Dreamboat

Our weekend house on the water

On the banks of the Spree in the middle of Berlin, Karla and Adam have created a place of peace and relaxation – their own “dream boat”. This floating home not only serves as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Berlin – it is also a charming Airbnb rental.

Here is Karla’s account of her DIY project with Adam: from the initial spark of inspiration to the realization of their floating dream home.

The idea & initial research

Our houseboat is our Corona baby. We both live in the center of Berlin-Friedrichshain, just a stone’s throw from the Spree. One day during the Corona pandemic, we were walking along the banks of the Spree. There were a few houseboats there, some with permanent moorings and some simply moored somewhere.

We thought to ourselves that a floating home would be a nice place to retreat to, as an alternative to an allotment or weekend house. And the idea of realizing something like this ourselves as a project was really appealing to us.

In 2021, I took a sabbatical year, which we used to discuss the plan for our own houseboat in detail and to research it. While looking for a manufacturer of floating bodies, we quickly became aware of Frank and Ufloat. He responded to our questions the quickest and was significantly cheaper than another company in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

We got most of our input from people who had built similar things. From conversations with other houseboat owners, it became clear that a lot of the information was very boat-specific. So not everything was transferable one-to-one in detail, a lot of trial and error. Adam is someone who decides based on his gut feeling and just gets started. And that’s exactly what we did.

The construction

We received a load calculation for their pontoons from Ufloat. The plan was for the houseboat itself to have a submergence of 30%, as crew and cargo would add to that.

Initially, we had planned a trimaran, a boat with three hulls. However, we later had to convert to a double catamaran because the trimaran would have been too heavy.

The construction site was a former go-kart hall. First, the pontoons were screwed to the wooden frame and the floorboards were laid on top of that. The house was then built on this platform. Since Adam has a lot of experience with woodwork, the decision to build a wooden house was quickly made.

First, we created the skeleton of the house with the four corner edges and cross struts. Then the profiled woods were screwed on.

We got most of the wood from a local timber merchant, and bought the rest in a traditional way from a DIY store. We ordered the plastic pontoons, the wooden frame and the planks from Ufloat.

In total, we had to process over 100 individual planks. A bench drill was very useful for this. We had the luxury of me not having to work due to my sabbatical year and Adam being self-employed and therefore flexible.

Many friends came and actively supported us. We got professional help with the sizing and wiring of the solar system.

The interior

Inside the square wooden house, we have an open, light-flooded room with a separate bathroom. There is a large double bed on a slightly higher platform for more storage space under the bed. We have a small sofa corner and a kitchenette. Everything is simple. I put a lot of time into making the houseboat visually beautiful.

Using the houseboat

Our houseboat is currently moored in Rummelsburger Bucht in Berlin. We check on it every other day to make sure it’s all right. In summer, we often go to the boat after work, fire up the grill and spend the night there. When friends are visiting, we spend the evenings on the boat, eat together and sit comfortably around the fire.

Tips for building a houseboat

If you are also planning to build a houseboat, I would like to share a few experiences with you:

• A houseboat is a full-fledged hobby
  You have to be aware that a houseboat also needs long-term maintenance – that means work. It should fit into your life plan like a baby. Otherwise you can also rent houseboats.
• Anchoring is a science in itself
  Many anchor recommendations do not apply to houseboats because the wind pushes harder than on streamlined boats. Every anchor guide has their opinion and every houseboat owner their experiences. We now rely on two anchors: a larger 25kg anchor at the front and a smaller 15kg anchor at the back. The anchors should also have a ballast weight to keep the chain down and prevent the anchor from being pulled out of the ground under load. When in doubt, it’s better to use a larger anchor.
• Transportation permit:
  The permit for transporting a boat that is over 2.5 meters wide involves a lot of planning. I would recommend a maximum width of 2.50 meters or choose a hall on the waterfront as the construction site so that no transport on roads is necessary.

What does a houseboat cost?

The purchase price of a complete houseboat depends heavily on the desired materials and size. However, there are also running costs, which I would like to break down here:

• A fixed mooring costs around 150 to 200 euros per month. If you don’t have a fixed mooring, you save on these costs, but you have to check on the boat every few days.
• A houseboat insurance policy, a kind of boat liability insurance for damage caused by the boat to others, costs around 800 to 900 euros per year. It is a little more difficult to find an insurer for a self-build. We got it through Allianz with the help of an expert opinion certifying the condition and value of the boat.
• The expert opinion for the insurance cost us around 700 euros.
• For crane and winter storage, another 300 euros are added.

Legal and safety aspects

Here are a few points that you should be aware of from a legal perspective when buying or building a houseboat.

• With its 15 hp, our houseboat falls into the category of a sports boat and requires approval as a small vehicle. A license is not yet required for this size.
• Approval is granted by the water management office. There you will receive a number to identify the holder. In addition, a safety inspection or photos of the boat are required. With sufficient documentation, you will then be granted approval.
• Position lights must be installed and switched on in the dark: a green light on the right and a red light on the left.
• When anchoring outside a port at night, an anchor light is mandatory at the highest point of the boat.
• A certain number of mooring cleats, a lifebuoy and, in some federal states, a railing are mandatory.
• From the helm, you must be able to see all sides; if necessary, mirrors must be attached.
• For road transport, a permit is required for boats over 2.50 meters wide.
• Life jackets are optional.

The finished houseboat

We started construction on May 4 and worked on it for 10 to 12 hours a day until it was completed on July 15. During these two months, the boat was already launched.

Dimensions

We built our houseboat with a length of 8.4 meters and a width of 3 meters.

Built-in technology & equipment

• An outboard motor
• Steering position at the bow
• Electrical system with solar panels
• Permanently installed 12-volt sockets with USB ports
• An inverter
• We pump and filter river water for showering and for the water tap
• A dry toilet
• A parking heater with a gas bottle

Conclusion

Our boat is in a corner of Berlin where many people are out and about on the water in summer. Now and then, curious people in paddle boats or pedal boats come up to take a look inside. We have a nice community with the other boat neighbors.

We look forward to many more summers on our floating home and to many new encounters!

Have you ever wanted to stay in a houseboat?

On Airbnb, you can book nights on Adam & Karla’s “Traumboat” in Berlin. It’s an extraordinary experience for anyone looking for unique accommodation on the water. For more impressions and updates, you can also visit the “Traumboat’s” Instagram page, where Adam and Karla regularly share photos, videos, and stories from their floating home.

Airbnb – Book your stay

The Traumboat on Instagram