Has anyone used Permafloats?

[jdehart]

Hi there! I'm new to the forum and was wondering if anyone has used Permafloats for their houseboat/floating home?

We are beginning the planning of a houseboat/floating camp and have looked at all of our options with the Permafloats being the best when it comes to cost but want to make sure it would not be a mistake spending the extra $$ for a steel foundation. The floating "camp" would have a 40'L x 20'W x 32"D total area with the living portion being 27'L x 16'W x 16'H. This would allow for a 10' porch in the front, 2' to walk around the "house", and 3' in the rear.

The floats are 4' x 8' x 32" and have a buoyancy of 4804 lbs each when fully submerged.

Any thoughts are welcome as we are at the beginning stage of the planning.

 

[ElGringo]

Do you plan to use two solid rows of the tanks similar to pontoons? Those are just long rectangular boxes filled with foam and you would be pushing a flat front through the water. If you spaced them out with much gap between them you would be pushing more flat fronts through the water. However you would have some serious load carrying ability. I would think that the permafloats would work, but I don't think you are going to push it very fast and I have no idea what horsepower motor you would need to make it move.

But, on the other hand, I've never built a boat. Maybe someone will notice that I tried to answer your question and help us out.

 

[ElGringo]

http://plasticpontoon.com/ This might be better for what you are trying to do. I didn't check the price.

 

[jdehart]

The only pushing that would occur was if we would relocate the houseboat or I guess more accurately should be referred to as a floating camp.

I planned to go with 4 rows of 3 - see attached image.

 

[ElGringo]

Your way would be better for buying floor joists due to not having to span very far. You could get away with a bit lighter material. But, your way will require more horsepower to move it. If I were doing it I would want side walls sloping out at the top so those alligators and snakes wouldn't get me. I don't have any desire to float under those moss covered trees. It does sound like a fun project other than that.

 

[jdehart]

Haha - I agree about the gators and snakes but normally they aren't an issue. Once we start the build I'll post pictures but right now it's info gathering time.

 

[kerosene]

I would price out XPS foam, fiberglass, epoxy and paint for creating your own floats.
It would be simple work and I bet much cheaper.

 

[jdehart]

So it has been almost exactly a year since my original post and I wanted to let you see the progress that has been made...it isn't leaps and bounds but it is forward progression. The attached photos are of the dock floats we will use to float the "house" and the trusses my husband has been working on to mount the "house" to the floats. It has been time consuming (he isn't a welder by trade) but we are happy with the outcome so far. I have also attached the floor plan of what I am hoping we can build on these floats. Comments are welcome!