Stuga Lykke

About me

I was a passionate sailor for many years and was unfortunately no longer able to pursue this hobby due to an injury to my hand. Giving up sailing was terrible for me. My love of the sea soon made me look around for alternatives.

The idea of a houseboat

The first thing that came to mind was a motorboat, but this turned out to be only a temporary solution. We rarely used the boat, it just didn’t feel the same. After I had the opportunity to try out living on a houseboat with my family, I decided that I would like to own one.

Buying a houseboat was too easy and, admittedly, a little too expensive. I wanted to own something that gave me the feeling of having created something myself. As DIY is in my blood and I do all the repairs myself at home, I decided to build the houseboat myself.

That’s how I came across Ufloat

At the start of the planning process, the question arose as to which floats I should choose. After researching the various options on the Internet, I came across Ufloat.

As I am tackling the houseboat project alone, it was important for me to be able to transport the floats on my own. Larger floats were therefore out of the question.

Ufloat’s solution with its modular pontoons and the way the basic raft is constructed was ideal for my project and the size of my houseboat. The pontoons are also good value for money. I quickly made direct contact with Frank, the owner of Ufloat, who provided me with excellent support in planning the basic framework.

Calculating the load capacity

One of the biggest challenges was calculating the load capacity. Frank was a great help here. Together we calculated how much weight the raft would have to carry. This requires you to think about the living space and the material that the actual house on the houseboat should be made of.

The calculated load capacity showed that my original idea of a catamaran with two hulls was not feasible, as the metal and glass structure would simply be too heavy. We then decided on four hulls.

I soon had the plans for the platform with pontoons from Ufloat. The basis was done and I went to work with pen and paper to make my first sketches for the superstructure. Once I was happy with this, I started to implement the sketches on the computer.

Building the platform

Two weeks after I placed my order with Ufloat, the basic package for my new houseboat was delivered to me by truck. The pontoons, timbers, screws and instructions on how to assemble the parts.

The assembly was very easy, any reasonably skilled craftsman should be able to do it without any problems. There is also an instruction video and, of course, contact details for Ufloat.

Materials for building the house

I bought some of the materials for the house from local DIY stores.

As not everything was available for collection nearby, I also ordered online. I can also recommend anyone with a similar project to compare prices online.

I wanted the material for the house construction to be easy to maintain, stable and able to withstand the Baltic Sea wind.

I opted for an aluminum construction with glass windows. I had the windows made by a window company.

Tips for building a houseboat

During the building process, I came across a few things that I would like to pass on to you as tips if you are planning to build your own houseboat:

• Planning is key: If a steering wheel is planned, think about where the engine will sit, where you need cables and how long the steering lines need to be.
• Planning permission: If you want to build a floating home in Germany, you need a building permit. However, anyone building a mobile houseboat as a watercraft does not need this. Only if you want to use it on rivers and inland waterways do you need to register it with the WSV as a small watercraft.
• Stability: To ensure stability in strong winds, sufficient cross bracing should be planned.
• Insulation: If you also want to visit your houseboat in winter, you should plan for insulation. I opted for insulation on the floor, a layer of polystyrene between the Ufloat platform and the laminate.
• Building directly on the water: It is particularly important to think about where you want the boat to be beforehand. Everything else should be laid out according to this destination. It is advisable to have a hall for the construction that is close to the water. Depending on the size of the houseboat, transportation may otherwise be cumbersome and special permits may be required.
• Help with building: I am used to doing projects on my own. However, it is very nice to have someone to support you. In my case, this may have been a friend, daughter or wife who helped with carrying, painting and screwing. And don’t forget the shipyard staff who got everything safely into the water.
• Stable mooring points: More forces than you expect act on the cleats to which the boat is tied.
• Don’t be discouraged: It often helps to sleep on a problem for a night. If in doubt, just do it and learn from the mistake if necessary. Frank is also always helpful when it comes to the pontoons. If you find yourself on board later, it’s all excuses!

The finished houseboat

I took my time with the construction and worked on the boat about every 2 – 3 days. It took about half a year to build. We called it “Stuga Lykke”, which means “vacation home of happiness”.

Dimensions

The houseboat is 8 meters long and 3 meters wide and weighs around 2 tons.

Built-in technology

• A steering position that is connected hydraulically and by radio to an outboard motor.
• A small water tank with pump for the washbasin.
• A power supply consisting of 2 12 volt car batteries.
• The batteries are charged by the engine and solar panels on the roof, or alternatively via the socket if you want to charge it on land.
• In winter, a kerosene heater provides the necessary warmth.
• Lights and navigation lights.
• A navigation device.

Equipment

• Small washbasin with running water.
• One BOXIO bio toilet.
• 3 berths if required.
• Bathing ladder & cleats from Ufloat.
• And especially important: the coffee machine.

Conclusion

I am very happy with my houseboat and it was the right decision at all times. I have a year-round berth for the boat in a marina in the Baltic Sea and use it as a vacation home and for weekend trips.