I am thinking it would be pretty easy to build a barrel barge along the lines of this and launching it on the river:-
http://www.angelfire.com/ultra/edaskew/genbarge.html
I wouldnt have any power. Or water. Garbage would be a problem. But as long as there is no engine on the boat I wouldnt need to get it surveyed, I think.
I know you can't build a mooring on the river without getting permission from the Council, but are there any laws against anchoring on the river, even permanently?
Many thanks, most helpful.
Doesn't look very stable. I cannot see it ending well at all.
doesn't but the weight of the generator (ballast) lowers the centre of gravity so much that it would take serious wave action to overturn it, even fully loaded. if the water was deeper, it would probably be worth putting a keel on it to increase lateral stability further. the video states it has survived a couple of hurricane so far, not a bad record!
the trouble is leaking barrels would have no warning system — if you were in a few metres of water and asleep when it started sinking it could end very badly. the multiple buoyancy tanks provided by the drums would give some level of safety, but you need to have many more than required, perhaps test with 50% of them removed, with the barge fully loaded on one side; then make sure to check them all routinely.
the idea is good, I would do it for a short stint, if the weather was amenable and I didn't have young kids (the wife probably wouldn't be keen either). an unbeatable way to save on rent, an unbeatable views too!
however the shed is definitely not the way to go — (comfort/security/weatherproofing/etc) importantly, it would be too bloody cold overnight and you would end up with a lot of damp issues — I would go with some sort of insulated panels to all sides, top and bottom, plus a couple of openable double-glazed and shaded windows for ventilation / light.
alternatively, you could just build it in the Queenslander style, with a clear airspace below and above, double layer the roof sheeting and add plenty of screened louvres, but that would be more fiddly.
no man is an island & if you wanted to live near the cbd in bne on anything non leagal (ie, not registered) im sure your in for trouble & getting a berth so you can get on & off for a daily commute to work would be made as impossible as they could for you. having said that, go for it!!
the point of being free & freedom is almost no one trys it (at least once)
seeing how great the design (im not endorsing it, time may show its a nightmare & unsafe) was i would have made it twice as long and given more thought to using the space in it more wisely, with water collection and power & even waste managment. Give it a go, until the next bne flood you might be right!
Yeah I am thinking it might be better just getting an old flogger of a boat. There are some kicking around for 5k or so.
If I had a dollar for every time I was asked this question….
You'd have a dollar?
Yep, pretty much!
I lived a winter at Blackwall reach on the Swan river in a 30 ft cat. Note what "kryzstoff" said above about weather. In winter I caught flu 5 times (couldn't avoid it) and managed ok otherwise. Lge bucket to shore everyday for loo waste not a problem really. Girlfriend didn't like visiting much.
Advise maybe deckout a bus to avoid rent, boats are not dry or roomy. Have few normal comforts.
Good to try these things but not a longterm solution to renttrap.
Regarding moorings vs anchors: "anchoring on the river, even permanently?"
Forget it, 1st storm you will likely be washed ashore. Ask anyone about this.
You need a properly laid mooring to hold any boat. Thats my experience anyway.
Best of luck.
Thanks mate I appreciate the info. Yeah the more I think about it the more of a pita it sounds. People try and live in buses and panel vans around here, but the council busts peoples balls about it.
I could try and live 20 people to a room like all the Korean students but I am past that as well.
Looks like I will be paying rent for a while yet.
Google liveaboard.
e.g. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f74/living-aboard-in-qld…