Reply To: Shipsteading

[OCEANOPOLISSubscriber]

Hi Elco.

I am glad to see that TSI is exploring now alternative seasteading ideas like shipsteading.”First, we believe that shipsteading is one of the more promising routes.” Yes it is. I totally agree. And let me also add that @ this time (as you said, in the current market), shipsteading is the cheapest and fastest solution to seasteading, especially for the level of baystading (50 to100 crew), in protected waters. Also, stability @ this level is not an important factor, since very rarely you will get waves over 10 ft in San Francisco Bay, and as you said, by connecting multiple hulls for a higher beam stbility will increase proportionally. “MiniFloat” looks good,..but everything looks good on paper, but for the amount of “paper” to build it you could have build 10 shipsteads…Let me suggest (again:-) the idea of converting an old ferryboat to a seastead. It would be perfect for 50 people and the Bay. I wrote this awhile ago, as a comment on Seasteading Outpost Belize and seasteading design:

“Yes, I think that buying a cruise ship (or cargo, or even better an older ferry boat) @ this time its a good ideea. I would actually prefer that, than the Belize Outpost. But, like w/everything, there are pros and cons…Comercial vessels prices are @ an all time low now, and so its crusing bussines. So here is the dilema: you can buy a really cheap cruise ship but you wont make any money,….trust me, its almost impossible to compete w/Caribeean or Norwegian, I mean as a cruise ship operator. As a ResidenSea concept yes. But then we are talking $ Mil. and Mil,… I mentioned an old ferryboat as better ideea. Why? Well, first they are much cheaper than a cruise ship. Second, they will make a better Seasteading Outpost than a cruse ship in terms of bussines. Let me elaborate. Lets say you’lI buy this: http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1937/Classic-Custom-Pilot-House-Ferry-Boat-1458004/Seattle/WA/United-States, (you can check the photo gallery). Sail it down to San Francisco Bay or San Diego Bay. Drop the hook in an anchorage. It can be retrofited as an Outpost right there in the anchorage, welding torch in hand,…Final product? Nice tropical gardens on the fore and aft deck w/tiki bars, palm trees, sand and hammocks. Sundeck , pool on upper deck. Rooms, restaurant midship. Floating docks all around, mini-marina. Cuba Libres 2 for 1 all day every day. Price tag,..$1.5-$2 Mil., and a sure money maker. The only problem, well,…price tag, and U.S regulations. In terms of design, I am a bit “old school”. I like to have weight under my soles when sailing. Thats why I prefer floating, heavy displacement hulls for seasteads, really overbuilt.There are many oppinions about building a seastead. For me, the best way is the one that fits the budget. Regards, Octavian.”