Yukon Delta houseboat, is this a rare model of house boats?

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Yukon Delta houseboat, is this a rare model of house boats?

by John
(Dallas TX)

Is this boat called a Yukon Delta houseboat?

Is the Yukon Delta houseboat a rare model, since I can't seem to find any? I found this one for sale at www.ablboats.com.

I saw another classified ad for one, but the gentleman doesn't have any pictures of it, so I wonder if this is what he means by a Yukon Delta boat?

Thanks for looking, John.

Reply - Answer
Well John, welcome to the houseboat forums, and yes, this appears to be a Yukon Delta model.

They were a great model for their time, yet they have been out of business for many years.

When you look at these, you can see some of the features are still present in houseboats built today, and I think the owners should try and keep them alive.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their Yukon Delta houseboat experiences. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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Yukon Delta houseboat, is this a rare model of house boats?

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My first houseboat experiences
by: tom

I am in the process of buying this I think a 1974 24 foot Yukon Delta for $500. It is in need of a transom rebuild which I am going to attempt myself.

The boat does not have a motor on it but by the time I get it river ready it all should come together.

I am not at all well off but the labor of love is what keeps me going and I am glad to hear that there are a lot of good things about this boat project which will continue to drive me.

I know when I do get it done maybe years from now I will be proud of it. I live moments away from the Swanee River, I just cannot wait to take her out.

I am disabled and so is my girlfriend so we will do what we can together as we do not really have any friends as we are pretty much isolated out here but I guess that's ok.

We have a couple of cats that wandered up here that are now our pets and I am sure they would love to go fishing with us and "cannot be done" is not in my vocabulary.

I have read that some of the people might be having some building issues and as I get to those issues I will write notes and take pictures of our progress.

I am going to try to tackle the transom and floor first then onto the cabin, please bear with me as my health and money are low but I will get her done and hopefully be able to, and be happy to answer any questions about how to's.

I'm new with boats but I can repair just about anything and I am not a quitter. And to the great man that has put together the brochures and literature on my size of boat could you please send me a email of that info to maybe aid me in the repairs.

I am an originalist type of person. I see it's getting rare anymore and anybody that has ideas or items that would help please tell me. Thank you for this site and to the people. Tom

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Houseboat Projects - my 74 Yukon Delta love affair
by: Notswift

I own a 1974 25' Delta Yukon. Pictures of her afloat and trailered in 2009 can be found on my site - www.wonway.biz/Welcome/?page_id=5 (copy and paste link).

In 2010 I began a full investigation into the depth of her cabin rot. Not a pretty picture. Most of the wood framing being soft and infested with big black ants, the foam insulation glued to the back of the aluminum panels to fill in the cavities created by the wood framing had become part to the ant colony. It reminds me of the ant farm I had as a kid!

The floor in the aft cabin area are soft and in need of replacement. Water pools in the rear kitchen area and seems to have no place to drain to. The floor foreward and in the outside rear deck area seems to be solid.

The hull - I did not open the floor to have a look last year - but - I am expecting rot and some intensive labor needed to remove the old wood and fiberglass new wood back in.

Since I am a typical under-financed and overly busy American this project, the resurrection of my 74 YD may take years - but, she is a project well worth the task.

Just the couple of times I was able to sail her was enough to convince me that there was a place on some body of federal waters (one of the few places you can actually sleep on your boat overnight) where a guy could live on his paltry retirement money, fish, entertain, explore, and enjoy life adrift in adventure.

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Houseboat History - the Yukon Delta travel trailer
by: Greg Phillips

As of April 2011, I found out that Yukon Delta started out as a travel trailer company. The earliest date found was 1955. If you type Yukon Delta travel trailer in a search engine, a couple of old eBay ads for the trailers come up, but little else. Yes, they were made in Elkhart Indiana. Greg

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Some Houseboat Problems - Yukon and dry rot
by: Greg Phillips

below, I have written some information that I find very important to pass on.

