What is it like to lift a houseboat? We've done this once before, almost ten years ago, but now it was time again. We have to admit we were a bit nervous and excited. After all, it's a large thing to be lifted!
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
ShareTable of contents
Lifting a houseboat - why?
We have been living in our houseboat FREEDOM for over ten years. Relatively early we lifted it on land, and then we sanded and repainted the hull (as well as rebuilding and just the whole houseboat). Since then, the boat has remained where it is, in the waters of Pampas Marina in Solna, in Stockholm.
Since the boat is completely stationary, in fresh water, there is very little wear and tear. But you still have to lift sometimes, to check that everything is as it should be, and now the marina thought it was time. The houseboat had to go up for inspection!
Preparing to lift a houseboat
To lift the houseboat, we needed to book three different contractors: 1) the plumber (who disconnects the boat from the water and sewage pipes), 2) the marina (who organises the lift) and the surveyor (who checks the hull).
All these people are busy and when we were forced to cancel the first lift, due to a fault with the boat lift, we felt nervous. But then we managed to book a new time. It was time!
We prepared by emptying the fridge and freezer (good thing you have a motorhome!) and by packing all the fragile things in moving boxes, and by taping all the cupboard doors. You never know how much the boat will move when it is lifted!
Peter also began to carefully loosen tamps and remove fenders.
Plumbing - disconnecting the houseboat
On D-day we had moved out of the houseboat (and into the motorhome), but we were still there at 7am. After a while, Kenta the plumber and his son, who knows the houseboats in the Pampas well, turned up.
They had to struggle for a while to find the right cables and pipes in the water, and to succeed in unscrewing threads that had been in the water for years, but finally ...!
Finally time - to lift a houseboat!
Then we waited for Pampas ... We waited and waited, and then we went to have a coffee in the motorhome. When we came back, Pampas had already disconnected the gangway and towed the boat to the boat lift ...
The Pampas boat lift can lift a maximum of 50 tonnes and our houseboat weighs 33 tonnes. This is thus among the larger lifts Pampas makes.
Of course, it is important that the boat is in the right position and that the weight is distributed in the desired way. The guys lifted and lowered a few times before doing the real lift. It went pretty quickly anyway!
The lift is smooth, and once the boat is lifted, it can be rolled away easily.
Rolling the houseboat on land
The boat lift has wheels, and immediately after the lift, the houseboat was rolled away to its temporary mooring.
It's really different to see it this way, when you also see what is usually hidden below the surface.
The boat lift was parked in a designated spot on land, and Pampa staff sprayed the hull clean with a pressure washer. It was then left to hang in the lift for a while before it was time to palletise it on supports.
What should we do now? Well, now it was time for the surveyor, and then we had the opportunity to paint and fix. We'll tell you more about this soon!
Best this week
The best thing this week? That we finally got the opportunity to lift our houseboat of course! Even though it is a lot of work, it feels very nice to get this done!
We are also pleased to invite you to vote for Destination Sweden of the Year 2024!
What has been the best part of your week?
The week ahead
What are our plans now? Well, we're hanging out in Stockholm for a little while longer. We will get everything ready around the houseboat, among other things, and meet some family and friends. Then we plan to roll towards Dalarna!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the We are preparing to lift the houseboat ...
You might also like:
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Solan says:
Gosh, if you're not nervous about a lift of that size, you never will be. Fortunately, it has gone according to plan so far.
Yes, how practical to have the house picture close by.
I hope you can relax for a few days and not think about work, work and more work!
Motorhome greetings Solan & Lasse
31 May 2024 - 7:27
Helena says:
True!!! We have been a little nervous, but it has gone well! Hope everything is fine with you! Saw that Lasse had an exhibition? Fun!
31 May 2024 - 18:40
bmlarstravellingblog says:
So wonderful that everything has gone well so far and so nice that you have Freedom to stay in the meantime. It will be fun to follow you to beautiful Dalarna. We have long planned a trip north in mid-June but we start to doubt when we hear about this year's mosquito invasion.... Right now we are enjoying the sun at Örnefjordens Camping outside Kungshamn and "Lilla Västkustträffen".
31 May 2024 - 12:39
Helena says:
Perfect to have a motorhome to stay in at times like this! We have also heard about the mosquitoes ... what to think? Wishing you a great weekend!!!
31 May 2024 - 18:42
Ditte says:
So glad that everything went well. Of course, it takes time to get the boat up, but it's nice that it doesn't have to happen so often with you. Wonder how it goes when the larger "Aquavillas" are lifted, guess they are even heavier.
Our leisure boats have been lifted in spring and autumn, but that is a completely different matter, but I am still a little worried.
Wishing you now a great weekend.
31 May 2024 - 13:00
Helena says:
I think the aquavillas have a 100-year warranty, if I understand it correctly. I've never seen them lifted ... But the rest of us, who have different kinds of boats and barges, we have to lift!
31 May 2024 - 18:44
BP says:
What a job! Really exciting. Glad to read that everything went well and a heavenly luck that you can live in the motorhome while Freedom is on land. Will be fun to read the continuation.
And I wonder what they do with the Aquavillas when they are "inspected"...
31 May 2024 - 19:34
Helena says:
Absolutely perfect to be able to live in the camper! If I understand correctly, the aqua villas have a 100-year warranty, so they don't have to worry so often... 😉
02 June 2024 - 20:55
Monica says:
What a job! And time flies, remember when you lifted last time and painted. Glad you are getting everything that needs to be done done now, the boat back fixed and you can relax about this anyway And so good that you have a motorhome to live in.
02 June 2024 - 1:06
Helena says:
Yes, time does fly! We feel the same way!
02 June 2024 - 20:58