In the last post “Steph’s Tiny Floating Cottage“ I introduced you to the idea of tiny floating homes. In this post I would like to expand on that thought a bit and show you a few of the options and resources available to you.
In a recent post on Park Model Homes we looked at this solution for a place on land. Another use for Park Model Homes are floating homes, and several resort areas across the U.S. and elsewhere are installing these modern trailers onto rafts and selling them as vacation homes or full time residences. Pictured below is one of these examples.
There are many options and resources on the web if you are interested in learning more about floating home living. I have listed a couple below:
Buoyant market: Are floating homes the future of housing?
This is a CNN article speculating on the place of floating homes in our future as flooding may continue to increase.
Before You Buy a Floating Home
Notes some basic considerations about this lifestyle.
International Marine Floating Structures
World Leader in Floating Technology (pictures and information)
Coastal Floating Homes
Buy your own floating home at this Ohio resort.
Watch an “Eye On The Bay” T.V. show about the floating homes of Sausalito. (28 minutes)
Floating Home photos and a video.
Traditional
Traditional
Modern German Design
Modern German Design #2
Watch a Seattle Movie
A friend had a house-boat but it sank into the bay. Ever since I’ve been kinda skeptical of floating homes. But the ones featured look really nice. (I’m sure none of them are sinking)
There’s nothing quite like waking up to waterside views, and these beautiful properties offer the tranquil experience of living on the water along with the simplicity of a tiny home. Intrigued? Here’s our pick of the world’s best floating tiny homes.
Thanks for posting the video’s & the info you have on floating homes! The videos were great!!
Hey Janelle,
Wow, I like your floating home. It looks really cool! I would be interested in sharing your story if you would like to. Please contact me using the contact page above.
Kent
Hi I love the ideas presented here. Some 30 years ago a friend/fishing buddy purchased a lot on the river near here, knowing that during winter floods he did not have enough dry land to park his 30 ft airstream, so would have to pull it out ever winter, he also could not get permit for septic tank as it would not pass peculation test.
Since we had planned to use the airstream for hunting and fishing cabin we needed a solution. During an all night bull session I suggested we put in a raft structure to float the trailer and a composting toilet system, after a week or so of planning we came up with a 32 ft wide platform 48 ft long floated by pontoons of side by side 55 gal drums that were welded end to end and painted with Rustoleum, up and down stream ends were rounded off with dock flotation, basically a trimaran pontoon raft with airstream and screened porches on top,anchored with floating rig to 8 stout trees. I have seen it floating in 10 ft of fast moving flood waters with no problems, have slept on it during 6 ft flood water. It is still there and serving the new owner well and only small areas of lumber replaced and a few of the drums have needed patching as they are painted every year.I would imagine these had been built in the Bayou areas before we built this one because it is a very inexpensive way to live in flood zones or on the water.This was in fresh water that moves very swiftly during floods, we could have probably gotten by with half the drums we used and now it could be done with plastic drums,or could be built on large logs like a Huck Finn raft.
I am considering building a very small dome home on a similar deck on a small beach front lot in hurricane zone of Gulfport Mississippi, domes have very little wind resistance so have withstood very high winds,such as Hurricane Andrew in Florida and if built right it should ride over most storm surge{ lot is 9 ft above everything surrounding it, so may never see water in my lifetime but will be ready if it does}, or at least pop to the top as i passes. I may be proven wrong someday, but i think i will have better chance than a standard house or trailer in same circumstances.
Awesome little houses. Are most of them able to be pulled out of the water if they are kept in a place that freezes, or are they for warm temperature place only? Great vacation home idea!
I have the idea of building some kind of a floating home. I came back to Panama, Rep of Panama almost two years ago. I don’t see anyone having this kind of living. My plan is to have a foam and then covered it with concrete. The house will be built on top of this concrete pod. This home can be towed on the ocean to another location when needed or required. The pacific ocean and the golf of Panam is very extensive. At this time, a company is building an island in the Pacific ocean, I can imagine the prices for a piece of this land.
We are building a floating home community in Bocas Del Toro if you are interested in that part of Panama.
i am a manufacturer of small cabins and storage buildings. we are currently looking at the possability of adding a floating cabin to our line of products. i looked up the codes that the dnr have about house boats in wisconsin, and it would appear that you can not live in it as a permanant residence. you can rent them out but you have to be able to see them from your permanent residence on land.
my question is this, will this change or is this law differant in other states? we also battle zoneing laws on a regular basis because we build small cabins not on wheels. i would love to see a law passed that allows for small dwellings to be used in many forms but it would meat much resistance from county zoning committes.
@Wade – it seems as if you have done a considerable amount of research on float homes in Wisconsin. I am currently in NC/TN area looking to build a small home resort, but don’t really know where to begin. Any advice on who to contact/how to get information on/if float homes are allowed in a certain area and if zoning will permit this?
Any and all suggestions will be helpful – I am unsure of where to start.