We aren't sure where we will end up going at this point, however it
will be on the east coast, harbor, maybe Cape Cod area, but not sure.
Bill


On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:50:12 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:

Bill wrote:
As some of you mentioned, yes, we have given this a little more than
just a quick thought. We have a gen set, so power isn't a problem. For
blackwater we are thinking of an Electrasan style disposal system...

Where do you plan to put the barge? If not in coastal waters or a
navigable river, you may not be able to use a treatment device
(Lectra/San)....'cuz all non-navigable inland lakes are "no discharge"
(black water only) water, which would limit you to a holding tank or
possibly a composter...but composters aren't entirely without drawbacks
either.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html



and
we have even thought of a composting toilet, althoughmost harbors have
mobile pumpout boats. Potable water, and fuel will be transported by a
small boat. It is a trailer, so no power for side paddles, however we
plan to mount a motor on it so that it is a power boat and beats most
of the very restrictive house boat laws. I like the idea of the double
hull idea, similar to a cat. I hadn't thought of some of the points
you brought up, especially the lack of large equipment to move things.
Thanx for all of your replys, keep thinking. This idea seems to be
catching on.



On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 16:34:55 GMT, Bill wrote:


Does anyone have any plans for a barge that would comfortably float a
36 foot camper chained to the deck. Prefer wood with glass over than

In most coastal waters, treated discharge is legal...but not in a good
portion MA coastal waters, including Buzzards Bay, Nantucket and MV. But
if you choose the right spot, it's definitely your best option...no
holding tank to maintain or service, and by FAR the most ecologically
sound solution to onboard waste management.

Give me a shout if I can answer any questions when you're ready to begin
construction.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html


Bill wrote:
We aren't sure where we will end up going at this point, however it
will be on the east coast, harbor, maybe Cape Cod area, but not sure.
Bill


On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:50:12 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:


Bill wrote:

As some of you mentioned, yes, we have given this a little more than
just a quick thought. We have a gen set, so power isn't a problem. For
blackwater we are thinking of an Electrasan style disposal system...

Where do you plan to put the barge? If not in coastal waters or a
navigable river, you may not be able to use a treatment device
(Lectra/San)....'cuz all non-navigable inland lakes are "no discharge"
(black water only) water, which would limit you to a holding tank or
possibly a composter...but composters aren't entirely without drawbacks
either.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html



and

we have even thought of a composting toilet, althoughmost harbors have
mobile pumpout boats. Potable water, and fuel will be transported by a
small boat. It is a trailer, so no power for side paddles, however we
plan to mount a motor on it so that it is a power boat and beats most
of the very restrictive house boat laws. I like the idea of the double
hull idea, similar to a cat. I hadn't thought of some of the points
you brought up, especially the lack of large equipment to move things.
Thanx for all of your replys, keep thinking. This idea seems to be
catching on.



On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 16:34:55 GMT, Bill wrote:



Does anyone have any plans for a barge that would comfortably float a
36 foot camper chained to the deck. Prefer wood with glass over than

Not a bad idea. 20 years ago, I almost bought an old landing craft, around
45' with twin stern drives, army surplus. I
I thougth of buying the landing craft, put a small motor home on it and
travel down the ICW that way.
It would have been ideal for what you describe. Maybe you should check US
governement surplus auctions.

--
Jacques
http://www.bateau.com

"Bill" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have any plans for a barge that would comfortably float a
36 foot camper chained to the deck. Prefer wood with glass over than
steel, but nothing is set in concrete. Plan to use it as a summer home
as property is so expensive. Drive it on in late spring, drive it off
in mid fall. Thanx.

Jacques idea sounds good. There is an outfit in Portsmouth, VA that
sells surplus landing craft. I've seen several converted to house boats
over the years. They are very sturdy and many come with diesels that
are rebuildable.

Ron

On the West Coast:

http://www.calequipment.com/landingcraft.html

"Ron Thornton" wrote in message
...
Jacques idea sounds good. There is an outfit in Portsmouth, VA that
sells surplus landing craft. I've seen several converted to house boats
over the years. They are very sturdy and many come with diesels that
are rebuildable.

Ron

Thanx all for your ideas. Gee, never thought many people would be
interested.
Jaques---I like the idea of the landing craft, never thought
of that option. I wonder if they are expensive to maintain and
operate. I have heard they have problems with air shifting and realted
problems, but on the good side they have GM power plants. Might you
have a web site for the place that sells them?
Ed--The barge house in Baltimore sounds exactly like what I
would love to do but money is a concern--we aren't poor, but aren't
rich either. Great idea if we could find one though. Just leave it
moored over the winter. Ice probably wouldn't bother it.
Peggy---I wonder if the composting toilet might leave bad
odors down wind causing hate and discontent wtih those who are there?
Any ideas?? I am leaning toward a holding tank as pumping out on most
Cape harbors is free.
Does anyone know if a steel barge needs to be hauled very
often for painting, maint., or whatever?
Thanx again everyone.

Bill


On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 00:23:34 GMT, Bill wrote:

We aren't sure where we will end up going at this point, however it
will be on the east coast, harbor, maybe Cape Cod area, but not sure.
Bill


On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:50:12 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:

Bill wrote:
As some of you mentioned, yes, we have given this a little more than
just a quick thought. We have a gen set, so power isn't a problem. For
blackwater we are thinking of an Electrasan style disposal system...

