Hi All;
Ken Hulme, currently in Venice, FL. I've lived aboard a boat before, here in the States and elsewhere, and I'm looking for information/help with building a "houseboat" there and living aboard "on the hook".
I'm due to retire soon and would like to get a little further away (again) from things. Since I have no mega retirement fund, and I'm not a corporate thief with a platinum parachute, I need to have a cheap "house" over my head to be able to live on my $700 a month Social Insecurity check.
My solution is a live aboard boat, more or less a houseboat, but one I construct myself. Something 24-36 ft long by 8 ft wide on a scow-type hull. I've done it before and am willing to do it again. I know what it takes to make the Coasties happy as far as sewage, water, electric, fuel safety, etc. etc.
What I DON'T want to do is park this puppy in a mega-bucks marina in between rich plastic play toys. I want to live out "on the hook" - park up among the mangroves along the southwest coast maybe, or tied up a few miles up one of the rivers under a shady tree. In other words - no monthly rent or house payment. The boat I can build for about $6000 including a couple grand for 'hi tech' composting toilet, electricals, computer links, etc.
What I'm looking for is someone(s) who knows the local boating regs, possible locations I could go to, contacts with helpful locals, etc.
Anyone?