House Boats/Floating Homes pt2

How about a lake for your front yard? Con't

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, listeners, I cannot thank you enough for tuning in.
It's time for another episode of The Living The Alternative podcast,
a show dedicated to bucking the norms and you, our listeners.
You should be aware that today's episode is the second
part of a two part episode. We got into a

(00:20):
topic last episode far too big for a single episode.
We started talking about house boats and floating homes. Spoiler alert,
there is no need to mow your yard. We talked
about types of floating homes. We talked about building and

(00:44):
designing a floating home. We talked about materials, legal considerations,
and other regulations. We got into life on the water
and talked about environmental impact as well as stainability. For
today's episode, we're going to start off with waterfront locations

(01:07):
for floating homes. Some of the best cities in countries
for a floating home or houseboat is well in no
particular order, but you've got to start somewhere. Amsterdam is
famous for its iconic houseboats. Amsterdam allows houseboat living along

(01:30):
its canals. Seattle is a popular location for houseboats, especially
on Lake Union, which is home to a unique community
of floating homes. Vancouver is known for its picturesque waterfront.

(01:50):
Vancouver features several floating home communities. Here's some considerations for
choosing a location. Water quality. Living on a river, lake,
or ocean requires careful consideration of water quality, especially for

(02:11):
drinking and waste water disposal. Weather. Coastal or river based
floating homes must be built to withstand frequent weather changes,
high winds, and storms. Proximity to utilities, grocery stores, hospitals,

(02:32):
and work spaces is critical when living on the water. Next,
let's compare private moorings versus floating communities. Floating communities offer
a shared environment with common areas, social gatherings, and a
support network. Often they're built from long term residency private

(02:59):
moorings or for those seeking more solitude. Private moorings are
usually less regulated and offer a more personalized living experience.
How much does it cost to live on a floating home?
The cost of a houseboat depends on size, design and amenities,

(03:19):
with prices ranging from a few thousand dollars or older
smaller models to several hundred thousand four new luxurious boats.
Floating homes can be expensive, especially custom built ones. Price
range from tens of thousands two millions, depending on the
design and location. Floating homes require regular maintenance, including whole inspections,

(03:45):
plumbing maintenance, and periodic cleaning of water filtration systems. Mooring fees,
depending on the location, can also add to ongoing costs.
These vary by marino or private mooring site. The initial
cost of a floating home can sometimes be comparable to
a traditional home and an expensive waterfront location, but long

(04:10):
term costs such as land taxes, etc. May be significantly lower.
Floating homes often rely on solar panels to generate power.
Solar arrays are placed on the roofs of floating platforms
to capture sunlight, which is stored in batteries for later use.

(04:30):
In locations with consistent wind, small wind turbines can supplement
solar power, ensuring continuous energy generation even when the sun
isn't shining. Batteries and other storage systems store excess power
generated by solar panels or wind turbines, ensuring a consistent
supply of energy. Next, let's take a look at water

(04:54):
transportation and mobility. With your water home, you're going to
need some dinghies, some kayaks, or some sort of electronic boat.
Smaller boats are used to travel between the floating hull
and the shore. Electric boats, paddleboards and kayaks are popular
choices for short distance travel. Boats must be stored on

(05:17):
side or nearby, and maintenance is required for motorized watercraft,
including engine checks and hull inspections. Floating home dwellers often
need to rely on boats for transporting goods from shore,
which can be logistically challenging in some locations. Next, let's

(05:39):
take a look at maintenance and repairs of floating homes,
starting with hull. In deck maintenance, the hull is subject
to wear from water, salt, and barnacle growth, requiring regular
cleaning and occasional recoading with anti corrosive materials. Plumbing systems
are essential, and off one more complex due to waste

(06:01):
management and fresh water needs. Electrical systems should be regularly inspected,
particularly for solar panel systems, and repairing floating homes requires
specialized knowledge of maritime systems. Regular inspections are needed to
ensure that home remains safe and functional. Naxt Us dive

(06:23):
into social and community aspects of floating home living. Many
floating home communities organize social events, gardening co ops, and
even communal kitchens. Floating homes provide a mix of privacy
and communal living. Some prepare isolation while others enjoy living

(06:43):
in close knit communities. Communities often share resources like boat
storage and social spaces. Houseboats allow more mobility, offering a
chance to travel and explore different locations, while a floating
home is more stationary but may offer more comfort and space.

(07:07):
Floating homes generally provide more permanent, luxurious living with more space,
while houseboats can be more compact and practical. Houseboats are
generally cheaper to purchase but may have higher maintenance costs
due to the need to travel, while floating homes are
more expensive up front but could offer long term stability

(07:29):
and lower mobility related costs. Here are some challenges of
floating home living, Starting with the weather. Floating homes can
be vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods, high winds,
and storms. Proper construction and preparedness are critical to mitigate

(07:55):
these risks. The isolation of living on water can lead
to feelings of loneliness. However, it can also provide peaceful solitude,
making it important to understand personal needs for community and privacy.
Fire risks and flooding pose safety concerns requiring specific precautions

(08:18):
for fire proofing and flood resistance. Evacuation plans and safety
equipment such as life jackets are essential. Some of the
most famous floating homes are found in cities like Amsterdam, Vancouver,
and Seattle, where these dwellings have become a part of
local culture and tourism. Floating neighborhoods, such as those in Sasolito,

(08:43):
offer an alternative way of living with a sense of
community and shared resources, attracting both artistic and environmental types.
Floating homes may serve as a potential solution to rising
sea levels, offering a form of climate resilient housing. A
floating homes designed to rise with the water level can
offer a sustainable solution to the increasing frequency of floods.

(09:08):
The future of floating homes includes smart homes equipped with automation,
remote winteringk and energy optimization systems. Future designs may focus
even more on sustainability, using renewable energy, green building materials,
and water saving technologies. The concept of floating urban neighborhoods

(09:29):
or entire cities could become a reality as climate change
forces new approaches to urban planning. Unfortunately, folks That is
all the time that we've got for today's episode of
The Living, the alternative podcast, a show dedicated to bucking

(09:51):
the norms. There's no wide picket fence, and this episode
didn't even have a front yard. If you didn't catch
last week's episode, go back and check it out. But
until then, I can't thank you enough before listening, and
until next time,