Unfortunately the upper 4 corners...over time and jarring around from travel on water and trailer loosens the old hardened water resistant caulking. You will notice a softness in the lower corners just above the hull attachment to the upper box.

Hopefully you don't have this dry rot problem, but I thought I would mention it.

Water travels on the slope set by your trailer hitch crank...people always prop the boat with a downgrade from bow to stern. The corners and along the walls, on pre-83 Yukons are 1 X 2's as supports about every 2 feet. Look at the attachment, and you can see how the fiberglass hull supports the paultry 1 X 2s

One way I have tested for rot is to take an ice pick and jab it into the corner one inch above the hull and into the 7 inch gold decorative alluminum, right next to the corner strip supports. If you do this, you will find (99% of the time) dry rot in the lower punched hole because it just flows in without resistance. While moving up along this corner, you will feel wood.

You can also do this on the inside, where you can probably refil and paint easier. Sometimes, you can tap against same with a small hammer or screw driver and hear the difference.

I have attached a couple of pictures showing a 25 foot interior with the walls off. On my 32 footer, I have not removed the panelling and as such, would hope that the wood supports are universally placed on all Yukons.

Then all I would need to do is cut out a 2 X 3" section at each dry rot juncture and then only this portion would have a plugged appearance and no massive redo. I found a special replica saw of the one advertised on TV, called Fein(very expensive), it works by vibration... and can be advanced into the desired area without angle problems. Harbor Freight tools has that for $30.00.

Many people have bought the black rubber linner used to make outside water ponds from home depot and laid it on the roof, then sealed all the way around. Others found an aluminum rolled sheeting and did the same.

The lip I mentioned in my write up was concerning the way in which the fiberglass hull was made to allow the box/cabin to sit on this interior set protruding lip. It might be hard to understand, until you look at the pictures.

Because the lip has a concave troth that this box rests on, any water travels along this path and pools at the aft portion of the box corner.

Greg in Northern California

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Favorite Houseboats - we love our Yukon Delta!
by: McSissco

We found our houseboat some 13 years ago and restored it. It has served our family very well on Lake of the Woods - it's amazing; it's a floating cottage; a boat; a barge; a home; a camp; a safe haven; a touring boat; a cruising boat; a sleeping boat; a party boat; a humble boat; a friendly boat; and we can't bear the thought to part with her, but the time has come! She will live on; she is strong and she is awesome - best boat ever - "SKOL"!

Rating

Bought a Yukon Delta, any original plans
by: jerry caskey

Just bought a Yukon Delta houseboat for $400.00, with a trailer, the outside looks great but the inside is the pits. The previous owner replaced the floor with particle board and needless to say it is so soggy it is a shame.

Now considering he was a great carpenter, the woodwork (walls, counters, and cabinets are outstanding) however I am old and disabled and just can get around, but have already gutted this thing with the idea of returning it to its original condition.

My problem is I can't find a site to see or to show me the original floor plan or options that was offered, if some can point me in the right direction, I sure would be thankful... Jerrell

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My 1974 Yukon Delta houseboat
by: notswift

Glad I found this thread. I am at the crossroads with my Yukon Delta - either fix it or get rid of it! It could just stay the way it is, but it is too cool of a boat to leave it as it is.

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Yukon delta houseboat rebuild
by: Greg Phillips

This is a site of a Yukon Delta owner who took it down to the hull and started over. A very nice job...

www.duckworksmagazine.com/09/projects/houseboat/index.htm

Greg
Yukon literature collector

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Info on Yukon Delta houseboats
by: crawdord

We just bought a 29 ft Yukon Delta with a 4 cylinder volvo penta engine. It has a flydeck. The boat was completely stripped on the inside. The man we bought it from gave us the windows and patio door out of it.

