Build a Cheap "Tiny House"...Boat, DIANNE'S ROSE 

Thanks...

Thanks so much Bert! We are very please with her! She's proven much tougher than I thought she would be, handling rough water like a champ. I'm not the best seaman and do bump and grind but after six seasons she is almost like new! Best/Roy

Thanks Mannana!

Yes plans are available. Check out RoyDesignedThat.com for info...

Thanks Reza.

Nigel, I would like to live like this full time, which is not going to happen (too many land ties) but Dianne and I do take lots of time during our short season to enjoy! Best/Roy

Million dollar lake front property for free

Thanks PhukDup MudClub ( interesting name! Lol!) The boat is easily modified, many have already done so and are very pleased with their modified DIANNE'S ROSE. The most common change is lengthening the boat. Others have dropped the bow deck like a bow rider. Best/Roy

Thanks Aboud. The key to being smart is not to be afraid to look stupid and knowing you'll never be smart!

Thanks "Fishmut"! We have another busy season lined up. Best/Roy

Thank you Gary!

Thanks, information on Plans are available at RoyDesignedThat(dot)com...

Many have built her longer, easy to do as the hull is the same cross section from 4' of the bow to the stern! You can also be creative with pipe bunks! Another option is to raise the bow enough to get a set of bunks partially under the bow. I was going to builds a longer 23' version but hip surgery put that off! We love our tiny houseboat so the build was more to draw up a bigger version. As it turns out the existing plans seem more than fine to get a bigger boat if wanted. The longer build would have had a lower cabin for the extra length so sitting dinette or full bedroom would be there and no need to convert the living area. With the lower roof an upper deck for outdoor living is available above as the low doghouse creates a deck space without adding total height to the boat! I think it would be a cool build but I've moved on to other designs! Also cool in my mind! All the bestRoy

Thanks Beth!

+Todd Naples Thanks Todd, my editing skills are getting a bit better! Still lots to learn!!! Best/Roy

Thanks Aleck!

Thanks...

Thanks! I do follow both you and Jamie and admire your hard work as well! We also built our own home with our own hands, no contractors, so feel some kinship to those who home stead and work as hard as you all do! All the bestRoy

@@roydesignedthat Aww. Thanks so much! I know how much work building this boat, and any boat really, was...after watching Jaimie build the houseboat and all the others that followed. However, you made it look so accessible to even me! I wanted to build this boat too!! Goodnight! 😂

Thanks Matt, do check out the many adventure videos using the finished DIANNE'S ROSE. Best/Roy

Thanks Kareem...

Thanks Krystal.

Hay Richard we were just telling the story of how we met in the parking lot. Cool you touch base! Hope you and your family are well. All the best! Roy and Dianne...

Thanks Ben, we are blessed here with so many lakes and rivers to enjoy! Where you at now?

Thank You Feniks!

+Graham Cam Thanks Graham, with the Build Manual and Measurements given in the Full Plans the build is straight forward and the results should guarantee a strong long lasting boat that will give lots of fun! Best/Roy

One more question.... What kind of trailer are you using?

No problem Graham.Trying to save some money, I bought an old boat/motor/trailer/ package for cheap. I stripped the boat of useful parts, sold the motor (it was too big for our Rose) and then modified the trailer. It ended up only costing us $200 in the end!!! We used it to tow to Texas and back so this has certainly worked out well. Other builders have followed our lead and some have had custom trailers built. It all depend on your budget.

Lol! Thanks Grant!

Thanks Nicolas, a few are now built from the plans and in the water! Maybe even a lake near you! Best/Roy

Thanks Mark plans are available! Visit RoyDesignedThat.com for more...

Same problem here! Lol!

Thanks Philippe!

Very Kind David! Yes it is turning out to be a great boat for Dianne and I and many are building our DIANNE'S ROSE as well with six now in the water that I know of. The design has inspired a few off shoots , which was acknowledged by several awards given to our design including OffCenterHarbor.com Members Choice Award. I'm excited to see more boats built and giving their builders joy! Best/Roy

Yes Lawrence it can work. You may need to sacrifice some bench space forward. I still hope to get to my build but I'm off track for the moment. Working hard to get back to my personal goals!

