Lakes for Houseboat Living

[Paul in Qatar]

So my fever for a true bluewater yacht has passed, but now I am in the wondering-about stage for a houseboat.

Houseboats, usually with a pontoon hull form, are not suited to open water. They are restricted to rivers and lakes. Since we currently live in the Philadelphia area, house boating that far north year-round is out of the question.

1. What are the bodies of water with a large houseboat population?

2. Of these, which would best make a place to actually live? A couple of largish cities, lots of backwaters to hide in, warm enough to stay on the water year-round, few jet skis to both us old people?

I bet the Ten-Tom canal system might be it for its long north-south distance.

[amarinth]

Lake Union in Seattle has significant numbers of houseboats. Most people who live in houseboats live in them year round.

[billfish678]

I seem to recall the Ozarks area has a large number of large lakes formed by dams and you can do a bunch of traveling working your way through the lock system.

[billfish678]

Here's a good start.

http://www.houseboating.org/houseboat-destinations.cfm

[aruvqan]

I almost rented a houseboat in Virginia Beach, but my BF of the time objected, butthead =( It was a beautiful one, too. *sigh*

There are people in Rochester NY that live in housboats all year long, they put some sort of floaty thing to keep ice from forming next to the hull.

[Paul in Qatar]

Well, let me think on it. I suspect as I learn more, the fever will pass.

[Rysdad]

I had one on the Mississippi River.

Pros: Virtually endless shoreline, plenty of places to refuel, plenty of places to visit, plenty of places to be completely alone.

Cons: Fuel cost, slip cost, insurance cost, and if you break down somewhere it will cost A LOT.