Pamela and her husband Ulrich have been living on a boat since the day before their wedding — 30-plus years ago. When expecting their first child, they debated buying a home on land but ultimately purchased a 100-year-old tugboat that they renovated into a floating home.
The tugboat had had a number of owners over the years who had used it for different things, but with Ulrich’s amazing metalwork skills and sculpture experience, they were able to re-design the boat to meet their family’s needs. Now that their daughters are grown, and it’s getting harder to do boat maintenance, the couple are considering life on land once again.
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Decades of Family Life Aboard a Tugboat
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
Their boat is moored at a marina.
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
They have this awesome fire pit social area on board!
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
Her daughters, when they were teens on the boat.
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
VIDEO: They turned a 100 yr old tugboat into a family home! Floating home tour
Highlights:
- Pamela and Ulrich have lived on a boat since before their wedding, over 30 years ago.
- They chose to renovate a 100-year-old tugboat into a floating home for their family.
- Ulrich’s metalwork and sculpture skills were crucial in redesigning the tugboat.
- The boat has been their home while raising two daughters, moored at marinas.
- The tugboat features a unique lounge space with a fire pit for social gatherings.
- As maintaining the boat becomes challenging, the couple is considering moving to land.
Learn More:
Related Stories:
- Eight Years Living in Their Sailboat
- From Van to 58ft Narrowboat NamedLaika
- Tiny Home at Sea: Couple’s Sailboat Life Adventure
Our big thanks to Jenna for sharing!
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Alex
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What a fascinating way to live!! Obviously this couple have been so happy here forever.
It’s great to see the unique way people live without being in large homes as well.
The sea lions are a hoot — and the marine sea life they experience and the water views can’t be replicated!!!
I worked on a very old 100ft tug while in the US Army (google “Army Watercraft”). I’m thinking y’all have too much stuff. This is not very sea worthy. I can see stuff flying around. But I am impressed with it and it’s more livable than the one I was on.
I would love to know what you use to power it and what controls you use. We had to have someone in the engine room to respond to the commands sent down by the caption.