Others who have bought the plans, have extender their boats as it is as simple adding some extra frame sections! Each is the same from 4' of the bow to the stern! Lengthening the boat would just add to it's stability and is doable! Visit RoyDesignedThat.com for more information Bill

martino amello She draws just 6" Martino. 17' is her length and 8' beam...Visit Roydesignedthat. Com for more info....

Thanks Jack! It took about 600 hrs and $4500 CAD to build. I used top quality marine ply and epoxy with red cedar but saved some on hardware and trimmings by "free cycling" an old boat and using up "scraps" of wood I'd collected. It is possible to build a "work boat" version cheaper as I've just done with my sailboat build, CROW. I used exterior roofing ply and "free cycled" most of the material for that build. The key is to use epoxy resin not polyester!!! Your time is worth a great deal and it would be a shame to see the work fall apart or rot prematurely. We have been using our DIANNE'S ROSE for 6 seasons now and she is as solid as the day I finished her! I'm not kind to the poor girl either if you watch more of my videos! Lol! Visit RoyDesignedThat.com for more info on plans and do ask if you have more questions Jack! Best/Roy

Thank you Quarlow! Float camping is what DIANNE'S ROSE does best! 8 X 17' is the size, while seeming small it has all the room we need to be comfortable! A few builders have lengthened their boats with success. We spent about $4500 on ours but it can be built cheaper by recycling materials from construction sites! I used Marine ply and clear Cedar (not cheap)! The motor is a 9.8 hp two stroke but I was wanting the Yamaha 9.9 hp four stroke, high thrust motor! Ours moves the boat at 6 mph at 3/4 throttle so is fine but the four stoke would have been quieter and more efficient! We trailerred Dianne's Rose all the way to Texas and was pleased the boat was only 8' beam! Getting through construction and being caught between truckers, I was nervous enough! Lol. If I were to build a longer version (have a great idea for a 22") I would bump it out to 8' 2". Not much wider but still would make the boat wheel chair accessible!

8' x 17' is a good size. Being a trucker for 35 years I don't have a problem with it being wider but I can also see the benefit of the 8' width. Better for off road for sure. Anyway great boat, enjoy.

Thanks Joseph! There were rewarding stepping stones throughout the project that were encouraging and kept you going! Using her is very fun too! Lol! Best/Roy

Yes sir, as am I! Lol!

Thank you Daniel! 1/2 ply is what we used but it is well reinforced and glassed! I do offer plans but I understand you wanting to build to your own drummer, so to speak! Good luck! Best/Roy

Nice 🙂👍♥️

Thank you Lyle, while others who are building from the plans have lengthened their boats (the design makes it easy to do so), our DIANNE'S ROSE is an exercise in minimizing the size needed for us to cruise and still have all the amenities. The boat is only 17' X 8' beam. It draws just 6" at rest and is 7' total height including below the waterline. We find there are more advantages going small than disadvantages! With such a small and therefore light boat, we can trailer to far away cruising grounds so never get bored and costs are minimal as we only need a 6 cylinder vehicle to tow with and only a small 9.8 hp motor to push the boat at 6 mph! Hope this helps, if you wish to find out more, visit RoyDesignedThat.com...Best/Roy

+jlions72 Good question 72! I might have added 6" on the stern as we now have gas boxes for storage and it is a bit tight for your footing on the out bound side. I've installed a strong handle on the roof so I have a good grip when gassing up or working on the stern deck. I do have a 22' (+ or -) version that I've designed in my head that I want to build. We would keep our Rose but I'd then have another design and be able to sell the boat on spec. This would be a way I could work on boats full time, a goal of mine. We will see! Take Care...Roy

