Life in a Floating Home

Floating Home Communities

Floating home communities are notoriously tight nit, but are extremely friendly and welcoming to newcomers wanting to live this alternative lifestyle. The houseboat community is thriving thanks to the rise in house prices. There are several floating home communities on rivers, canals, lakes and marinas, but all come with their advantages and disadvantages.

Benefits of Life on the Water

With the relaxing atmosphere and romanticism associated with living on the water, there are plenty of reasons why living on a floating home is an appealing option. Its affordability is one particular benefit. Buying a houseboat is much cheaper than buying a house, especially for a first time buyer. The stress of receiving electricity bills or gas bills is removed as the electricity is run from a generator which you buy fuel for yourself, allowing you to budget your money. Some may be fitted with a wind powered generator or solar powered paneling significantly decreasing costs.

There is the added bonus of being able to travel anywhere you want, at any time on your boat. There is also the advantage of having your home wherever you go reducing travelling costs. Houseboats are a particularly great way of life in the summer especially if you make space on deck for sitting in the sun and enjoying the scenery. The calming nature of living on the water combined with mooring in a peaceful area takes houseboat owners away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Disadvantages of Life on the Water

The most prominent con of life on the water is the drastic changes to your lifestyle. There is limited space, particularly for storage therefore possessions should be kept to a minimum. However, some narrowboats do come without an engine increasing the amount of space. There is also the danger that co-habitants may become stressed with the lack of space from the other inhabitant as there are generally only two rooms: one bedroom and one for the living area and kitchen.

The main problem for most houseboat owners is the cost and inconvenience of heating the boat in the winter time. Most boats come with an old coal or log burner instead of modern heating systems therefore owners normally have to put their own heaters in. This is expensive and, although burning coal is cheap, it is bad for the environment and further constitutes a fire hazard.

The winter is also a time when flooding may become a possibility so preparations must be made to tackle this. Any leaks or poorly designed hulls can be avoided by getting the boat made by a professional boat maker. Inspections made regularly can make sure the boat is watertight and fully habitable. In addition, ice damage to the hull can be an issue, but this can be reduced with a circulating pump system. There is also the issue of safety and security, particularly if owners have to moor in an area where there are no other boat owners surrounding them in the winter.