Writer: Helena Bergström
You may recall that we decided to do a stability test of the houseboat after the remodelling? But I think we forgot to tell you about the results ... It was a proper test that started when the boat was on land. A number of guys came here with measurement equipment, scanned the boat with a laser and got the two million measuring points, which was then entered into a computer programme.
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About our houseboat
The houseboat was originally built as a passenger sloop, presumably with the capacity to carry quite a few passengers. But then it became a houseboat, with a much larger living area built on top of the hull. And now, in the latest remodelling, we have made the superstructure slightly higher and also wider. So what does that mean for stability?
Admittedly, the boat will not be sailing the high seas, but will remain moored at a relatively sheltered jetty. Furthermore, there will hardly ever be more than 10 people on board at any one time. Nevertheless, we would like to know that it will remain upright even in stormy weather...
Stability test company
We hired a company called Saltech, which the marina recommended we contact. They came with measuring equipment to scan the boat while it was on land. They took lots of measurements, which were entered into a computer programme and then used to calculate the stability.
Step 2 was carried out with the boat in the water. Large drums of water (equivalent to the weight of six people) were placed on different sides of the boat and the slope was measured. The final step included calculations in the computer programme.
The result
What is the result? Well, the houseboat initially rocks relatively easily, but then stabilises.
"The moment at which the houseboat wants to right itself is constantly increasing at the angles of heel that can occur in normal use. Total loss of stability only occurs at 56 degrees of heel. The overall assessment of stability is that the risk of capsizing is very low."
stability test of a houseboat
In other words, we have nothing to worry about. Doing this test was not exactly cheap, but it feels good to have done it properly and now we have everything in black and white in an 18-page report ...
You might also like:
Lifting a houseboat - this is what happened when our houseboat was lifted
Inspecting and repainting a houseboat - here's how it went
Life on a houseboat - a home report
Houseboat life in winter - how we live in wintertime
Houseboating for a year - January - December 2024
What is it like to live in a houseboat? - we answer questions
English (UK) 
Svenska
Ditte says:
Sounds really reassuring! Nice! But the houseboat is quite high in relation to the length, so it is obvious that it can tilt a little. But on the other hand, you are on the lake so a little extra boat feeling is just fine.
03 October 2014 - 9:34
s p i n d e l t j e j e n says:
Oh how nice the boat is!!!! 😀
03 October 2014 - 10:58
Steve says:
I've heard of housing in many forms, but this is the first time I've heard of 'stable housing'. I a f stability in this sense.
03 October 2014 - 10:59
BP says:
In other words, it feels safe at Freedom:-)
03 October 2014 - 12:03
Znogge says:
So nice to have black on white so you can sleep well at night 🙂 The boat is incredibly nice!
03 October 2014 - 15:27
admin says:
Ditte, yes, it is quite high and rocks a bit. But now that I know I don't have to worry, I mostly think it's cosy!
Spider girl, how nice that you think so!!!
Steve, hehe, in most accommodation you don't have to think about that aspect maybe....
BP, yes and it feels good!
Znogge, yes, it is good to have checked properly.
03 October 2014 - 15:31
Marina says:
So it's just a matter of avoiding 57 degrees of tilt 😉 .
03 October 2014 - 20:08
Ama de casa says:
It's nice to get it in black and white. We paid quite a lot to get a really crappy film of our sewer in Sollentuna.
🙂
03 October 2014 - 20:24
Alexandra says:
Do you have to think about how to furnish a houseboat so that it doesn't lean?
03 October 2014 - 23:14
admin says:
Marina, yep it's best to avoid
😉
Ama de casa, not much in this world is free unfortunately...
Alexandra, yes a bit. It's good to distribute the weight evenly...
😉
04 October 2014 - 8:50
Kattas Betraktelser says:
Great to know how the stability of the houseboat was, so now you don't have to worry. Great!
04 October 2014 - 12:01
Veiken says:
There's a lot about the earthly. Some things are more important than others and this falls into that category. Nice to be safe on board even if it's not free! 🙂
04 October 2014 - 12:13
Deciree says:
How nice to have it done. Then you can feel calm:)
05 October 2014 - 8:14