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Muriel and I had a 24’ cruiser that we liked, but were unhappy with amount of room when we had
company aboard. We had just started thinking about changing to a houseboat when we were talking to new boating friends, Randy and Rose, who were houseboat owners. They told us that their friends, Chuck and Nancy, had started their second restoration of a houseboat and were talking about selling it.
Chuck and Randy had rescued the Ocean Going houseboat from a gravel pit in Ohio. The boat was partially sunk, but the damage that sunk it was minor, so they were able to get it floating with not much trouble. But getting out of the pit was much more of a challenge. They do have a videotape of it so we were able to see how it was accomplished.
When we first saw the boat, Chuck and Nancy had already stripped the inside of the boat and acquired a lot of the materials for rebuilding it. The boat did have some structural damage in the roof and side wall framing, but the hull was very solid. After thinking about it and what could be done with completely redoing the cabin design we decided to purchase the boat. I previously had restored a 16’ boat and have re-done campers along with building and remodeling homes. So I had previous experience in the type of work necessary to complete this project.
 Houseboat Restoration
The boat was delivered to our house in mid-September. We were able to set it beside our garage where it was convenient to work on. We started working on it right away. The back roof and back wall and the siding were in bad shape, so they were removed and the framing replaced. I build the new port side wall and fiberglassed the bottom runner of the wall to the deck. I did not remove any of the original walkway decking, to maintain the structural strength of the hull. When the new wall was in place we removed the old port side wall.
 Houseboat Inside
Next the roof over the front deck was removed and replaced with new framing and plywood. It was then time for new siding, rubber roofing and windows. I took a one week vacation and our son-in-law, Eric, also took some vacation time to help us with the siding and roofing.
Then the new windows and door were installed. The boat was covered with a tarp to help keep out of the bad weather. The inside was completely stripped of the paneling, flooring, holding tank, water tank, plumbing, 12V, 110V wiring and insulation. All of this was to be replaced with new. We were able to find most of the supplies that didn’t come with the boat at a local RV surplus store and local lumber yards. I spent all of my spare time over the winter, evenings, weekends and holidays working on the inside of the boat. A lot of time was used in deciding the best way to do the inside changes.
We installed all new appliances, a side-by-side refrigerator, freezer with icemaker, gas or electric donated by Nancy. A three-burner camper stove with the oven and a double sink. The bath has a full-size shower, head and vanity. The sleeping areas are a full bed in the upper bedroom, a full size bed with a twin above it in the rear sleeping area and two sofas that fold out for sleeping plus a finished room under the main cabin named "the kid’s cave".
When warmer weather came back to Indiana in April, a few week’s vacation allowed enough time to clean and paint the hull and install most of the hand railing. After that the rotten plywood in the transom was replaced and then covered with new fiberglass sheathing. I also installed a new gas tank.
The 318 Chrysler engine that our other son-in-law, Brett, had rebuilt over the winter was ready for installing. The Dana lower unit was minus some of its parts so they were replaced along with new bearings and seals.
Brett and I installed the rebuilt engine and outdrive next. This was accomplished by securing an engine pulley to Brett’s truck bed using it like a small crane to place the engine in the transom. When Brett and I had finished the engine and outdrive installation, it was time for the finishing touches on the rest of the boat. The rest of the hand railing and the carpet inside and outside was installed. Then the pinstriping was added.
We launched the boat the first Friday in June with some minor problems (a very nervous time). But everything is working fine now. We are enjoying the boat very much. I would like to thank Muriel for her support and understanding of my drive to complete this project in seven months. Also thanks to Brett and Eric for their help.
The boat is docked at Pirate’s Cove Marina Salomone Lake in north central Indiana.
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