If you have a question about your boat, head over to the Houseboat magazine forum. The members can help you will almost anything you need. One of our moderators is Old Houseboater, a.k.a. Rodd Diesel. Here are some of his thoughts on houseboating.

1. What kind of boat do you currently own?

We just sold our Pluckebaum and are now looking at a 55-foot KingsCraft project boat.

2. What is your boating background?

I have been boating since I was 8 years old. My first boat was a liner out of an old refrigerator that I floated in a dredge cut in my farm in Michigan. My first real boat was a 14-foot molded plywood with a 25hp Johnson. Over the years, I have owned four cruisers and seven houseboats. Four of the houseboats were projects.

3. What is your favorite thing about houseboating?

My wife and I boated around Michigan for many years until 1987 when we moved to Tennessee. Then we boated the Tennessee River and lived aboard for seven of the 13 years we were at Joe Wheeler Marina. It was truly the best years of their lives.

4. What’s the best thing about houseboating?

I have always been handy and enjoyed rebuilding anything. Over the years I have rebuilt a ton of wrecked cars, player pianos, pump organs, etc. My occupation was in manufacturing engineering and I have retired a total of four times. One of my favorite things is being the “go-to” guy on all the docks I have berthed at. Machinery likes me and I always enjoy helping anyone with a problem.

Old Houseboater has been the Senior Moderator for our forum for more than 16 years. His profile has almost 8,000 hits and he enjoys giving counsel and advice to many of his followers.