Glad you liked! I'm normally not a computer guy, too busy in the shop, but seem to be catching on! To my surprise. It requires doing tons of mistakes until you figure this stuff out and is always a challenge! Best/Roy

Thank you swaMpman! Visit RoyDesignedThat.com for more info on plans or contact me by email... royschreyer@gmail.com Best/Roy

Thanks Cancer, the hull was about $2000 CAD and $4500 CAD overall. It was not too hard to save over the two years of part time building, about 600 hrs total! I did use marine grade ply and western red cedar with epoxy to coat the fiber glass! Best/Roy

Thanks, I got the controls with the motor but I'm not sure if you can retro fit a set of controls. I'm sure you could figure something out that would work but may have to be creative. It does take a bit to decide to actually build a boat. I too took 12 years before I could get life arranged around all the things I "Need" to do first! When the time is right for you, get in touch. What is exciting is the other people who have now built the boat! Several are on the water!!! Best/Roy

as a custom pontoon boat and pontoon house boat builder, you can buy off the shelf controls in any style you like, and buy the control cables for any motor at what ever length you like, same with steering cables, but I like to use hydraulic steering on house boats as you use 0.30 wall 3/8 copper tubeing with a 1500 psi rating, not the cheep plumbing or gas tubing, all these parts you do not find at most boat dealers, you have to find dealer like my self the offer nothing but after market top line parts

Marine hydraulic steering for 40 ft sail boats use plastic tubing, the pressure is not high.

Hi Trevor, it has fared very well in a good range of conditions! It sleeps two easily and with some creative solutions could sleep four but be crowded (pipe bunks/ two could sleep in the aisle). We can go for a couple of weeks at least and do not re supply at marinas as a rule. Gas is cheaper at a gas station! Best/Roy

Roy, thanks for answering my questions. Building a boat is something I hope to start doing in the near future, so I'm trying to get as much information and design ideas as I can. I guess I have a few more questions, if you'd be willing to answer. How stable would you say it is in a strong gust or minor storm (or climbing around on it for maintenance)? If necessary, would you consider this design as suitable for a primary residence? About how long is it, fore to aft, and across the beam? And about how much would you say it might cost, in time and materials, to build from scratch?

No problem Trevor. It took me more than ten years to get to build this boat! I do understand how life gets busy. She is stable and we have been out in very rough, windy conditions and had no problems! The hull settles at speed so tracks well! Many aboard have been surprised! People live on sailboats all the time and DIANNE'S ROSE offers lots of storage for supplies and with an enclosed head and a small kitchenette, I could live on her without difficulty. But Dianne would not want to be on a boat full time. The boat is 17' X 8' beam with the cabin being 10' X 8' with access under the decks to expand storage. This seems small when one looks at just the numbers but the spaces offer duel function and all that is needed to live aboard is there in a small package! I designed her to be just right! With this small size comes many advantages. Weight is one. As she is relatively light, she draws very little water (6" at rest/10" at speed). We can trailer the boat long distances or sneak into a creek where we find privacy and shelter from storms. The build cost us about $4500 CAD and took about 600 hrs. It was satisfying going through the process of building with many benchmarks along the way. It could be built cheaper with exterior ply and found/recycled lumber. I'm doing such a build as we speak! I should mention the boat can easily be lengthened and many who have built her have stretched the boat to 20' and one to 24'! Simply add a frame section and adjust the other dimension....

I'm looking at this design to build my own 28' housebarge.

Sounds like a great project Dan!

At least one has bought plans from the UK also one in Ireland but no word if they have started the build.

Stainless Screws dipped in Epoxy and set into predrilled holes John. BestRoy

+The Proliners It is the original. I made a new video as there was some complaint that the transitions of the original turned some viewers off watching.

+Roy Schreyer ok il watch it now

Hi Dacota, go to RoyDesignedThat.com for info and if you have more questions, please email me at royschreyer@gmail.com Best/Roy

It could have pipe bunks but no not a loft. The interior height is 6' 8 1/2" floor to ceiling! The design is intended to make the most of minimum space! One of our builds has a platform on the roof for a bed under the stares that I think comes close if a tent was used! Best/Roy

Thanks D!!!

