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NEW London Office Launch special rate ~ If YOU Sign This Month ~ SELL YOUR LONDON OR THAMES HOUSEBOAT
for only 3% (no sale~no fee!)

We are NOW Agents for EUROPE HOUSEBOATS
~ *fully CE certified for use throughout Europe !!

A Whole NEW design for the European market, derived from Luxury American Super-Houseboat Cruisers. Now you can order your brand new Cruising Houseboat. SIX Basic Houseboat designs. Many factory fitted luxury options available. Marine Grade aluminium hulls. Shaft drive with single or twin engines. Custom boats built to order. Office boats a speciality.
CLICK HERE to See the NEW Houseboats Now.



We currently advertise boats in:- Rightmove; Independent Network of Estate Agents; Apollo Duck; Network YachtBrokers; Dover Boats: Sothebys Brokerage; Yachtworld; Boatshop 24; Sailing Today; Yachting Monthly;Boats and Yachts; Motor Boat Monthly (Plus 6 Free to advertise websites ~all as at June 2009)

CLICK HERE to go straight to the Main Boats For Sale List

NEVER LIVED IN A HOUSEBOAT BEFORE ?

YOU'VE never lived on a Houseboat before? Call us for a FREE INTERVIEW ~Everything you ever wanted to know about Houseboat living but didn't dare to ask!~ That's right, YOU make an appointment and get a free interview discussing all the ins and outs of houseboat living.Water, electricity, toilets, baths, moorings, planning permission, secure residential moorings, how to buy a boat. What about finance? How long does it take? Will the boat sink? or let the rain in? etc etc Call now if you are thinking of selling your house etc and moving on to a houseboat for the first time. Talk to the expert, he claims to be a State-Registered Boat-Maniac (Tongue in cheek), to have lived on houseboats for over 35 years - made most of the mistakes and to be keen to help others avoid them. You can book your free , no-obligation, interview now ~ You can call The Houseboat Centre on 020 3287 2977 to make the appointment, or have a chat about the boats you like.

CLICK HERE to go straight to all Houseboats to Complete

Residential Cruiser Feature

A feature all about Residential Cruisers a copyrighted phrase that I coined myself to include all motor vessels that are lived on.

CLICK HERE to go straight to Residential Cruisers

S T O P ~ P R E S S !!

YOU CAN SELL YOUR HOUSE HERE NOW OR GET A SECOND MORTGAGE AND LET YOUR HOUSE OUT TO FINANCE YOUR HOUSEBOAT!!
Just phone or visit The Houseboat Centre and ask for ROB!
He will also find accomodation for you to rent while you build or complete your houseboat.
Just another excellent service from THE HOUSEBOAT CENTRE ~ Your One-Stop Shop, helping you to Change YOUR LIFE!

CLICK HERE to go straight to the Main Boats For Sale List

Sailing Liveaboards Feature

A feature all about Sailing Liveaboards ~Sailing vessels that are lived on. Many are production Yachts.Some are purpose built as liveaboard homes. If you want to to cruise and liveaboard, you are STRONGLY advised to get quality sailing and navigation instruction from a RYA approved training centre first. My additional advice is "Never go out in any vessel on any water without someone on board who is put in charge, who is experienced in that water and that type of vessel.... until YOU become that experienced person!

CLICK HERE to go straight to the Sailing Liveaboard Feature

Static Houseboats Feature

A feature all about Static Houseboats ~houseboats that have no working engines or sails. Some are purpose built as static homes, others are converted from vessels that have had engines removed or that just don't work. Static Houseboats give a stable home base for the family and can have permanent connection to main facilities.

CLICK HERE to go straight to the Static Houseboat Feature

Dutch Barge Feature

A feature all about Dutch Barges to live on with Dutch Barges for sale as well as video tours and general information.

CLICK HERE to go straight to the Dutch Barge Feature

Fishing Boats Feature

A feature all about Fishing Boats to live on with Fishing Boats for sale as well as video tours and general information.

CLICK HERE to go straight to the Fishing Boat Feature

Tug Boat Feature

A feature all about Tug Boats to live on withTug Boats for sale as well as general information.

CLICK HERE to go straight to the Tug Boat Feature

American Houseboat Feature

A feature all about American Houseboats to live on with American Houseboats for sale as well as general information. Houseboats for YOU from The U.S.A.! If you are in a position to buy a Luxury Houseboat, prices have never been so low! but they are just starting to rise again. We have exclusive international connections , so if you are seriously interested, we can do the due diligence this side of the pond - - So you can receive the red carpet treatment you deserve in the USA. Try a stay on one of these superb homes for free while you are over there to inspect the ones you like.

