Single Person (or family)
SeaStead.
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I've been thinking about living on the ocean for a long time. Note...I said 'living'...not particularly going anywhere. There are boats a plenty but they are meant to MOVE. I've been considering something else. A homestead on the ocean. I mean..2/3s of the planet (or more) is covered with water...why not use it?
Oddly enough...some rich guys were thinking the same thing. The seastead institute was the result.
One of their designs is pictured above...a variation..
The design is called a 'spar bouy'...and has been used in the Oil Industry for decades...it's proven.
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In fact..the oil industry has built so many of the damn things that they are positively LITTERING the Gulf Coast.
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and then there's this.
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Could one simply commandeer an abandoned Oil Rig, and live there?
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shhhh...keep it to yourself..but I know a retired coast guard (a coastie)...according to him it's been done did. Ever wonder if ALL of the boat people came to shore?.....shhhhhh...it's a secret
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and this.
The Luxurious Afterlives of Abandoned Sea Forts and Oil Rigs
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and this...it's being done.
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HABITATION SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL
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Those are all too rich for my blood. I'm thinking more on line with something like this...
Let's say the underwater hulls or pontoons...are made from, oh...I dunno...old propane tanks or even oil drums? they're intended to float UNDER the water...holding a platform a few feet (as high as you want) above the waves. It should be fairly stable. The size would be dependent on where you want to live. The gulf of mexico for example doesn't have very many big waves (except for hurricanes...and there hasn't been one of them in a LONG time)
when you want to move...either tow or kedge...keep it anchored otherwise...
Dreaming...
I've thought kinda the same thing. I bet you could buy an abandoned (nonfunctional) production platform for not a lot of money... then convert it. It's already set up all you have to do is customize the living quarters.
I linked a few that are doing exactly that.
what about 'adverse possession'? Just squat.
If they don't run you off after a few years...you own it.
right?
I guess so... I had never even considered that. I worked on the rigs for a couple of years and some of those production platforms were pretty posh!
the stuff you worked on would compare to an apartment building..
what I'm thinking about would be more like a travel trailer..
Actually they were pods that were almost like trailers, each has a specific use. The drill rigs were like that. The prod platforms were much nicer pods... they had livingrooms with satellite dishes, pool tables etc.
so take one of those pods (or something like it, or build one)...and put it on a semisubmersible platform. Either spar bouy or submerged hulls...it doesn't have to be very far above the surface, depending on where you are....I'd say ten foot would be plenty 99% of the time.
the other 1% might be a wild ride..but if built strong enough it shouldn't come apart.
Semi- submersibles are pretty stable even in bad weather (barring gales, hurricanes, etc,). As long as it isn't a jack-up or something like that. Most of the production platforms I was on were in pretty shallow water so they were really stable. Only an old drill-rig would present any problem. Prod. platforms are built for stability- that's why I recommend one of those. Also drill-rigs tend to be WAY up off the water (150-175 ft) so you wouldn't want one of those. There are plenty of old pumping stations (converted prod platforms) that have almost nothing on them. They're the ideal height off the water and plenty big enough to build on.
wonder what they cost? and where are they?
Good luck finding an "abandoned" drill rig. I read an article recently that said the US Oil companies are going balls out on offshore exploration after a recent Executive Order.
Explorations aren't done from old platforms. I worked there in the early 80's and when a hole dries up they go elsewhere... There were unused platforms back then.
Worked for many years on these semi-submersibles. The pontoons are steel (very thick x ~40 ft dia. x 200 ft or 250 ft long) and are use for ballast purposes. When traveling from one place to other, using centrifugal pumps you pump all water out of the pontoons. To station then you fill up with water. There are some projects for the same purpose. The issue is too much money at stake. You have to "clean up" the entire surface -250ft x 300 ft or more - of steel, cables, pipes, cables, etc etc. The entire structure is made of steel. Do yo really want to live in such an environment? Some of these can be held in place with anchors if water depth is less than some 300 ft to 500 ft. In deeper water you need the dynamic positioning -DP- systems. More complicated more money more power required for thrusters. Perhaps you could by one for scrap and just look for water depths of less than the height of your columns, sink it to bottom and leave it there for ever. Many many things to cover. But one big and fun project.
Rgds.,
@indepthstory
like I said at the end of the post..
why not make one small(er) purpose built for living on..
seems a simple design
simple design yes .... lots of engineering to be done - math and calculations. Structures in water are subject not only to tidal forces but also corrosion and environment damaging elements. Good luck.
@indepthstory
Noah's ark was built by an amateur.
the titanic was built by professionals..
.. nice one ..... let me think o yeah Noah's ark, science fiction, imagination, dreams while being high on dope or else .....
Titanic, built by money making human beings, cut costs while construction, corruption, push push push till death, etc. Risk calculated to the max.
@indepthstory
the eskimos have been using kayaks other kinds of 'yaks' built from sea mammal hides and driftwood for thousands of years...in the worst kind of conditions imaginable.
Best wishes for your project. Hope you post the developments.
@indepthstory
oh it hasn't NEARLY reached the level of 'project' just yet...more of a daydream..