Where do you plan to put the barge? If not in coastal waters or a

An idea, would be to find the barge/what-have-you and build a house on
it. I've often thought that if you did away with the "cutesy"
boat/camper specific things that go with a houseboat/camper and just
built it like something you'd like to live in, it would come out
cheaper. I've seen this done with pontoon boats... The big thing is to
use more nonrusting hardware and better paint (and more paint more often).

I have a composting toilet in a cabin. A few times a year (when the air
is unusually still for more than a day or two) there is a urine smell.
The cabin is on a hill and you pretty much have to stand at just the
right place on the hill and close enough to the exhaust pipe to smell
it. Other than that, it is never a problem. I would think in a marine
environment where even a gentle breeze is more common (than in the
woods) this would not be a concern. They do need emptying once a year
(average use) and some amount of maintainance (additions of peat
moss/mulch, turning of the drum, and maintaining the proper moisture
level.)

I think in Mass./New Eng. (considering propulsion (esp. at any speed) is
low on the priority list), a steel barge would need hauling and painting
not much more than every 10-15 years or so. I may be wrong on that. As
I remember, the barges here on the Chesapeake are not re-painted more
often than that and while not tropical, the water is warmer longer here
and there are more creatures.

Ed

Bill wrote:

Ed--The barge house in Baltimore sounds exactly like what I
would love to do but money is a concern--we aren't poor, but aren't
rich either. Great idea if we could find one though. Just leave it
moored over the winter. Ice probably wouldn't bother it.
Peggy---I wonder if the composting toilet might leave bad
odors down wind causing hate and discontent wtih those who are there?
Any ideas?? I am leaning toward a holding tank as pumping out on most
Cape harbors is free.
Does anyone know if a steel barge needs to be hauled very
often for painting, maint., or whatever?
Thanx again everyone.

Bill


On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 00:23:34 GMT, Bill wrote:


We aren't sure where we will end up going at this point, however it
will be on the east coast, harbor, maybe Cape Cod area, but not sure.
Bill


On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:50:12 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:


Bill wrote:

As some of you mentioned, yes, we have given this a little more than
just a quick thought. We have a gen set, so power isn't a problem. For
blackwater we are thinking of an Electrasan style disposal system...

Where do you plan to put the barge? If not in coastal waters or a

Peggy---I wonder if the composting toilet might leave bad
odors down wind causing hate and discontent wtih those who are there?
Any ideas??

Not if it's installed and operated according to directions. The
drawbacks: a considerable amount of power needed for the heater and
evaporator, and even that may not be enough to prevent the need to
collect excess liquids, which cannot legally be drained overboard.

I am leaning toward a holding tank as pumping out on most
Cape harbors is free.

Sounds like the best solution in this case to me too...especially if
there's a service that comes to you. You haven't lived until you've had
a full tank and no choice except to try to maneuver a barge and all
"sail area" of a RV on it against an outgoing tide and a crosswind to
get into the pumpout dock. And, there's also the matter of
expense...your camper already has a holding tank...modifying the
plumbing to allow it to be pumped out will cost a LOT less than the
$1,000 or so it would cost you to convert to composting or even a Type I
MSD (Lectra/San).

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"






Does anyone know if a steel barge needs to be hauled very
often for painting, maint., or whatever?
Thanx again everyone.

Bill


On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 00:23:34 GMT, Bill wrote:


We aren't sure where we will end up going at this point, however it
will be on the east coast, harbor, maybe Cape Cod area, but not sure.
Bill


On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:50:12 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:


Bill wrote:

As some of you mentioned, yes, we have given this a little more than
just a quick thought. We have a gen set, so power isn't a problem. For
blackwater we are thinking of an Electrasan style disposal system...

Where do you plan to put the barge? If not in coastal waters or a

Peggie Hall wrote:
Peggy---I wonder if the composting toilet might leave bad
odors down wind causing hate and discontent wtih those who are there?
Any ideas??


Not if it's installed and operated according to directions. The
drawbacks: a considerable amount of power needed for the heater and
evaporator, and even that may not be enough to prevent the need to
collect excess liquids, which cannot legally be drained overboard.


Ours has a heater but with a family of 5 using it, only the fan is
needed for the summer. When the temps dip below 60 the heater gets
turned on.

Ed

Ed, I agree with what you said with regards as to how it should work,
but I feel Peggy has the best idea of simply adding a large holding
tank, and dump straight into it from the camper. This all seems to be
coming together faster than I thought. I have even found an older
camping trailer, although 40 feet long, that the wheel bearings and
brakes are shot, and a couple of people have told me that both axles
need replacing. It sat in a camp ground and used about every other
year for the past 10 years, but never moved. The owner only wants
$7500 for it. I am wondering at this point, if I can get it onto the
barge, just make it part of the barge, no on and off deal. Gee, so
many oportunities! The Landing Craft idea was a good one also, but
wow, very expensive, so back to looking for a steel barge. Thanx for
all your help, like I said, I never thought this idea would be worth
it, for some reason or another, but I have a feeling it will. Thanx
again all.
Bill