Camper Boat or Boat Camper?

[comp]

I just found out these exist. A thing which has a main intended use as terrestrial camper which also performs a secondary duty as a boat.

My question.. What about using a thing intended for use as a boat for terrestrial camping? Does anybody do this? Why not? Could I not show up to a camp ground with short boat on a my trailer and just camp in it?

 

[BigGoofyGuy]

I think that depends on the boat. I think a pontoon boat might work? It has flat area to put stuff on?

 

[greygoos]

Here is one built by one of our members viewtopic.php?f=27&t=46755

 

[John61CT-TNT]

I know sailors with trailerable boats up to 30' that sleep in them while traveling on land.

The original land yachts.

Self-sufficient for liveaboard cruising far from civilisation, in effect designed for off grid boondocking

so they would not be caught dead paying for a powered campsite even if they weren't cheap bastards.

And the feeling is likely mutual

 

[comp]

Carawhale is one of my favorite designs. I would try it if I were more experienced at building. Maybe a little bigger.

The current prices of travel trailers is so outrageous, its got me thinking about this. Really. Buy affordable broken boat with no intention of fixing broken boaty bits. IE broken propulsion system, not broken house part. Use as terrestrial camper. I guess what I should be asking, since I have never camped I have no idea what restrictions you would have at camp spots. Guessing you could not go to all the 'normal' spots that big travel trailers and big RV's go to?

 

[John61CT-TNT]

Yes USA RV parks can get very snobby, fussy about what they allow, can even have rules like "no units over five years old" no matter how conventional and pretty.

Of course in areas with lots of spaces available, you just negotiate with lower standard sites.

But each gatekeeper can be unique, so hard to generalize, need to call around and ask.

But personally I prefer boondocking,
not interacting at all with so many people, not to mention plenty of sites cost more per night than I would want to pay for a motel room

 

[BigGoofyGuy]

folding boat camper? Mini Camper Cruiser?
https://www.boatbible.com/mini-camper-cruiser/

 

[John61CT-TNT]

Nice concept, but I'd want to be able to live out on the water

 

[comp]

Goofie, would love to try a 6x12 version of that.. a popper topper camper than can cruise a knot or three on flat water. Thank you for sharing the link. Will discuss this one with the foreman tonight. Don't necessarily think a fold down rear area. Maybe a pivoting rising popper be more the way since another 4' would already be back there.

 

[BigGoofyGuy]

Here is one built by one of our members viewtopic.php?f=27&t=46755

I wonder if one could 'super size' the plans? make it a little bit (or a lot bit) bigger? (just thinking out loud).
https://www.duckworksmagazine.com/13/designs/carawhale/index.htm

 

[BigGoofyGuy]

I came across this while searching for 'tiny trailerable houseboat'. Perhaps something one could build and tow and use to sleep in while on trailer or on water? (just thinking out loud).

https://tinyhousetalk.com/micro-houseboat-you-can-build/

 

[John61CT-TNT]

love it!

8.5' is the max not requiring a special permit in most states

Make it to fit in a 20' conex and you could ship it, live on Lake Titicaca or the Norwegian fjords, those crinkly bits are my favourite.

 

[comp]

Most excellent.. I also love this. I am imagining this design in a smaller foam PMF build light enough to be towed with a 30mpg car.

 

[Vnose-TNT]

I came across this while searching for 'tiny trailerable houseboat'. Perhaps something one could build and tow and use to sleep in while on trailer or on water? (just thinking out loud).

https://tinyhousetalk.com/micro-houseboat-you-can-build/

That is a Phil Bolger design, a sharpie, he has several designs that can make a good camper or liveaboard.
You'll find several here:

https://www.duckworksmagazine.com/r/pla ... bolger.htm

Your comment further up about using a pontoon boat makes life much simpler than building a wood boat, unless you love building wood boats.

I have a Landau pontoon that I'll be rigging for camping. Whereas I would prefer a hard top roof you can walk on, I'm going to settle for a lighter top as weight is a serious factor with pontoons. If someone is serious about a boat camper I'd suggest a tri toon to carry more weight. While you can add a center pontoon, I wouldn't have the center slide out gangplank or ramp which I need for beaching and for my boxer to get aboard.

Earlier this summer I visited a friend at a local lake area campground. His class A was parked next to a guy who hand an 18' Jon Boat modified for camping. He built a wood deck over the seats, foam and ply walls and a flat roof, the whole camper area was 10' long. Honestly, it looked hicky, but it worked for he and his wife.

 

[BigGoofyGuy]

Build Your Own Pontoon Houseboat?
https://tinyhousefor.us/house-boats/diy-pontoon-house/
if one could put it on a trailer, it is a camper? or could be one?

 

[Pmullen503]

I think the problem is weight. A watercraft of a size comparable to teardrop must be built much more heavily than trailer.

The extra weight is not a problem for a boat, sometimes you add ballast for stability. But for a trailer, you want to keep the weight down.

It's hard to come up with a design that can do both things well.

 

[Tony Latham]

I think the problem is...

To me, they are kinda like the flying car concept. You won't end up with a decent airplane or car. Just something that is marginal for both. A Swiss Army knife is great if that's all you have but they really are a poor screwdriver. And nothing I'd want to skin an elk with.

Tony