Young couple looking into buying a houseboat as a main residence, is it a good idea ?

Yes, go for it. It will be an adventure. Living on a boat is not for everyone though. It is a lifestyle that can be great fun and very relaxed, but you have to work a little harder to be comfortable. Can you try it for a little while without having to make a committment?

You have to make arrangements to have your holding tank pumped out. Usually the marina can take care of that. The marina will usually have laundry facilities and shower facilities if you do not want to include those facilities on your houseboat or if you prefer to do them ashore. Marinas also usually offer the option of Internet, cable TV, and telephone hook-up. Keep in mind that not all marinas allow live aboards. However, there are many places where you can rent a slip for $200 a month, especially if you pay in advance. It really depends on what you are looking for.

How about cooking? If you have a propane stove you should have a propane detector in your cabin and bilge as propane sinks if it is leaking, and could collect in the bottom of your boat and cause an explosion.

Depending on your location, you may need to protect all you clothing from humidity and mildew. We rolled all of ours and packaged everything in airtight ziploc bags to keep the moisture out.

I would live on a boat again in a flash if the opportunity presented itself with the right person. My husband and I enjoyed it immensely and had wonderful adventures. We were happy vagabonds. We anchored in our sailboat and rarely rented a slip at a marina, so it was different from houseboat living for sure. We were both retired though, so we did not have to worry about getting ashore for work, etc.

So I hope I have given you some food for thought. Most people I know who live on boats and work ashore actually live in a slip at a marina, and they love it. It is a great life, much more carefree than land based living, and you will meet very interesting people from all walks of life. Best of luck with you plans. I would do it. Feel free to ask about anything else you think I could help with. I envy your foresight and vision to think about this sort of an adventure at this stage of your lives.