Hi everybody,
I've been a frequent of STP for many years, even before I began traveling. Semi retired from the road now for about two and a half years outside of working beets last season but am looking to began a new journey. Growing up on the Ohio river in a small rivertown, which some of you may be familiar with if you have heard of Harlan Hubbard or his book Shantyboat, the idea has been floating around my mind for many many years now. But I believe now to be the right time to build my shack on the river..
My plan is to first look into the laws here on living and docking on the river, which in the past I wouldn't have given second thought to but today I'd like to succeed and for everything to go smoothly as these things do. After I am cleared to begin building I want to invest in or recycle/reclaim 55 gallon blue barrel drums from which I will begin to build my hull, flat, dock, base that floats upon which the cabin will sit. For lumber I would like to try to use reclaimed wood first but will also check places like the Habitat for Humanity Restore as well as the discounted lumber at your local lumber chain store. Believe I will be checking construction sites and dumpsters too but I wont go into to much detail on that
That being said I think chainsawing a few telephone polls wouldn't be the worst idea either lol
I do however already have a small woodstove but will be searching for propane oven and stove range to tear out of an old RV or houseboat and even heard there are propane refrigerators too. Anything requiring electricity hopefully will be taken care of via solar panels and I'll probably use a composting toilet. All of this I'd like to document the building and living of my shantyboat after which my plan is to start learning to sail and then be in the market for a sailboat.
I found websites you can get deck hand experience and learn to sail on www.crewseekers.com and www.crewfinders.com as well as many other like this if anyone has used these before I'd like to discuss your experiences with you or just anyone elses ideas on the subject of sailing and shantyboat living. To clarify the two are separate to me but maybe not you.
Thanks for reading
I've been a frequent of STP for many years, even before I began traveling. Semi retired from the road now for about two and a half years outside of working beets last season but am looking to began a new journey. Growing up on the Ohio river in a small rivertown, which some of you may be familiar with if you have heard of Harlan Hubbard or his book Shantyboat, the idea has been floating around my mind for many many years now. But I believe now to be the right time to build my shack on the river..
My plan is to first look into the laws here on living and docking on the river, which in the past I wouldn't have given second thought to but today I'd like to succeed and for everything to go smoothly as these things do. After I am cleared to begin building I want to invest in or recycle/reclaim 55 gallon blue barrel drums from which I will begin to build my hull, flat, dock, base that floats upon which the cabin will sit. For lumber I would like to try to use reclaimed wood first but will also check places like the Habitat for Humanity Restore as well as the discounted lumber at your local lumber chain store. Believe I will be checking construction sites and dumpsters too but I wont go into to much detail on that
That being said I think chainsawing a few telephone polls wouldn't be the worst idea either lol
I do however already have a small woodstove but will be searching for propane oven and stove range to tear out of an old RV or houseboat and even heard there are propane refrigerators too. Anything requiring electricity hopefully will be taken care of via solar panels and I'll probably use a composting toilet. All of this I'd like to document the building and living of my shantyboat after which my plan is to start learning to sail and then be in the market for a sailboat.
I found websites you can get deck hand experience and learn to sail on www.crewseekers.com and www.crewfinders.com as well as many other like this if anyone has used these before I'd like to discuss your experiences with you or just anyone elses ideas on the subject of sailing and shantyboat living. To clarify the two are separate to me but maybe not you.
Thanks for reading