Houseboat #481
The Happy Adventure
by Paul McLellan

The Happy Adventure Part III -- Test Launch and Performance

A child's artistic rendition of "The Happy Adventure" (click images for larger views)

"The Happy Adventure" floated off the homebuilt trailer like a cork ushering in a new era in our lives. Up to the actual point of launch there had been a few moments of angst but the idea of having a Phil Bolger boat to use and live on overcame any of these feelings. Stepping on the deck for the first time was heaven. The expansive front deck sat level with the dock and when stepping down to the wheel station, you were standing exactly at water level. With the huge panoramic windows visibility was excellent all around. A simple turn of the key and I was inching the throttle handle forward, the Happy Adventure slid easily into the narrow channel of the Nation River. This test launch would prove very successful incorporating several slow and high speed runs, a summer rainstorm and a picnic for eight more than adult size boat lovers. It was a great day and the retrieval at the dock to the trailer was much easier than my plastic fishing boat. It was home again to finish the interior, install the pre-constructed furniture and slap on the remainder of the paint. If the rest of the saga of the Happy Adventure goes as well as this day we were setting ourselves up for a lot of simple, inexpensive cruising on the many local waterways and lakes.

floor web

finished hull

roof ribs

Happy Adventure Vital Statistics

Happy Adventure Construction and Performance Evaluation

The construction was very straightforward with the help of Dynamite Payson’s book, John Bartlett, my 2 brothers, one for the wood work and one for the trailer. I also took great joy and information from the Bolger Group to help me through some confusing times. We kept to the plan as designed except for the window ledge and other heavy deck ledges where I doubled up the 2" material to make it VERY robust around docks, trees and other craft. I also added a layer of ½" ply and glass to the hull on the forward four feet as a bash guard for beaching. I also doubled up the 3/4" bottom skids to 1 ½" to make the lower part sacrificial if necessary. All exterior surfaces as well as the bathroom interior are glassed. The cost was kept very low by using recycled 2 X 10's from a salvaged building, (Old pig barn) good one side B.C. fir ply and Raka epoxy. I used 3/16 tinted plexiglass for the windows which we are extremely happy with. My old 25 Merc 2 stroke, at about 2200 rpm, pushes the boat 6 mph and fuel efficiency is very acceptable at about 10 mpg. This seems like the optimal speed for this combination as any additional rpm’s increases the noise and makes a bigger hole in the water although at full rpm top speed is 8.7 mph. I would like to trade the 25 for a 9.9 hp 4 stroke and will do so at the first opportunity to reduce pollution, noise and cost of gas.

jacking up

Interior function is remarkable. The large tinted windows give a panoramic view day and night with great privacy even at dock. The windows can be slid open and have Velcro on bug screens and drop down curtains which are simple and effective to use. With the small propane fridge, portable propane stove, sink with external water supply, marine head and a shower, maintaining self sufficiency is very easy. The day bed was made smaller than plan but pulls out for a full queen size and with the 4" high density foam, makes a very comfortable and easy to use bed with lots of accessible storage underneath for bedding or other bulky material. This, combined with the easy towing, launching and live aboard capability while on the trailer, it is truly a winner. We have received many, many positive comments on both the design and finishing. The ease of beaching, docking, locking and almost any other use is also remarkable compared to many other craft. The forward deck is a splendid space when on the water, beached or at dock with easy access via the usually open bifold doors. The full roof affords many opportunities to store a dingy, launch a hot air balloon or lounge and with the ash beams and stringers is plenty strong for lounging or diving from.

interior aft

dinette

test run

The only noticeable drawbacks are the ability to stay dry at the bow in heavier waves and the slap and gurgle at dock or at anchor. I realized the shortfall of the bow when choosing the design but after use, we would like to rectify this in the future if possible. I made a splash board that fits on the front cleats and rests on the front and side gunnels. This is reasonably adequate to reduce spray and also serves as a gang plank with a 10' aluminum ladder carried on the roof. With the huge front deck, the propensity for passengers and cargo to end up there is great and does create a trim problem some time. I did design and build the 2 bike racks at the stern to offset some bow weight and this is effective.

bike racks

The Happy Adventure Part IV -- A Month of Cruising

The second launch was remarkably trouble free and in a few minutes we were cruising down the Tay River in Perth Ontario. A hundred and fifty years prior to this my ancestors left Perth to seek their fortune on the mighty St. Lawrence River just west of Cornwall Ontario. My grandfather was part of a team building river barges and the famous tug, The Mary I. Robertson which worked the St. Lawrence for many years near Brockville and eventually hauled sand for constuction use from Cornwall Island. Now I would leave Perth by boat on a river that could deliver me to a spot on the water 30 feet over my birth home in the lost villiage of Mille Roches, flooded out by the construction of the St. Lawrence seaway in 1958.

me on the aft deck

the helm station

Events would not let that journey happen then but would be a trip kept for the near future. A lockkeepers strike in 2004 on the Rideau System in Ontario would keep us from logging many miles in our month, but did not dampen the enjoyment of living and cruising on the river. The first several days were spent entertaining everyone who had helped with the construction of the boat and trailer. We took many short cruises, beach parties and long discussions on the dock about boats built and yet to be built. Many new friends were met and many new skills learned to help us enjoy cruising in the future. Due to the strike and the availability of parking at the lock stations, we were able to shuttle the boat and trailer many times using the bicycles and friendly boaters. The ease of launching, taking out and trailering made this task almost as easy as locking.

diving off the roof

at the dock

on the beach

Living on the Happy Adventure for two people is very comfortable and has certainly reduced our desire to own waterfront property as we can be in the water in 15 minutes with a million, million dollar views whenever we want. It has strengthened our resolve to be on the water a lot this year and to cruise the Rideau, Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers as much a possible.

cruising the Rideau

me at the helm

The reality of waking up at the first crack of light, silently making a hot beverage, then stepping out on the deck to relish the lifting mist on the water with the waterfowl and other wildlife has to be the most rewarding experience of many while living on the water. The other notable experience of many was the opportunity to be anchored a few feet over the bottom weeds and to use the lights to watch these weeds flow and wave in the currents and eddies in the surrounding darkness.

sunset