1970 River Queen Houseboat new owner here!

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Texasmark

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Beth, I admire your spirit. Think the worst and be happy for the best. Having done a fairly large restoration with a limited budget, no experience, and few tools, I can tell you the journey is worth the result. Besides any job done to your best is self fulfilling. Go get 'em gal!
 

bethyoung

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Nov 8, 2021
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Beth, I admire your spirit. Think the worst and be happy for the best. Having done a fairly large restoration with a limited budget, no experience, and few tools, I can tell you the journey is worth the result. Besides any job done to your best is self fulfilling. Go get 'em gal!
That is so kind and encouraging! Thank you so much. I started an Instagram account: steviethehouseboat
 

southkogs

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Thank you?
LOL ... it was a backhanded encouragement. Your project is a little nuts: but I met a couple of guys recently who had bought project boats for cheap, and were living on them while rehabbing them. One guy bought his for less than $8k. It's a lot of work, but if you're up for the challenge then you'll make it through.
 

bethyoung

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LOL ... it was a backhanded encouragement. Your project is a little nuts: but I met a couple of guys recently who had bought project boats for cheap, and were living on them while rehabbing them. One guy bought his for less than $8k. It's a lot of work, but if you're up for the challenge then you'll make it through.
This boat was $500.00 it was tough to turn down. I know 6 people who would take it for free so if I feel like it's too much, I don't mind getting it off of my hands. It's liveable as it is, so that's very cool.
 

Bondo

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This boat was $500.00 it was tough to turn down. I know 6 people who would take it for free so if I feel like it's too much, I don't mind getting it off of my hands. It's liveable as it is, so that's very cool.
Ayuh,..... Wicked Cool,...... I'd put the motor/ drive on the back burner, 'n rehab the barge enough to party on it, at the dock, next summer,......

Years ago, I bought a '69 Nautiline 34'er with twin Chryslers at a marina auction, for the same money you paid,......
I had it hauled down to the marina near my houses, 'n dumped into the water, I towed it over to my place, 'n moored it out front,....
It was an instant guest house to put friends, 'n family on for over night visits,.....

Ya got a leak at the ac unit, as the water stains on the ceiling point out,.....
The water in the bilge is probably a sign of the hatch drains either plugged up, or the tubes are broken,....
Each of the hatches on mine had a perimeter channel, that was plumbed out through a fitting just below the deck,.....
spider poo, bird droppin's, 'n leaf litter would plug up the drains,... a blast of compressed air cleared 'em out,.....

I had mine for 'bout 15 years, 'n never bothered to get it runnin',... didn't need it,.....
It had Dana drives(which is probably what yer's is) that I rebuild/ replaced the rubber parts on while it was still sittin' where I bought it,.....
I did have to build a yard wagon for it, as my boat hauler died the 2nd winter I owned it,.....

When I sold my river houses a couple years ago, at auction, I got almost 4 times what I paid for it,.....
'n that was after I'd gutted a good part of the cabin to rebuild it, but never did get 'round to it,.....

Best of luck with it,...... It'll make the perfect party palace, whether it runs,...... or not,.....
 

bethyoung

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Ayuh,..... Wicked Cool,...... I'd put the motor/ drive on the back burner, 'n rehab the barge enough to party on it, at the dock, next summer,......

Years ago, I bought a '69 Nautiline 34'er with twin Chryslers at a marina auction, for the same money you paid,......
I had it hauled down to the marina near my houses, 'n dumped into the water, I towed it over to my place, 'n moored it out front,....
It was an instant guest house to put friends, 'n family on for over night visits,.....

Ya got a leak at the ac unit, as the water stains on the ceiling point out,.....
The water in the bilge is probably a sign of the hatch drains either plugged up, or the tubes are broken,....
Each of the hatches on mine had a perimeter channel, that was plumbed out through a fitting just below the deck,.....
spider poo, bird droppin's, 'n leaf litter would plug up the drains,... a blast of compressed air cleared 'em out,.....

I had mine for 'bout 15 years, 'n never bothered to get it runnin',... didn't need it,.....
It had Dana drives(which is probably what yer's is) that I rebuild/ replaced the rubber parts on while it was still sittin' where I bought it,.....
I did have to build a yard wagon for it, as my boat hauler died the 2nd winter I owned it,.....

When I sold my river houses a couple years ago, at auction, I got almost 4 times what I paid for it,.....
'n that was after I'd gutted a good part of the cabin to rebuild it, but never did get 'round to it,.....

Best of luck with it,...... It'll make the perfect party palace, whether it runs,...... or not,.....
That's awesome!!!! Knowing very little about boats, that was my plan! I really don't have a desire to drive it all around. It's huge and will guzzle gas. I want a floating little condo...thanks for that! Have any pics of your old river house?
 

Bob Sander

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Nov 29, 2021
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I want a floating little condo...thanks for that!
Funny. That has always intrigued me. Impossible to do here though... year round anyway. Our Winters can go down to around -45, which makes it not worth it!
Interesting though... I was watching a boating show and living on barges and boats is quite common in the warmer parts of the world... and it makes sense. You can't do a luxurious house at the $250,000 level anymore, but 250k will buy you a bloody nice cabin cruiser or barge.
 

bethyoung

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Nov 8, 2021
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Funny. That has always intrigued me. Impossible to do here though... year round anyway. Our Winters can go down to around -45, which makes it not worth it!
Interesting though... I was watching a boating show and living on barges and boats is quite common in the warmer parts of the world... and it makes sense. You can't do a luxurious house at the $250,000 level anymore, but 250k will buy you a bloody nice cabin cruiser or barge.
Heck yeah it will!
 