We are going to redo it. Does anyone no what the insides design was on these houseboats, and the weight limit also. Thank you for any help you can give us. Crawford

Rating

I love my Yukon Delta houseboat
by: bill howard

I have had my Yukon Delta for around 26 years, and have had very little trouble with the boat, in the winter it's a really warm boat, easy to heat, in the summer it cools easy to, just an all around good family houseboat. It's worth its weight in dollars.

No one knows these houseboats in Arizona except a few
and they will not sale theirs. If you get the chance to buy one go for it, you will not be disappointed.

Bill from Pheonix AR, good sailing.

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Facebook Yukon Delta houseboat restoration project?
by: Anonymous

There does not seem to be any project on facebook as mentioned by F Hueston. Has anyone else been successful in finding this page? I am looking for restoration photos of a 79 Yukon Delta or and other info on this type of boat.

Richard in Vegas

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restored a Yukon houseboat
by: Anonymous

Just restored our 1981, 25 foot Yukon delta houseboat. Have the whole restoration project on my facebook page facebook/fhueston

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My yet unknown Yukon Delta
by: big.manny63@yahoo.com

Hi my names Manuel, I just bought my Yukon Delta, don't know much about it, but can't wait to take it to the river next July. It needs a lot of work, it has been sitting for three years.

There's a lot of wood rot, the hull is ok, the engine needs only a tune-up, and in great condition. I could use all the help I can get tips etc..

GOD BLESS Manuel.

Rating

Just bought a Yukon Delta
by: Mike

I myself just purchased a 77 Yukon Delta houseboat with a 270 Volvo Penta. The previous owner added a flying bridge to this one. I have always been into older things. It is in decent shape, needs work to get it looking good again. But I look forward to the challenge.

I'm a first time owner, and have little to none marine repair experience, but with sites like these I'll be able to accomplish the job.

Rating

1977 Yukon Delta Houseboat
by: Andrew Metcalf

I own a 1977 Yukon Delta houseboat that I bought it in Missouri and this boat can be seen on Lake Of The Ozarks. It has a 4 cylinder Volvo Penta Engine with a 270 Outdrive.

I like this houseboat and I will proably never get rid of it, it is such a unique boat. After reading some comments I know alot more about my houseboat. It's a 26 feet houseboat that I am going to fix up and drive, they ride very good.

Anyone want to see it let me know I have all kinds of pictures of what it looks like right know.

Rating

Very nice boat.
by: randy

My father purchased one in a bank repo in Stocton, CA. I remember pulling this huge 32 foot monster with 69 Buick Electra.

This 1985 houseboat had chevy 350 volvo-penta drive, and we kept it at the Sacramento Delta. Good Memories..

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Yukon Delta houseboat history
by: Greg Phillips

There were Yukons ranging in size from 23 feet to 38
feet. I have 2 in my collection. I sold my 3rd that was 23 feet in length. 25 3/4 and 31 3/4. No I did not make up the 3/4...it is on the black and white brochure pages I have in my collection.

Francis and Bud Mills owned the co. he died in 2002 and the son wanted to restart the company, but nothing came of it.
The last Yukon built, that I know of, was 1992.

If you are interested I have the largest known collection of Yukon Delta sales brochures and instruction sheets. A lot of work went into restoring torn, missing sections, water destroyed and worn areas (3 to make one good brochure), with many hours of work until they are a nicely presented work.

Greg Phillips

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Rebuilding of a 1973, 25 ft Yukon Delta houseboat
by: Bob Moulton

John, I'm in the process of rebuilding a "73" 25' Yukon Delta. My boat was last in the water in "05" in Maine. When I got it I didn't think it was in real bad shape, but I wound up gutting the cabin and replacing the floor.

I have just come in from working on the floor on the back deck. As soon as that is done we plan to float it for the first time and check out the engine.We have great plans for it. Bob.

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Yukon Delta houseboat, is this a rare model of house boats?

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Yukon Delta houseboat, is this a rare model of house boats?