Depending on where you live, what water is available nearby, and how long you want to live on the water, you may want to consider getting a barge house instead of a houseboat. What’s the difference? A houseboat is typically built to stay in one place, anchored and on floats. A barge house, on the other hand, is made so that if the owner decides to find calmer waters, it can be towed (or, depending on the boat, sailed down the river).
There are pros and cons to each of these, but if you’re wanting a more nomadic lifestyle, one where you can explore the sights and sounds of a place and then pull away from shore and go on to another port, a barge house might be your preference. There are also rules that regulate houseboats that do not necessarily apply to barge houses, depending on where you live.
Barge homes are quite common in Europe, particularly in and around France, where there are plenty of locks and canals to be navigated. Barge home communities thrive, with friends reconnecting after months spent traveling to other areas. Barge homes are easy upkeep, inexpensive to fuel, and can be cheaper than maintaining a home on land.
