254 
AMERICAN HOMES 
AND GARDENS 
July, 1911 
— nes] 
A Model Houseboat 
How to Build a Houseboat for $300 
By Frederick K. Lord 
ay LIE proposition of spending a summer afloat 
is one which appeals to many versons 
fond of the water; but the cost of a yacht 
large enough to accommodate comfortably 
a family for a protracted period is pro- 
hibitive to the majority, therefore people 
swelter ashore in hot and uncomfortable 
hotels, and snatch such enjoyment from the water as chance 
and circumstances permit. 
A solution of the problem of living cheaply and com- 
ashore during the summer season under equally comforta- 
ble conditions. The cost of the boat would vary, accord- 
ing to whether it was built by amateurs and how elaborately © 
it was constructed and fitted up. A moderate price ship- 
builder should build this boat complete with toilet and 
water tanks for five hundred dollars. As the boat is very 
simple in construction amateurs should be able to build it 
for about three hundred dollars. At a small additional 
cost an awning could be rigged over the house-top, thereby 
providing a fine, large, cool lounging space. 
For those in 
terested in building 
fortably afloat is 
found in the house- el SS ma oo 
boat. Such a life = Sa 
offers many charms 
and advantages. It 
is generally cooler 
such a boat them- 
selves the following 
hints on construc- 
tion may prove use- 
on the water, and 
the air is fresher 
and better, being 
ful: The first step 
in construction is to 
prepare the ground 
free from dust and 
and build the sides 
land smells. Bath- 
and bottom of the 
ing is always ‘‘on hull. The ground 
tap,’ and the enter- should be prepared 
tainment of friends by driving posts 
is accompanied with and using stringers 
more charm and and blocks so 
privacy than in a placed that the hull 
crowded summer may rest during 
hotel. . If * the - Jo- construction on an 
cality becomes tire- absolutely level 
some the houseboat plane. By doing 
can be towed to an- : this a level and 
other harbor for a plumb line can be 
few dollars, and used to get the 
there is no packing 
house and its com- 
of trunks or tipping 
of servants when 
getting out of town. 
The plans herewith shown represent a small houseboat 
capable of accommodating four or five persons comfortably 
for a very moderate price. It would cost four persons fifty 
dollars a week at an average-priced summer hotel. This 
amounts to six hundred dollars for three months, without 
extras. The boat shown here could be built for less than 
that. Then at the end of the summer it could easily be sold 
for more than half its value or kept for another year. In 
any case there would be a very large saving over living 
Sectional plan and side view, showing constructional details of the houseboat 
partments built 
plumb and true. 
After the building 
foundation is prepared, start by getting out the sides. 
These are of 14-inch yellow pine, laid three strakes to a 
side. As the depth of the hull is 30 inches the sum of the 
three planks should be 28% inches to allow for the thick- 
ness of the bottom. The sides are held together by tem- 
porary strips of wood screwed to them. When thus se- 
cured fasten on the lower inside edges a yellow pine corner 
log 2 x 4 inches as shown in the cross section plan at 4. The 
object of this is to stiffen the edge and afford extra nailing 
