Is a houseboat suitable to travel the ocean?

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Is a houseboat suitable to travel the ocean?

by Matt
(Alabama)

Is a houseboat good for ocean travel?

I'm wondering if houseboats are designed, or if there are any designed, to travel the oceans and go from country to country? Also, are there any houseboats that have sails if you did not want to use gasoline often?

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks.

Reply - Answer
Well Matt, unfortunately houseboats are not designed to travel the oceans. They were designed mostly for lakes, rivers, and intercoastal waters.

The construction and freeboard are not made to take on rough pounding seas, so if ocean travel is on your agenda, another vessel choice would be in order.

If you are looking for a boat with "sails" as to take advantage of teh wind, possibly a motorsailer would be the choice.

IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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Is a houseboat suitable to travel the ocean?

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Ocean Travel Houseboat - another question...?
by: Anonymous

Not for "ocean" going but what if I wanted to travel along the east coast to TX? Could I, would I, should I, consider a houseboat?

I'm looking for the most user friendly comfy (if not luxurious) and relaxed trip of a lifetime. So for a person with no ocean ( except inland waterways) experience, what would you suggest?

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Sea worthy houseboats are easy.
by: Anonymous

Conventional houseboats are indeed not seaworthy as is, but, as a mechanical engineer and a master of manufacturing processes I rarely find difficulty in designing and building something NEW (NEW) to solve anything a human is faced with.

I don't expect everyone to be able to have the same level of manufacturing ability, but for the sake of rendering something impossible? Simply looking around at what everyone else is doing and saying it doesn't exist is not a good way to engineer, and it should not be a deciding factor.

I can honestly say that without spending a ridiculous amount of money I could design and build several types of sea (storm) worthy houseboats.

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displacement on boats
by: mark

What is displacement, it is referred to a lot but i've no idea what it means??

Reply - Answer
Displacement is a type of hull style. Here is a link to better explain displacement hulls. IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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NO !
by: Beached

It would take a very serious displacement type motor vessel to attempt any offshore travel. I have done most of the outer part of the Intracoastal and some of the lakes and bays can get rough in a hurry.

Going against the current with a crosswind or headwind will give you a new perspective on recreational boating. Running before a strong wind and even moderate waves can turn into a white knuckle situation.

I would recommend something with a solid hull that is designed to plane and have the powerplant(s) to do so. Exception being the catamaran style cruiser, they would be suitable as well for those conditions.

BTW, I haven't seen any post on this subject, so depending on your area, I would suggest putting a Radar unit on your houseboat as well. I recall Mobile Bay as a particular "outta sight" place when fog forms there.

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Is a houseboat suitable to travel the ocean?

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Is a houseboat suitable to travel the ocean?