There are those who love the beach, the smell of the sea, and can’t bear to live too far from it. Then, there are others who opt for a houseboat as their usual residence. Does it sound attractive to you? The range is endless, from simple models to authentic palaces on the water. Let’s take a look at what’s out there.
Let’s start with a floating house called FloatWing that’s perfect for a relaxing trip, sailing at a speed of 3 knots. It’s designed for inland waters, can withstand waves of up to 1.2m, and has a fixed width of 6m and a length of 15m. These are like the houseboats in Amsterdam but based on far more innovative design, eco-conscious and energy efficient.
One of the companies that collaborated on the design and building Friday points out that they can be transported to anyplace in the world and the boat produces up to 80% of its energy needs thanks to the boat’s insulation and solar panels.
Depending on the features it will set you back between 93,000 and 233,500 euros and weighs no less than 21 tons. It has all the creature comforts you’d expect and is an extremely attractive alternative. The modular design means they can be easily dismantled, although the process takes 2 or 3 weeks.
Continuing with luxury boathouses, we have a few other iconic models.
Water Villa – Framework Architects + Studio Prototype
If there is one city that represents the tradition of living on boats like no other, it’s Amsterdam. The Water Villa is nothing short of impressive with a large staircase connecting several rooms, and a skylight roof providing constant natural light. The structure is more than impressive with one of the three levels entirely underwater, and it comes with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a toilet and all mod cons.
The SayBoat
This charming minimalist house is built using the finest materials and has a modernist look with an emphasis on spaciousness and luxurious finishing. Hardwood is prevalent on the floors, roof and walls and stylishly combined with stainless steel and porcelain.
Barge Conversion in Stockholm
A fabulous design based on a 1909 barge that has been fully refurbished and converted into a high-quality 148m2 floating apartment.
There are, of course, other more affordable options for those who don’t have a spare million or two lying around. You can find a cheaper version with fewer creature comforts, but you’re still going to feel the dint in your pocket.
And once you’ve splashed out for the boat, you’ll still have to spend some more. Apart from regular expenses like food and diesel, you must remember the mooring costs, which in someplace like Puerto Banús will set you back about 200€ a night during peak season.
Considering the costs and information, can you really live on a boat? Well, it all depends, in Spain, there are about 50 privately managed ports of general interest and another 400 or so marinas managed by town and city councils and other associations.
It all depends on where you choose and the maintenance costs. Get your calculator and start doing the numbers.