The roof is intended to be as lightly built as possible to achieve the boat's performance goals. While I can walk on it there would need to be additional structure to use it as a platform. With the windows open we feel we are outside but with the advantage of avoiding the heat as we're sitting in the shade. On colder days or in rain we adjust how many windows we open so everyone stays warm. We don't miss being on the roof but you may. Best/Roy

50 yards of 38" X 6 oz cloth was used and another 20 yards is recommended if the boat is to be left in the weather on a mooring or dock. We keep ours in a shelter when not used so the decks and cabin sides are just sealed with epoxy and varnished. These should also be glassed if left out. This cloth costs about $7 CAD per yard so it cost about $350 or $500 CAD if the decks and cabin sides are also glassed. Epoxy is not cheap but I do not recommend using polyester resin! 6 Gal of resin and hardener was used for our DIANNE'S ROSE. The cost in Canadian... $1,000! Not cheap but well worth it as I have confidence in the end knowing the boat is well protected. I outline strategies to minimize costs included in the plans. Visit RoyDesignedThat.com for more info. Thanks for the inquiry Mark! Best/Roy

Thanks John...busy building another boat design as we speak!

@@roydesignedthat you must be a GENIUS. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

@@JOHNSMITH-vx5yz Well if so the math on the frames would have been perfect but the baton said otherwise! Lol! That's why I build my designs, to work out the details in 3D and to test the boats after, making sure they do what they are supposed to! Trial by error is my friend! Lol! BestRoy

about 600 hrs...

So far no one has had any trouble registering their builds or had restrictions on where they can go. I would clarify that our DIANNE'S ROSE is not a flat bottom hull but does have a flat section and otherwise "v"s and arches. You have looked into it, however, and I will follow up what the regulations are to better inform myself. Thanks for the heads up! Best/Roy

Yes I am curious about all of it but I think maybe I should clarify if it's a day runner who knows the rules there maybe such a thing but Arkansas and Tennessee require an Aluminum hull shell foam filled hulls and they have to have a hull cert stamp if you wanna leave it at Marina and rent shore power and water and it has to have a holding tank 150 gal or more. I am saying also that they collect your sewage at marina's like the trash once a week it's $25 to empty sewer and house trash the barge comes around once a week to collect waste that is the fee at least where i am planning to go. I researched this a bit and it may sound expensive but $25 a week for sewer water and electric is cheap compared to some cities. The slip rental prices are discouraging me it seems they go by the unit size and location is what I am told anywhere from $300 on up monthly weekly is even more like $200 per week slip rentals... I mean I am single retired and that is not all that cheap but if it was 2 people retired you could make it go and obey the kooky rules. I mean when ya build a house there is a building code and that is the way I look at these rule books and design plans.

Let me know what ever else you find out. Best/Roy

So far what I have gotten is from the Tenn. and Arkansas Chamber of Commerce & their lakes tourism stuff which isn't much but it does seem to contain some factual data on houseboats which are todate very popular living and vacationing arrangements. The fact your unit is able to be trailered or removed may give way to a host of other rules. I am looking 4 myself to build a permanent year round unit and buy the lot adjacent not rent there are some of those lake areas where you can buy your lot and make a slip of sorts if you want to only the lots can be 30-40K+ in some locations plus you have the other expenses which kinda takes the wind right out of my sails. I plan on using the pontoons from 3 dismantled Catmarans they were disassembled to be scrapped I bought the pontoons because they were like new yet. When you have and own your lot you have to have a septic holding system 10K plus on the cash scale to construct and 180gal minimum holding plus you need water and electric to be installed which can cost upwards of 30K. Then you have to contract for waste and trash removal. So far I am now researching something already built and 4 sale might be the cheaper alternative but you know and I know we always get surprises when we do things like that... So that is what I know so far is a foam filled hull set up is mandatory in the more popular areas as is a registration number to the unit and then I think on E-Bay I found an Arkansas House Boat rules guide is what it appears to say it is pertains to lake house boats in Midwest and Florida USA. I plan on ordering it soon I get paid on Fridays so that is my current scope of knowledge but the more ya know the better things turn out. I would hate be building a unit and get shut down or fined because I went about it blind. I like your little unit it's cute.

