houseboat full time also means you will have some out-of-the-ordinary expenses. Here is a look at some of the costs that will come along with houseboat life:

Marina Docking 

Even though you will be technically living on your houseboat, you will still need a designated place to dock your boat at the end of the day. Therefore, having a marina where you dock your boat will be necessary. Having a marina for docking will also give you access to things like:

  • Laundry facilities if needed
  • Parking for your vehicles if needed
  • Fuel when needed

The costs of docking your boat at a marina can vary wildly depending on the location. However, doing so gives you access to the things you need on a regular basis, such as water fill-ups for your water tanks and sewage disposal, so the cost is well worth it. 

Fuel

Most houseboats use gasoline to power the motor that propels the boat. If you don't do a lot of traveling on your boat, you can expect the prices you pay for fuel to be pretty minimal. Plus, if you are docked at a marina, you always have the option of simply staying at the dock when funds are low and you don't have a lot of extra for fuel. 

Boat Maintenance 

There's no way around it, if you are going to own a houseboat, especially one that stays in the water, you will have some maintenance expenses. While you would have expenses in any home, your maintenance costs on a houseboat can be substantially different. For example, you may have to pay to have the hull of the boat cleaned by a diver regularly to ward off corrosive moss and algae buildup, or you may have engine maintenance costs. For this reason, it is a good idea to only opt for full-time houseboat life if you have a little savings to cover the extra maintenance work on your property. 

Contact a company like Boat Stuf for more information and assistance. 

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