How to Live on River Boats
Mark Twain is famous for his writing about life on a riverboat. While his writing took place in the nineteenth century, there are still a lot of riverboats in existence today and many people are choosing to seek out a simpler life by living aboard these vessels.
Things You Will Need
- A river or house boat
- Some dock space
- Dock lines
- Electrical cord
- A television hookup
- A source of fresh water
- Fenders
- Purchase a boat that is big enough for you but that fits well within your budget. You can find boats as big as 100 feet but you may not be able to afford it.
- Find some place to keep your boat. Most marinas have set monthly rates that are based upon your boat’s square footage. Some will charge you an additional fee for electric and water but will offer a lot of great amenities (i.e. pools, playgrounds, food, showers, restrooms). Make sure that the marina you like will allow live-aboard boaters. Your other option is a private dock, which will be cheaper.
- Look through your belongings. Get rid of anything you don’t need on a daily basis. You won’t have a lot of storage space on board so you will only be able to take the bare necessities. Any breakable items will need to be secured in the event of bad weather.
- Whenever you hook up your utilities, make sure to use a marine-grade electrical power cord. Use a port or hatch to run your satellite or cable television cables.
- Fill your water tanks with freshwater.
- Make sure you know and follow local regulations in regard to sewage and bilge disposal.