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Has anyone ever converted an old travel trailer into a houseboat?

by Brandi Walker
(Brazoria, TX, USA)

Possible to convert a Travel Trailer into a Houseboat

Possible to convert a Travel Trailer into a Houseboat

Has anyone ever converted an old travel trailer into a houseboat? If so, how did it work out? If not, why?

I was thinking it might be easier to use an old travel trailer and mount it onto whichever hull you decide to use. This way you cut out the trouble of building the interior and the electrical and other basics are pretty much done.

I realize you would have to seal the joints and somehow protect the soft bottom area of the trailer, but that would be included in your hull construction, I would think. Then all you have to do is make your choice on the motor type and size and concentrate on the exterior aspects of the building process.

Most travel trailers have a self containing septic to some degree or another and have the comfort factors present. You could then alter the trailer as desired to include sliding glass doors or larger windows, etc.

I don't really know how functional the actual construction of the trailer would be though, as I live in the Gulf Coast area and all air here is salt air and we would want to use it in some of the bay areas near Galveston. We often fish in Christmas bay, so we would spend much time in the saltwater.

Do you think this would work for a "kit-type" project? If not, please explain your reasons. I'm just trying to figure out a cost effective means of obtaining a houseboat to keep us more comfortable in the places we love most.

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Has anyone ever converted an old travel trailer into a houseboat?

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Houseboat option
by: JonBoat

I recently bought an 8' standard Alaskan camper. It features a hydraulic device for raising and lowering the roof. www.alaskancamper.com

The dry weight of the camper is around 1050 pounds. I also have a 20' commercial fishing jon boat that is 99" in beam from Oquaka Boats in Illinois. The sides, however, are quite low to facilitate net fishing on the Mississippi.

http://www.oquawkaboats.com/

I am increasingly thinking of mating the camper to the boat by building a rest for the slide in camper, and placing the engine on a stern extension. The side would have to be raised as well.

Any thoughts?

dgorton@dgorton.com

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follow up
by: Beached

I have seen some very simple plans for the Do it Yourself types from Glen L or Clark Craft. Google it, there might be much more available

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Have seen
by: Beached

I have seen larger RV's placed on a simple barge type hull. None of them were self propelled so they were floating homes rather the a houseboat.

I am somewhat familiar with Galvston Bay but not the specific area you talk about. The Bay can get bumpy and your flotation unit has to be able to take the bumps.

By the time you hook up a steering system, engine controls etc. It isn't as simple as it looks. I presume the Coast Guard has certain expectation of such as vessel as well. Speaking of looks, I can't see this being pleasing to the eye, however I am not a carpenter so my opinion is from a lay persons point of view.

I am presuming you don't plan to use the trailer on land anymore. Perhaps the bunks, stove head and other hardware could be salvaged and installed into a houseboat looking shell that is part of the hull.

You will get corrosion, unless you get marine type equipment and even that has a tendency to turn green without continuous vigilance

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Choose the type of rv for the houseboat
by: roger

Having retired out the rv industry, I believe that you need to be careful on your choice of a used rv (recreational vehicle).

Most have sustained water damage somewhere. What I have always thought was an AIRSTREAM, it would look good, be good in the wind, and not likely to have water damage.

If you can find a work barge about 50 feet in length by 14 feet wide, you could build an excellent houseboat on it. You could remove the axles, weld it to deck, hang an outboard on it, put all coast guard required equipment on it, get it registered, and start cruising with your houseboat.

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