About Steel Hull Houseboats
A houseboat is simply a home that floats on water. There are two basic types of houseboats. The first has limited propulsion methods, or none at all. These types stay moored and are the most common. The second has an engine or sails and can be used for boating. Modern houseboats have aluminum or fiberglass hulls. However, when they were first manufactured they had steel hulls.
Maintenance
Yearly inspections and maintenance are required to prevent and correct rust problems. Rust can inhibit the strength of the steel by causing pinholes and eventually larger holes that can allow water into the interior of the hull. An initial dive inspection can be done to determine if the boat needs to be removed from the water for dry dock repairs. Dive inspectors are available for hire at most marinas. However, pulling the boat out of the water to inspect the hull is necessary every few years. This allows for a thorough inspection, and to repair any damage that has occurred.
The largest advantage of having a steel hull houseboat is its resistance to damage by impact. Steel is very sturdy, and any damage is easily repaired. Steel hull houseboats are still available, but several issues have caused them to fall out of favor, and the costs for owning them add up quickly.
Repair
One considerable advantage of a steel hull houseboat is that new steel plates can be welded onto it for repair if it has gotten thin in spots. Someone who is familiar with welding can make the repair themselves, allowing them to save money. A full hull replacement is usually not necessary, but should be left up to professionals. One caveat is that the value of the houseboat is often less than the cost for replacing the hull.
When the houseboat is dry-docked for inspection, it is worth the expense to sandblast the hull and remove any rust. Applying either antifouling paint or coal tar epoxy inhibits rust growth and fills in the pinholes. This can add many years to the steel hull.
Insurance
One disadvantage of owning a steel hull houseboat is that it is difficult, and often expensive to insure them. This is mainly because many steel hull houseboats have not been properly maintained. Before insuring a steel hull houseboat, an insurance company will require maintenance records, any repair records and a current inspection. A surveyor, who has professional certification to inspect boats, performs the inspection. It can be expensive to hire a surveyor, but it will be necessary to obtain insurance. In addition, some insurance companies may require the owner to buy other policies from them in order to obtain houseboat insurance. The policy should be read carefully to make sure the coverage is adequate.