Houseboating

Houseboating is a popular recreation, pasttime, and even a lifestyle around the world. There are many methods of houseboating depending on where you are; for some it's a quick rental, meant for an evening party on the water, for some it's a quick trip overnight or for a few days, and for many places in the world houseboating is 'home'... it's where they live year round.

In Canada and the U.S., houseboating is more of a vacation or a party. It is usually done with a rental houseboat, a smaller boat that looks like a large elongated box and has one or two levels, usually a rooftop deck and smaller decks on the other levels for suntanning, relaxing and looking at the view, and diving off of. Many of these houseboats also offer fun slides so you can slide down into the water, and some also feature diving boards.

These 'normal' houseboats you see on North American lakes range from humble family-oriented houseboats, to those that are slicked out for parties and commercial uses such as office parties and meetings, to luxury higher-end models that look stylish and are fitted with all the luxuries of a custom home.
     Below: Houseboating takes you to secluded and serene locations you won't see by land vehicle; rentals are fun for families, groups, even multiple families; at right, this exotic unit, the Genesis 75 made by Waterway, has some very nifty features... look at that twirly multi-deck waterslide!

Houseboating is usually done on lakes; some houseboats are made to be oceangoing, but most models do not have high enough sides or sturdy enough construction to be seaworthy and safe in rough waters or high waves. So you'll see them on some coastal bays and protected areas, but most often you'll see them out in the middle of lakes, with calmer waters and beautiful scenery to pass the days away.

You will find many 'lived-in' houseboats in North America also, and especially elsewhere in the world, and these houseboats are more like floating houses than modified boats, and in many areas of the world there are whole cities and villages made up of houseboats.
     Below: Houseboating takes on a more permanent form in other locations, where houseboats are built to be floating long-term homes, rather than recreational.

Houseboating as a year-round lifestyle involves different needs than the smaller, more travel-worthy houseboats we see in the middle of a lake. For living in, you can find houseboats that are very large, even as large as a regular-size house, and they are built on large floating platforms that can include wrap-around decks and even lawn and garden. These large units aren't particularly travel-worthy, they are meant to be moored, parked in some sheltered spot that is safe from waves and wind. They usually feature a motor or two for when they must be moved, but some of them rely on being pulled from place to place by another boat, and are treated more as 'barges'.

Houseboating, whether as a temporary vacation or as a long term way of life, can be a pleasant and beautiful way to live for awhile, rocking gently on the water and enjoying scenery that looks much different and more beautiful when out on a lake.