Introduction
House boats come in different sizes and shapes. Having a house boat provides fun for some families. Other people use their boats for permanent living. It is important to make fair decisions before investing in a house boat. If you plan to live on a boat permanently, spend time on boats to make sure that you feel comfortable.
Step 1
Purchase your house boat carefully. Having a house boat is a responsibility like owning a car. You want to do your research before making a final purchasing decision. As a potential owner, need to determine if you desire a new or used house boat. There are benefits to making each decision. It is easier to know with whom you are doing business. A boating company wants to protect its reputation. The representatives are more likely to answer questions fairly and honestly. However, a used boat owner may not be a forthcoming to your questions.
Step 2
Prepare to keep your house boat clean. A boat can receive constant exposure to the elements, including wind. The wind can pile dirt on the boat. Plus, an unclean boat can breed insects and rodents. You must be proactive in keeping the boat clean. It is a good idea to have a range of boat cleaning products. Make sure that you use products geared towards boats. You do not want products that can damage your boat. Check with fellow boat owners about where they purchase boat cleaning products.
Step 3
Make sure that you practice house boat safety. You need to practice at all times. There are simple steps to practicing boat safety. Limit the amount of clutter found on the vessal. This reduces your chances of tripping and suffering a serious injury. It does not matter if you only spend a few hours on your boat. According to the United States Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center, life jackets could potentially save over 80% of boating-related fatality victims. As the boat owner or renter, have a discussion with any people whom you plan to have on the boat.
Step 4
Check with the authorities about the need to register your house boat. A boat is a vehicle that operates on water and may require regulation. Each state has different guidelines along with the types of boats to register. Do not pay atttention to what others say. Speak with officials who handle boats. For some states, the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) handles the registration and appropiate fee schedule. In other states, the parks division or fish-and-game department maintains boating registrations. If your house boat requires registration, the proper officials can provide guidelines about which forms must be signed.
Step 5
Be careful if you decide to do business online for a house boat purchase. Some people purchase their boats via online marketplaces or private advertisements. Proceed with caution. You need to ensure that you are getting the boat from the correct person. Otherwise, you can find yourself exchanging funds without having a good boat. You can perform diligent research and work with people who have a good reputation.
Tips
Take a friend or family member when purchasing a boat from a stranger.
Sources and Citations
The United State Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center
http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/default.aspx