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HOUSEBOAT NEWS

Isolation is a way of life for Whittier residents - Particularly in winter

Arlen Arneson has a long driveway. Ninety miles outside of Anchorage, at the end of Portage Valley Road, through a two-mile tunnel under the mountain, Arneson lives in a houseboat at the end of Float B in the Whittier small boat harbor. In the winter, the narrow dock to his front door is coated with sheets of ice. The choppy harbor waters lap up over the sides of the float and 50 mph gusts make the crossing treacherous, but Arneson doesn’t mind. “It’s inconvenient on one hand, but on the other hand it’s kind of a blessing in its own right,” he said, chuckling and pushing his thick coke-bottle glasses up his nose. The sleeves of his blue button-down shirt were rolled up around his forearms, collar ruffled under his gray sweater vest. The fisherman’s cap sitting at a jaunty angle on his head looked like it had survived more than a few Whittier winters, and the deep furrows on his brow belied the 48 harsh years he had spent in the town.

Houseboat industry eyes new venture for comeback

Kentucky's houseboat manufacturers once thrived by churning out luxurious floating residences, but the industry was nearly capsized by the economic downturn. Now it's dabbling in a new venture as it looks for a different course — the construction of moderately priced, energy efficient landlocked homes. Houseboat maker Stardust Cruisers has built two relatively low-cost modular homes in a test that area residents hope will help revive the industry and bring back jobs to this struggling town on the edge of Appalachia.

Have house, will travel: life on the lake floats this family's boat

THE lake rocks. The beach sucks. Take a teenager's word for it: sand between your toes is not what summer is all about. This may sound like summer sacrilege, but it comes on the excellent authority of Cambell Courtney, 15, who reckons he's found the secret to a holiday that involves neither sand, surf nor seaweed. No squishing between flags. No wishing away sweaty crowds. Cambell and his family's playground is Lake Eildon, where they own a two-storey designer houseboat. Noel Courtney sums up the case in favour of a moveable retreat, parked year-round on a lake that spreads across nearly 14,000 hectares: ''You can make it whatever you want it to be, there's so much room,'' Noel says. If you think of the marina as their street , the lake is their giant backyard. It's terrific for their children - Cambell, Shea, 18, and Georgia, 20 - and hardly a hard life for adults. ''When we get here we never stay in our 'street', we always go out [on the lake],'' says Linda, 48. ''Usually we've got a posse of about 10 friends and we all go out together. We have happy hour every night. Actually, happy hour is getting earlier and earlier. It starts about four, someone will have it on their boat, and that usually ends about 10.''

Innovative new Footprint boat debuts at the Toronto International Boat Show

The Footprint Boat, a trailerable camper-catamaran, is taking the lead at this years' Toronto International Boat Show. Designed to change the way we play and sleep on the water, the Footprint Boat is 27 feet long, trailerable, and sleeps 6 comfortably. The boat's sleek design and lightweight materials make it durable, fuel efficient and easy to handle. Designed, constructed and tested in the waters in and around Victoria B.C. - this boat solves the problem of affordable and comfortable adventures for kayakers, fishermen, families, campers, and anyone else who loves to get out on the water and explore. Builder Ian Collombin developed the Footprint concept and gained inspiration from his many adventure travels: canal boats of Europe, Airstream trailers, Westfalia Campervans, multi-hulls, and trailerable boats and tent trailers all play into the Footprint's design and easy-to-use amenities.

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PHOTO GALLERY ... HOUSEBOATS, HOUSEBOATING AND MORE

FEATURES FROM HOUSEBOAT MAGAZINE

Time

The Greenest Cleaner of All

You spritz the galley counter with anti-bacterial spray, wipe it away, and your houseboat’s food prep area is clean, right? Well, maybe. The cheapest, greenest cleaner onboard is also the most eco-friendly. It’s patience.

Wayne’s World

How to pack an 85-foot beauty into 56 feet

You may think you know what you want when it comes to building a custom houseboat, but nothing can possibly compare to the efforts one California man put into getting the boat of his dreams. Wayne Wasulko is a very detail-oriented person by nature, and when it came to breaking down the specifics of what he wanted and needed for his next houseboat, he was in his own world. Heading into his second houseboat purchase, Wasulko knew exactly what it was going to take to make this custom houseboat worthy of the name Wayne’s World.

Hidden Hideaway

Lake Waco, Texas

Automotive executive Bill Miller, the three times past commodore of the Ridgewood Yacht Club is one of the most active users of both his houseboat and of Lake Waco itself. It was under his last tour as commodore that the marina doubled in size to accommodate 275 slips, 100 of which are houseboats. This was no small accomplishment because being controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers, they had to first obtain permission and consent for the construction and expansion.

Lake Escapes

“Water” You Waiting For?

Lake. That single word elicits a whirlwind of exciting thoughts. And for most boaters, that same enthusiasm draws us back to the water every season for opportunity to get in touch with our child-psyche… the one that knows how to have some fun. While your local lakes provide much opportunity to feed that hunger, an extended, on-water houseboat rental vacation to a new location offers an opportunity to refresh your want for adventure. Whether you are looking to head north or south, east or west, you’ll likely find a grand get-away in this year’s batch of rental lake destinations designed to trigger the exploration your inner-kid has been craving.

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CURRENT ISSUE

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How We Got Our Name

Stories behind the boat names

January 24, 2012
Teachers' Lounge

January 17, 2012
Just Plane Fun Too

January 10, 2012
Bote Wepublican

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BOATING NEWS

February 02, 2012
A gadget for every boat owner

February 02, 2012
Craigslist adds boat-dealer category

February 01, 2012
Largest regional boat show marks 40 years in Charlotte

February 01, 2012
Nautic Global Group unveils winter show promotion

January 31, 2012
MRAA will co-host American Boating Congress

January 31, 2012
Builders roll out new 2012 models

January 30, 2012
Porter County boat show offers options for all budgets

January 30, 2012
Wildlife Director urges Oklahoma congressmen to protect Lower Illinois trout fishery

January 27, 2012
More than 1,000 vessels to see at 10-day Seattle Boat Show

January 27, 2012
Big boat valuations rose in 2011

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