FunInDuhSun

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Apr 25, 2010
Messages
472
Well, how about that, your Party Barge is in the same marina as my Silverton. Looks like your on Pier 1 or 2. I’m in slip 632 near the ramp.
Welcome to the neighborhood! Ive been here for 19 years (!) and there’s almost always something interesting going on. Stop on by and say hello if you see my aft canvas opened up.
 

dingbat

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Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,071
Havre de Grace is basically Susquehanna river water that far up the Chesapeake
The harbor buoy data shows a mean salt concentration of 0.01 ppt but can go as high as 2.8 ppt at various times during the year. More than enough “salt” to support galvanic corrosion.

Total mistake to discredit the idea

 
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Scott06

Admiral
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Apr 20, 2014
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6,424
The harbor buoy data shows a mean salt concentration of 0.01 ppt
My two very good friends who keep boats there have more concern corrosion potential from stray electrical current In marina in this area.

i keep my boat on one of the finger lakes in NY, fresh as it gets… since swapping on a big SS Revolution 4 prop i get corrosion, its not just the salinity level that influences corrosion potential.
 

Lou C

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Looks like a fun party hangout. I’d be curious to see what the old Chrysler looks like. Probably a 318 cu in or 383 cu in. Those were very good engines some of Mopar’s best in fact but they have not been made in marinized form for many years. However some parts are still available like exhaust manifolds and elbows from the aftermarket. If it has a Carter 4bbl carb those can still be rebuilt or replaced with a modern Edelbrock 1409 4bbl. The drive systems I don’t know about but I have seen what was sold as a Chrysler stern drive that was actually a Volvo Penta AQ style drive unit. If that is what you have some of the parts are still available.
I would:
Attend to all safety issues first especially make sure there are no fuel leaks (even if someone claims there is no gas in it) and have all the wiring checked to make sure there are no bad connections that heat up and could cause melted insulation which is a fire risk. Remember this is an inboard boat and fuel leaks will result in a build up of fuel vapor in the bilge which is very dangerous. Fuel vapor is heavier than air and will migrate to the lowest level of the bilge. I feel that any gas inboard should have a fuel vapor detector installed.
Watch out for previous owner add ons with the wiring. You will be amazed at the bad wiring you can find in old boats; lamp cord and wire nuts is one example. If the boat is hooked up to shore power be especially careful.
 
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bethyoung

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Nov 8, 2021
Messages
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Well, how about that, your Party Barge is in the same marina as my Silverton. Looks like your on Pier 1 or 2. I’m in slip 632 near the ramp.
Welcome to the neighborhood! Ive been here for 19 years (!) and there’s almost always something interesting going on. Stop on by and say hello if you see my aft canvas opened up.
NO WAY! I'm on Pier 2. PLEASE PUT A GOOD WORD IN WITH STEVE FOR ME! I think he's wanting that boat out asap because it's likely been an eyesore and a headache for him the past 2 years just sitting there. Im going to put so much time and effort into it. He wants it gone by Dec 31 bc of dredging and then someone else in line for that slip. I really want to keep it there and I'm doing all that I can apart from begging. LOL. I'm stopping by today, I'll say hi!
 

bethyoung

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Nov 8, 2021
Messages
43
Looks like a fun party hangout. I’d be curious to see what the old Chrysler looks like. Probably a 318 cu in or 383 cu in. Those were very good engines some of Mopar’s best in fact but they have not been made in marinized form for many years. However some parts are still available like exhaust manifolds and elbows from the aftermarket. If it has a Carter 4bbl carb those can still be rebuilt or replaced with a modern Edelbrock 1409 4bbl. The drive systems I don’t know about but I have seen what was sold as a Chrysler stern drive that was actually a Volvo Penta AQ style drive unit. If that is what you have some of the parts are still available.
I would:
Attend to all safety issues first especially make sure there are no fuel leaks (even if someone claims there is no gas in it) and have all the wiring checked to make sure there are no bad connections that heat up and could cause melted insulation which is a fire risk. Remember this is an inboard boat and fuel leaks will result in a build up of fuel vapor in the bilge which is very dangerous. Fuel vapor is heavier than air and will migrate to the lowest level of the bilge. I feel that any gas inboard should have a fuel vapor detector installed.
Watch out for previous owner add ons with the wiring. You will be amazed at the bad wiring you can find in old boats; lamp cord and wire nuts is one example. If the boat is hooked up to shore power be especially careful.
There's a fuel leak and I believe I'm going to need to replace the tank. And many other things. Thank you!
 

bethyoung

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 8, 2021
Messages
43
Looks like a fun party hangout. I’d be curious to see what the old Chrysler looks like. Probably a 318 cu in or 383 cu in. Those were very good engines some of Mopar’s best in fact but they have not been made in marinized form for many years. However some parts are still available like exhaust manifolds and elbows from the aftermarket. If it has a Carter 4bbl carb those can still be rebuilt or replaced with a modern Edelbrock 1409 4bbl. The drive systems I don’t know about but I have seen what was sold as a Chrysler stern drive that was actually a Volvo Penta AQ style drive unit. If that is what you have some of the parts are still available.
I would:
Attend to all safety issues first especially make sure there are no fuel leaks (even if someone claims there is no gas in it) and have all the wiring checked to make sure there are no bad connections that heat up and could cause melted insulation which is a fire risk. Remember this is an inboard boat and fuel leaks will result in a build up of fuel vapor in the bilge which is very dangerous. Fuel vapor is heavier than air and will migrate to the lowest level of the bilge. I feel that any gas inboard should have a fuel vapor detector installed.
Watch out for previous owner add ons with the wiring. You will be amazed at the bad wiring you can find in old boats; lamp cord and wire nuts is one example. If the boat is hooked up to shore power be especially careful.
thank you for this.
 
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