BUYING (!) a houseboat!

Hi All - love your work!

Sudheer has put me back on the course of maybe looking to buy a houseboat to live in while I am in Kerala for three years.

Grateful if anyone has any comments or information.

Thanks!

matt

A wise person once said... "If it floats, flies or flirts.. Rent it don't buy it".

Find out what your expenses will be AFTER buying the boat... Annual maintenance, moorage...etc... etc... etc. It can add up very fast. If you do decide to go with floating real estate, get a trusted knowledgeable person to do a survey. A surveyer will clue you in to hidden problems you may not have the experience to see. In this part of the world no one will sell you insurance without a reputable survey report.

The two happiest days in a persons life are when they buy a boat....... and when they sell it. I've owned a couple large sail boats and it was a fantastic experience.... Just do it with your eyes OPEN !

Wanderer22

Property rights are problematic in India so..

Another wise person said (about boats).... "If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it."

There is another (Indian) story about the boat.There was this boy and the priest.The boy's job was to ferry people across the lake.One day it was only the boy and the priest to cross to lake. During the ride the priest asked
"Hay, do you know Vedas?"

"No" the boy replied

"Shame.a quarter of your life is going to be a waste" the priest exclaimed.

"Alright.Do you know Ramayana" the priest asked again.

"No" Said the boy again.

"Half of your life is going to be a waste" the priest said.

Then the boy asked if he can ask a question to the priest.

"Do you know swimming?"

"No" replied the priest.

"The whole of your life is going to be a waste!" the boy said with a grin.

"Why?" questioned the priest.

"Becouse there is a hole in the boat!"


Moral of the story:Look for a house near the backwaters

hmmmm ok, ok - jokers!

Now you have me in two minds again.

I leave in three weeks (to spend just five weeks scouting) and I will check it out then.

thanks