All Houseboats, All the Time

If It's March, we're loving this lifestyle

A better sign of spring than robins, our Annual Houseboat Update by Gary Kramer arrives in March. Despite the economy's best efforts to beat it down, Kramer reports that the industry is surprisingly resilient. Everyone is searching for the balance that's sure to emerge, he says. See the new Majestic Yachts, the Metro-Ships, Sunstar Houseboats, and Gibson's houseboats, plus others.

 Majestic Yachts                         Metro-Ship

A Gibson at the St Louis Boat Show

Photo by Erin Quade 

Sunstar Houseboats  Photos courtesy of manufacturers

The intrepid Linda Aksomitis tries living on a houseboat on Lake Cumberland, and loves it. Patti Clausen lets readers know "Where to Go For Parts When Builders Close," and we discover that a surprising number of choices exist. Finally, Joan Wenner takes us through the pitfalls of renting a boat slip, for even the biggest craft, in the March Waterway Law column.

The marinas profiled are Lake Barkley Marina by newcomer Kathy S. McBride and Inland Marina by Jay Zimmer. Here are some shots of them accommodating houseboats.

Lake Barkley Marina docks

Photo by Kathy S McBride

Inland Marina docks

Photo by Jay Zimmer

Capt Fred Davis writes about the effect of oil on a boat's hull, using some very interesting graphics of the recent Gulf of Mexico spill. Here's an image of it from space, courtesy of NOAA, for example.

Remember to check the Heartland Reflections in March, too. For a change of pace, it's a record of the WesBanco Wheeling (West Virginia) Raceboat Regatta, on the Ohio River. Just to whet your appetite, take a look:

Photos by Debbie Joseph

Keep checking those mailboxes. The March 2011 issue should arrive shortly.