Houseboats for sale - YachtWorld

Houseboats or boats you can live on designed for living aboard on a daily basis, were made popular in the 1960s and 1970s, and although they have mostly gone by the wayside, some luxury boating enthusiasts have started a resurgence in the market with high-end houseboats tricked out like palatial mansions. These boats are typically flat-bottomed for stability and many feature a pontoon-style base, although the handful of manufacturers all have their own designs and styles available.

How are Houseboats built?

Today, houseboat building is a specialty trade that takes time. Since there are only a handful of available builders, these boats can take a long time to procure and many people will opt to buy used instead. Boats are typically designed with sturdy aluminum or fiberglass bases that can handle constant exposure to the water and provide stability. Some models will feature premium marine wood construction with a handcrafted design, but these are going to be on the more expensive end of the market.

What Types of Engines Power Houseboats?

Houseboats will typically feature a propulsion system that utilizes an outboard engine and/or a sterndrive. Inboard and electric motors are available on some models, and custom builds can include whatever engine the boater desires. Gasoline and diesel models are available, as well. Engines will typically be designed for efficiency and power, with smaller trolling motors available to assist with mooring or traversing shallow waters.

What optional equipment is available for Houseboats?

Most houseboats come standard with performance engines, fuel tanks, ventilation systems, premium navigational systems, and everything else that boaters demand for modern excursions. Houseboats, however, also include interior décor, furnishings, and marine appliances for everyday living. There are a number of furnishings and optional accessories available for today’s houseboats, including entertainment systems, premium security systems, and so much more.

Find your perfect houseboats

Houseboats are larger size vessels usually used for time-honored pursuits such as living aboard. They have a rich legacy as vessels that are sought-after due to their moderate draft and generally wider beam, traits that make these vessels exceptionally great for living aboard. The average number of people that can be accommodated onboard houseboats listed is 12 passengers, with a maximum capacity of 55 guests and crew. Models with more power can take motors up to an enormous 2,157 horsepower, while affordable models may have as low as 10 horsepower engines on them (although the average power size is 263 HP).

Of the 249 houseboats for sale on YachtWorld currently, there are 52 new vessels and 197 used and custom yachts listed by professional yacht brokers and boat dealerships mainly in the following countries: United States, France, United Kingdom, Spain and Netherlands. Over the past 30 days, there have been 23 houseboats listed for sale on YachtWorld. The average length for this type of boat is 48 feet, while they differ in size from 19 feet long for the shortest, to 131 feet for the longest listed vessel. They are built by a wide variety of yacht makers and their hull types include displacement, catamaran, flat, modified vee and other designs.

The best houseboats

Some of the most iconic, masterful builders of houseboats presently include: Custom, Houseboat, Gibson, Harbor Master and Monticello. These builders manufacture houseboats with inboard, inboard/outboard, outboard, outboard-4S and electric propulsion systems, available in diesel, gas, electric and other fuel systems. Last month alone, the top 5 brands with the most views for houseboats on YachtWorld were Gibson, Horizon, Houseboat, Sumerset and Sun Hing Shing.

Houseboats pricing

Houseboats for sale on YachtWorld are listed in a wide swath of prices from $14,944 on the more modest side all the way up to $2,570,886 for the most luxury model vessels. Keep in mind the cost of ownership when considering your budget and the listing price of a yacht for sale.