| A houseboat is a redesigned boat to be used | | | | waterways only. |
| primarily as a human dwelling like a regular house. | | | | Houseboating is a popular recreational activity for |
| The most common pontoon type is a floating | | | | all age groups of people, on houseboats ranging |
| house mounted on top of a pontoon. | | | | from 30ft. to more than 70 ft. luxury houseboats. |
| Most houseboats are not motorized, because | | | | Houseboating is a great experience because : |
| they are usually moored or kept stationary at a | | | | 1. Great variety of natural terrain depending on |
| fixed point. These houseboats are common as | | | | lake and time of year. |
| permanent dwellings in Southeast Asia; whereas in | | | | 2. A lot of water-based recreation choices when |
| places like Australia and Europe they may serve | | | | you go on a house-boating trip. Fishing, |
| more frequently as secondary homes or vacation | | | | waterskiing, camping, hiking, power-boating, |
| homes or for tourism purposes. | | | | exploring, sunbathing and just relaxing are some |
| On Murray River in Australia there are many | | | | of the things you can do. |
| motorized, pontoon-based houseboats with two | | | | 3.In some places on a smaller houseboat you can |
| or more bedrooms; some of these houseboats | | | | navigate lakes leading to more secluded areas. |
| have levels or storeys. Some are privately owned | | | | 4. On luxury houseboats, you can get all amenities |
| as either a primary place of residence or as a | | | | as in a posh hotel such as hot tubs, big-screen |
| holiday resort. | | | | TVs, fireplaces, DVD players, and deluxe |
| These are also available for rent with | | | | accommodations with private rooms. |
| accommodation for four to twelve persons. | | | | 5. As houseboats can accommodate from 4 to 15 |
| Europe offers some of the costliest houseboats in | | | | or more people, it's very common to share the |
| the canals of Amsterdam, Netherlands, which | | | | cost of a houseboat vacation between multiple |
| even has houseboat hotels. In India, houseboats | | | | families or groups. |
| are common on the backwaters of Kerala and on | | | | Some of the most popular house-boating lakes in |
| the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. | | | | US are on Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Shasta, |
| Houseboating in the United States became popular | | | | Lake Cumberland, Lake Amistad, Trinity Lake and |
| only in the 1940s; the Lake Cumberland in | | | | Lake Mohave. |
| Kentucky is considered the birthplace of | | | | Houseboat rentals are generally calculated on per |
| houseboating in USA. Presently there are | | | | trip or week or monthly basis. In each scheme |
| motorized houseboats with over 2000 sq. ft. of | | | | which you choose, the type of facilities offered |
| living space at places like Seattle on Lake Union | | | | and the size of boat will determine the final price |
| and Portage Bay. Most houseboats are designed | | | | you pay. |
| and built for traversing inland lakes and | | | | |