There are two main types of houseboats. One is the stationary houseboat that is moored to land, depending on the land for utilities. The other type of houseboat is motorized on a pontoon bottom and able to cruise around. The latter of these types is more popular for vacation rentals.
People can rent houseboats for vacations, particularly the motorized type of houseboat fitted on a pontoon for cruising around. Some houseboats are luxury-grade, and can be up to three stories tall, with amenities such as hot tubs, flat-screen TVs with satellite, XM radio and even water slides and fireplaces.
Trailerable houseboats have the advantage of ultimate mobility, in that houseboat owners can tow them to different locations, rather than confining them to one body of water. According to Houseboating World, Most trailerable houseboats are large enough to accommodate two people and have a shower, kitchen, dinette set and beds. Many also have air-conditioning.
Houseboats, according to Boaters TV, are becoming more popular as vacation rentals and secondary homes in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Houseboating as a recreational activity is also growing in the United States among all age groups, and boats range from 30- (regular) to 100-feet long (luxury-grade).
According to Boaters TV, houseboating is most common on freshwater lakes and rivers in the United States, including Lake Cumberland in Kentucky, Dale Hollow and Center Hill Lakes in Tennessee, Lake Mead in Nevada, Lake Powell in Utah and more than one dozen spots in Northern California such as Lake Shasta.
According to All About Houseboats, the cost of living on a houseboat as a primary residence depends on factors such as the size of the houseboat, the location and the amenities. For instance, wireless internet or a pool that needs regular servicing would add costs to living expenses. All About Houseboats states that the cost ranges from $1,000 annually in smaller, remotely located marinas to $5,000 in larger marinas.
Houseboats come in many sizes. All About Houseboats says that singles and couples should find adequate space on a 40-foot houseboat and that couples with children should seek a 50-footer or larger houseboat. According to Boaters TV, it's common for several families to share in the cost of renting a large houseboat, such as a two- or three-storied boat, for a vacation.
