Bayou Belle: A 25 ft Prefab Houseboat From 1978
A 25 ft 8 in houseboat built in prefabricated sections, with a trailerable 8 ft beam and twin 40 hp outboards.
Bayou Belle is a houseboat designed to be built in sections, then assembled. That makes the 25 ft 8 in (7.8 m) hull far more manageable for a home workshop. The beam is 7 ft 11 in (2.4 m), about 8 ft, and the boat is rated for 3,000 lb gross. Framing is fir, pine or hemlock, with plywood sides and a 5-ply 3/8 in. bottom. Twin 40 hp outboards are recommended, with 160 hp as the maximum.
Bayou Belle at a glance
| Detail | Bayou Belle |
|---|---|
| Type | Houseboat |
| Length | 25 ft 8 in (7.82 m) |
| Beam | 7 ft 11 in (8 ft) (2.41 m) |
| Capacity | 3,000 lb gross |
| Construction | Prefabricated sections; fir, pine or hemlock framing with plywood sides and 5-ply 3/8 in. bottom |
| Power | Twin 40 hp outboards, 160 hp maximum |
| First published | 1978 edition, p. 25 |
| Craft Print | No. 364 |
| Plan sheets | 5 |
Living aboard
Building in prefabricated sections means you can work on one part at a time, even in a modest garage, then bring everything together for final assembly. A beam of about 8 ft (2.4 m) gives a roomy interior while staying practical. Twin 40 hp outboards provide redundancy and maneuverability, and the 3,000 lb gross rating gives a clear guide to how much you can carry.
The original plan sheets
These are the 5 original sheets from 1978, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Before you build
- Keep Bayou Belle to sheltered water such as lakes, rivers and bayous, as houseboats are not built for open seas.
- Ventilate the living space well and fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Stay within the 3,000 lb gross rating and the 160 hp maximum.
Download the plan
The full 1978 Bayou Belle plan in one file: five sheets ready to print or open on a tablet in the workshop.
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