Boats that are like ‘tiny houses’ on the water

You’ve most likely heard of tiny houses. The trend toward super-small abodes that reduce environmental impact and simplify living has been popular for a while now. But did you know that there are also tiny house-style houseboats?

Harbor Cottage Houseboats, based in Somerset, Kentucky, offers a floating tiny house that’s perfect for someone who’d like to try out the little living trend on the water.

The tiny houseboat has a 400-square-foot main floor as well as a lower stateroom. It can also be built with an optional loft. The space includes a 12-foot x 16-foot front porch, a 10-foot x 16-foot covered rear porch and a 24-foot x 16-foot roof deck.

The model featured on the Harbor Cottage Houseboats site has a slide, diving board, hot tub and bar atop the roof deck for living your best lake life.

The houseboat can comfortably sleep six people. It has two bedrooms, plus a full bathroom with a bathtub, shower, vanity cabinet and commode.

Two electric 13 Seer heat pumps provide heating and cooling for the boat. It also has hot water, electricity and a built-in sewage collection system with a pump. Appliances include a range, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher and washer and dryer.

James Hamilton of Harbor Cottage Houseboats said in a blog post that they can build one in 90 days and ship it to anywhere in the U.S. You can get a floating houseboat or a fully-powered one, and it’s suitable for both salt and freshwater use. The energy-efficient base model starts at $149,000, according to the company’s sales brochure.

The boat was featured on an episode of HGTV’s “Tiny House, Big Living” in 2017.

Harbor House Cottages is not the only company that offers a tiny houseboat. No 1 Living sells a 40-foot houseboat that looks as fun as it is functional. It has a front-covered deck and large windows for enjoying that fresh, seaside air.

It has a lower deck, an upper deck, a front living area, a kitchen, a full bathroom and a bedroom with a lot of storage space. The tiny houseboat boasts independent heating, fresh drinking water and energy throughout the boat that’s comparable to that of an average modern home.

How cool! Would you consider setting sail on a tiny houseboat?