We have a 9.8 hp but others have added more power, which is fine. We like keeping the boat light and still get 6 mph, at 3/4 throttle! Here is a video showing how our boat handls...ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ny8s1mzmA3M.html

Roy Schreyer I just finished converting a 28 ft school bus into a tiny house and now I’m looking to have another summer project, your boat is really cool.

@@markmaue9246 Thanks Mark, I'll add a link for a clip that gives a tour of the interior and exterior, with me explaining the thinking...ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jfuDmhHe8OU.html

The material you use make a difference. For marine ply, which is what we used it is about $4500 CAD but could be cheaper with Exterior grade ply and paint rather than varnish...

Hi Jayne if studying how barges operate, you will note that all do roll the water in front of the bow! This is not as much of a disadvantage as you may think as the water becomes aerated and when trapped by the four runners on the hulls bottom, is directed across the width and length of the underside, which breaks surface tension to improve speed. This improvement is nothing grand but balances any loss of energy used to push the water at the bow! As for sea worthiness, you'd be mistaken. The boat does surprisingly well in rough conditions, After 8 yrs of using her we are not shy to take her out in rougher conditions. One trip aboard would affirm this and there are "rough water" videos you can look up on my channel. I designed the boat and have plans available form RoyDesignedThat.com. It is an older website that formats best on a Lap or Desktop if wanting to see the slide shows! Hope this helps! BestRoy

About 1500 lbs empty and loads up nicely to about 2500 lbs...

We are having fun here with our DIANNE'S ROSE on rivers and Georgian Bay.

You are correct, chine is what it is called. The bottom shape is the reason why the boat handles rough water well. Best/Roy

The build cost about $4500 CAD Lawrence. It could be done more cheaply but we used Marine grade ply and clear Western Red Cedar with epoxy etc.

+andrew moon We like our Dianne's Rose too much to let her go!!! Saying that I'll acknowledge that life has twists, which can be unpredictable so one never knows! Not today.Lol! Best/Roy

Glad you survived!

+andrew moon Hi Andrew, funny thing is that the Plans have the "Step by Step, How To" written into it with the diagrams (like a manual) and include many more detailed build photos. The plans save a great deal of time trying to calculate measurements and thinking how things are done! It is all clearly explained (Step by Step). Ever done a puzzle for the first time? Second time round is so much simpler. Plans offer the same benefits! Here is a comment that a builder posted on our Face Book Build site......I got my plans today for the Diannes Rose! I want to make an unsolicited comment about them: "I have owned easily, close to 30 sets of plans in my life from just about every seller of plans out there. From tugboats to barges to sailboats catamarans, runabouts, jetboats, cruisers, canoes, trimarans, you name it I probably have a set of plans for it. Yes, I am a bona-fide plan-aholic!, But when I got your plans Roy, I was astounded at how incredibly well thought out and detailed they were. I have never seen a set of plans so comprehensive, yet easy to understand in a step by step manner. Well done, and I tip my hat to you, since you must have spent countless hours doing them up in a way that pretty much anyone could build. I have seen so many sellers of plans say they have done thier plans for amateurs, and I can attest to the fact that very few of these are easily understood. So as far as that goes your plans are a home run! They are quite refreshing to me in the novel approach being so clear and easy to understand, not to mention, that to me they are a work of art, as far as I am concerned worth every penny of what I paid. What else can I say,you nailed it Roy! " best Doug West......A long answer to your comment Andrew, true, but it may help people understand why the boat plans offer good value for money! Best/Roy