Lakes for Houseboat Living

In My Humble Opinion
1

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?

  1. 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.

2

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

3

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.

4

Here’s a good start.

5

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.

6

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

7

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.