CLICK HERE to go straight to the American Houseboat Feature

Conversion Objects Feature

A feature all about Conversion Objects that can be made into Boats to live on with Conversion Objects for sale as well as general information.

CLICK HERE to go straight to Conversion Objects

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Good Housekeeping

There are some things that need to be done in any home. But it is worth considering them here. The basic example is, 'having a spare”. If you use something regularly, like hand-soap in the bathroom or jam, then keep a spare in a handy place. When the jam runs out, replace it with the spare and write jam on the shopping list under the magnet on the fridge door. This applies to fan belts in cars as well as boats, certainly Gas bottles if you use gas on board. If you have a fuel tank in your car or boat, carry a small can of fuel just in case. On a Static houseboat the spares will be identical to those in a home.
A residential cruiser has two extra areas of consideration.
• All the spares needed for the engine, generator and cruising
equipment.
• Depending on the length of cruise, more household spares may
be needed if planning to be out in the country away from
boatyards, roads and shops.

posted by David @ 6:44 AM   0 Comments Links to this post

Electric Issues

Electrical systems must be carefully installed for safety reasons. I admit that I started wiring our first floating home using the Readers'Digest DIY guide and never looked back. You may prefer to employ a qualified electrician! It is important to minimise the risks from shortcircuits and overheating cables. Also, I don't use the old-fashioned unsealed batteries, because they produce hydrogen when charging (Istill always make sure that batteries are stowed in a ventilated area,
that batteries and cables can't move around, that fuses and circuitbreakers are correctly installed and rated for the circuits they protect. I like to look over the wiring a couple of times a year to see what is worn out and needs replacing.I also have cut-off switches for main circuits, clearly marked and easily accessible. ( extract from The Houseboat Book by D Greenaway. If you want to read the full text click here. )

posted by David @ 6:39 AM   0 Comments Links to this post

Static or cruising - What type of boat?

Where do you want to BE??
It may be your job determines the area you need to live in, or a need to be near family or friends. If so you know what area you should live in and even if you choose a Residential Cruiser, you will need a secure mooring within travelling distance of that area
But if you are retired, or can work from anywhere (maybe you work over the internet, or as an artist in studio, or you are regularly travelling all over the country to clients. ) Then you can consider a life of freedom, using the many moorings provided free on the waterways.
You can choose to be a 'Continuous Cruiser” all year round as I have
for years.
Sometimes for a particular contract, or family reasons, choosing a suitable Marina to stay in for a few months.
I love the freedom of the river. It is kind and friendly if you treat it with proper respect, no tides to worry about, being inland there are very few harsh gales.
It feels so civilised to be able to cruise gently up to a nice Restaurant mooring, tie up and saunter in for a drink or a meal.You may well, like me, love to see grass and trees, they are always in view on the River.
Go through any town in Europe by train, you will see the worst views, go any where by boat and you will see the best views, partly because for hundreds of years, many people with the means have bought riverside land for its beauty and often made the effort to enhance that beauty with landscaping and architecture )

( extract from The Houseboat Book by D Greenaway. If you want to read the full text click here. )

posted by David @ 4:08 AM   0 Comments Links to this post

MOORINGS

If you are new to living afloat, And have any dependents, I strongly recommend you to buy your new home already on an established residential mooring. This means the mooring has planning permission for residential use and you have official residents status at that address, essential for bank accounts, driving licence, benefits etc.
If you are continuously cruising or on a mooring that doesn't have residential planning permission, there may be many others living on the same mooring and it is worth asking their advice as to the local situation and how things happen in that area. If you have family
responsibilities, a mooring with residential planning permission has to be favourite.



( extract from The Houseboat Book by D Greenaway. If you want to read the full text click here. )

posted by David @ 3:16 AM   0 Comments Links to this post

Feedback

Please call, email or add a comment to this blog if you have any constructive criticism or maybe just want to say "thank you" for good service - it helps as much to know when we have got it right as to hear what you would like us to improve.

In any case, those of you who have visited or done business with The Houseboat Centre might have a modest request from me to know how you felt about our service and whether there is anything more we could do for you.
(just so you won't be surprised to get the SMS, email, text or phone call from me)

Meanwhile, have a look at the homepage and look for the free offers, we are considering charging soon, so don't leave it too long.
In any case, you can leave comments here now, just click "comments" below.

posted by David @ 12:57 AM   0 Comments Links to this post