Extremly non-tradational (in the USA) water camper

[Robert Meyer]

Here is a houseboat by Sam Devlin called the Mille Hill2. Lots of photos at his site www.devlinboat.com

[Steve_Cox]

Robert,

You can edit your link or folks can just use this one: http://www.devlinboat.com/

I've been looking at Devlin designs for what seems like over 20 years, even built a small stitch and glue sailing dingy of his design. Sam's quite a guy

[Robert Meyer]

Here are a few more real easily moved housboats that would be fairly easy to build. Check out the 18 & 20ft houseboats. www.bateau.com

[Steve_Cox]

Ya gotta be careful building a little boat, before you know it you can spend $50,000.....or more......see below. That's why I don't want to build a boat, I wanna build a "water camper"

[Juneaudave]

Ya gotta be careful building a little boat, before you know it you can spend $50,000.....or more......see below. That's why I don't want to build a boat, I wanna build a "water camper"

Iffn a fella isn't carefull, an 8 x 20 welded aluminum jon platform can quickly get a guy well on the way to a "little boat" class camper ...

Talking about boats...have you checked out S4S marine teak lately? $46/bf in Juneau What's up with that?

[grant whipp]

Steve!

Many, many years ago, I stepped aboard & checked out a really neat little water-camper up on Lake Union in Seattle, WA, that was called the ESC-argo or something kitchy like that ... it was inspired by the canal boats of the UK & parts of western Europe, but was only 16' long (a 20' version was available), accommodated two quite comfortably, with room for a couple of guests, and was pedal-powered. I took several photographs, and even managed to get a couple of decent shots of the basic line drawings that were laminated to the tabletop in the saloon. It had a pretty basic scow-type hull, and the cabintop was vardo-like, and was actually pretty darn cute, not to mention extremely functional! As soon as I got home, I re-penned a new half-circle forward cabintop and stretched it to 20'. I liked that one much better, and it is still on my to-do-someday list ... but, damnedificanfind the pics or drawings, now ... ... must have put them in a really safe place, ya think ... ...! If I can find 'em, I'll get 'em scanned and post 'em here for you to consider.

Good Luck with this new project! Like your others, I know it'll be one-of-a-kind ... and extremely well done ... ...! 'Til next time, then ...

CHEERS!

Grant

[Steve_Cox]

Grant,

I think we have our own version of the "Bucket List" going. Remember when we both expressed some ideas on building a gypsy vardo on a harbor freight trailer? Or how about the Swedish style VW trike? I have had a couple of type I transaxles stashed away for that one for about 15 years.

I started thinking about the "water campers" years ago when I first discovered Sam Devlin's boat plans for the Millie Hill, mentioned above by Robert and a few of Phil Bolger's boat plans he referred to as "Cartoons"

Here's a photo of a Millie Hill, but I have my own design ideas to get the most out of a small space. If you notice the photo, they really can't see where they are going except through the opened doors at each end.

[Mark McD]

Steve,
Funny you mention Phil Bolgers boats, I've wanted to build a Sneakeasy for a long time.I love the Prohibition Era river rumrunner style. Some day. Good luck with your water camper, if it turns out anything like your Vardo I'm sure it will be a peach.

[Sparksalot]

How cool! Where would plans for this gal be found?

Yup, and on a smaller scale,

[Mini Renegade]

We used to live in a flat alongside the canal and because I knew the blokes in the local marina, they would come along side my flat and beep the horn if they were off on their travels for the day... was pretty cool. You could just sit on the steps outside my back door and watch boat after boat go by on the sunny days.

How big was the boat you went out on MR?

Cheers, Dewi

I honestly couldn`t tell you accurately, I reckon on 40 foot. We had 12 girl guides on the fore deck and a few of us "boys" taking it in turn to steer.

[shopfabricator]

Hey Sparksalot http://shantyboatliving.com/

[Levi]

Steve I love the boat idea, now I want one also.

By the way everytime I read one of your posts it makes me homesick. We moved out here from St. Augustine two years ago, my daughter still attends Flagler. Maybe I can look you up when we go back for her graduation.

[Sparksalot]

Hey Sparksalot http://shantyboatliving.com/

Too cool! Thanks.

[jay]

http://www.comingunmoored.com/

[grant whipp]

Steve!

Many, many years ago, I stepped aboard & checked out a really neat little water-camper up on Lake Union in Seattle, WA, that was called the ESC-argo or something kitchy like that ... it was inspired by the canal boats of the UK & parts of western Europe, but was only 16' long (a 20' version was available), accommodated two quite comfortably, with room for a couple of guests, and was pedal-powered. I took several photographs, and even managed to get a couple of decent shots of the basic line drawings that were laminated to the tabletop in the saloon. It had a pretty basic scow-type hull, and the cabintop was vardo-like, and was actually pretty darn cute, not to mention extremely functional! As soon as I got home, I re-penned a new half-circle forward cabintop and stretched it to 20'. I liked that one much better, and it is still on my to-do-someday list ... but, damnedificanfind the pics or drawings, now ... ... must have put them in a really safe place, ya think ... ...! If I can find 'em, I'll get 'em scanned and post 'em here for you to consider ...

Heya, Steve!

I still haven't found the drawings that I did (hey ... I've been camping! ... ...), but a friend saw my post and sent me a link to the Escargot drawings: http://shantyboatliving.com/canal/escargot.html
http://shantyboatliving.com/files/Escar ... _small.jpg

Grist for the mill!

Jay - that link needs to be in the Tiny Houses Forum ... I think ... ...

CHEERS!

Grant
(... back from the 16th Dam Gathering and almost dried out ... ...!)