Hey everyone,



I have just recently started looking into what it would cost to live on a houseboat full time. Not necessarily the cost of the boat itself, but the other costs, such as mooring, pump out, water and electric, annual maintenance (on an older houseboat), things like that. I know insurance is different for every boat but I am just looking for some average costs, and things that someone who is not that familiar with boats might not think to question.



Haul out/launching

Hull maintenance

Electrical issues



Also, if anyone has any advice on how to go about finding a fairly decent boat for under 50K, doesn't have to be super nice, just dependable and something that I won't be scared will sink out from under me or anything like that, and if that is even a reasonable possibility. I have seen plenty of boats from the mid 1980's and up for under 50K, but I don't know how reliable those boats are and that sort of thing. I'm single and don't need a lot of space so I'm not super concerned with needing a large boat, I'm content with most things. I'm more concerned with reliability and something that I could conceivably last me for about 5-10 yrs.



ANY advice is greatly appreciated. I'm in the DFW area in Texas, but any information within or around Texas would be more information than I have right now. Thanks so much everyone!!! Happy sailing...