by Hal Kelly
The Budget Houseboat is like a camper that goes on water.
She's 20 ft. long with a 9-ft. beam, containing 300 sq. ft. of usable floor area. This means that while she can accomodate two in outrageous comfort, she can easily take a family of four on an extended vacation and be entirely self-contained. There are two full-size permanent bunks in the forward section of the cabin. The dining table, in the rear section of the cabin, seats four and then drops down to convert into an extra bunk 6 ft. 4 in. long and, 38 in. wide. Cabin headroom is 6 ft. 2 in., and two cots can be stationed to the rear of the cabin area. In the second place, The Budget Houseboat’s storage and work areas are just as much a marvel. She features a large-size enclosed head up front, room for a 4½-cu.-ft. fridge, sink and two-burner stove in the galley, storage and drawer under the sink, and storage under the bunks, dining table, rear cockpit, and in other scattered areas. Part of the storage in the cabin is a 2-ft-wide. hanging closet. The deck area doesn’t end on the cabin level. The Budget Houseboat sports a full flying bridge more than 6x9 ft. in size, with more storage area in it. The bridge has an alternate steering console, two seats and deck area for a couple of lounge chairs, plus the capability of taking a convertible Bimini top. But that’s not all. The Budget Houseboat may sound like a barge from the foregoing, but she handles like a dream. The little home-on-the-water-away-from-home is designed to hang a 30-hp outboard, and with this kind of power she can do 15 mph with four people aboard! Her draft is only 4 in. Piloting from the bridge is the way to go. Back her off to a cruising speed of 8 mph and the motor is just a whisper with gas consumption minimal. It’s quiet enough so you can listen to a radio under way. Two side windows slide open sideways, the front window in the cabin wings up, and there’s a good-size hatch-cover up front that can be opened to let the breeze drift through the boat. And there’s more. Since The Budget Houseboat is trailerable, you never have to worry about the campgrounds being full, on the water or on the roat When you're ready to camp just throw out the anchor and settle down for the night.
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