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Barge with camper?
hiya
Here in Norfolk UK we have hire boats on the broads which are flat backed with a wheelhouse. A caravan can be reversed on the back so that you can live in the caravan while afloat. good idea fragged "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. |
Barge with camper?
Interesting concept. :) A couple of things to consider in your
planning...'cuz living on the water is a wee bit different from living on land: Waste (black water) disposal: RVs dump waste holding tanks via gravity...boats are pumped out through a deck fitting...so you're gonna have to figure out how to modify your RV's holding tank to be pumped out unless you want to drive it off to an RV dump station every time it gets full. You cannot replumb to flush the toilet overboard...that's illegal. The good news is, unless you're planning to put this deus ex machina on Lake George NY or Lake Winnipesaukee NH, you don't have to hold your gray water...it can go directly overboard. But still, another plumbing modification-- either to the plumbing to allow your sinks and shower to drain directly overboard or to the gray water tank so it can be pumped out. You'll either have put the barge where there's a mobile pumpout service that can come to you, or have a means of moving it to a dock that has pumpout facilities. Or, sewer connections for both tanks. Taking on water shouldn't be an issue...a fill and a hose to stick in it is pretty much universal. But you still have to be able to get to a source of water. You'll also need a source of power to recharge your batteries if you want any light or even water--your water pump needs power. If you have a generator, all you need is fuel for it...but if you don't...anyhow, just thought I'd mention it. Also, if the barge will be permanently moored, you may need permits to do it. All things to consider...'cuz there's just a WEE bit more to living in a camper on a barge on the water than just driving the RV onto the barge and chaining it down for the summer. 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: 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. |
Barge with camper?
How about driving a motorhome on to a barge with a set of dyno rollers to power
a prop, or a paddle wheel! Should be lots of room in the barge for water, and holding tanks. |
Barge with camper?
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, 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 |
Barge with camper?
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 |
Barge with camper?
Suuuure he will...as long as the 8000 lbs doesn't sink him first. :)
Keith wrote: Oh come on Peggie... he'll be on a barge with probably 10,000 gallon capacity! The ultimate holding tank! hehehe |
Barge with camper?
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. |
Barge with camper?
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 |
Barge with camper?
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 |
Barge with camper?
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 |
Barge with camper?
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 |
Barge with camper?
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 |
Barge with camper?
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 |
Barge with camper?
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 |
Barge with camper?
I thought you already owned the RV. For $7500 plus whatever it'll cost
you to build the barge, you could buy a small houseboat in fairly decent--certainly operable and sound anyway--condition AND have it transported. I'm not referring to permanently moored floating structures, but what amounts to a floating mobile home on a barge hull or pontoons, with engine(s), that would need no modifications 'cuz these things are boats...inland lakes and rivers are littered with 'em. Sizes range from about 35' to over 100'. Many are aluminum, but some are steel and some even fiberglass...and ideal for your purpose. Pick up a copy of Houseboat magazine and check the used listings for older ones...also Heartland Boating. An older 35-42' Nautaline--provided it didn't have any fiberglass rot (they're prone to it) would be a perfect choice for you. Or maybe an older Gibson or Holiday Mansion. Just my $.02 worth... 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: 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 |
Barge with camper?
And you are planning an around the world cruise with your Travel
Trailer/Barge *******ization? Be sure and let the Coast Guard know the day you leave. "Bill" wrote in message ... Peggie, Nope, don't own one yet. I am looking all over and found a few of those house boats you spoke of. Never thought one of those would be even close to sea worthy. I guess I was wrong, although none I have seen so far one would want to take too far off shore, and even at that only in the calmest of weather. Still looking, thanx for the lead. Bill On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 17:48:13 GMT, Peggie Hall wrote: I thought you already owned the RV. For $7500 plus whatever it'll cost you to build the barge, you could buy a small houseboat in fairly decent--certainly operable and sound anyway--condition AND have it |
Barge with camper?
What brand of composter do you use?
Thanks ********** Granted the composter I have is in a cabin (with power) and not on a boat, but it has performed flawlessly for a couple years now. For marine use, a small sealed lead-acid battery and solar panel seems like it would be the way to go (for the exhaust fan). The only possible drawback that I see is that they require real-time maintainance as opposed to the once a ?? pumpout of a storage tank. Just out of curiosity, what are the drawbacks you've found/foresee for marine use of composting toilets? Ed |
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