I just bought a 42ft converted trawler to Cabin Cruiser. They put in $100K in finishing it with red cedar beams and yellow cedar T&G roof plus tons of teak in the wheelhouse. I'm dropping it in the ground to the waterline and cementing it level with rebar through the keel. A boat won't try to float unless it is below the waterline with high water level. I'm tying it into an existing septic system so I can have flush toilets and shower, sinks, etc. Also tying into the town water system directly and 220V line power.
I've done this with a 36' boat I live on in the summer and works great as a house boat. I did put a leak detector and pressure valve to avoid flooding the boat with a blowout. The leak detector will shutoff if it detects a leak and I've tested it, pretty smart really. You can run automatic leak test, turn off/on remotely and setup detailed notices assuming you will have WiFi.
I say all this because I've been thinking about it for 10yrs since I started Airbnb'ing my boat and house in California swapping my living accommodations back and forth based on demand. I was getting $180/night for the boat and $200/night for the house and if.they both booked I'd go on a paid vacation. I have over 50 rentals and rated Superhost with neat 5 stars for both places.
Here is the problem, boat moorage is expensive, $800/mo and a lot of people don't know the basic so lots of questions and mini emergencies. A few people even got seasick. By putting a boat on my property and using the built-in oil heater in the winter, I live in Bella Coola BC, Canada so small town where you don't have a lot of rules and regulations. I don't think I'd try it in the city without a lot of homework.
I have been patiently waiting for the right boat to come along. I've bought and sold a lot of boats and I know all of the problems that come along with it. Sounds like you got a lot of work to do where mine is pretty much finished and ready to go after the modifications. Previous owner put in over $100,000 I'm finishing work but then the guy died and the family wants nothing to do with it. I bought it for C$5,000 with a condition to have it moved before the snow flies. It is only about 10 miles from my home and has been in a shed for 15yrs. To move it will be a challenge but I have a lot of experts here in my small town as it is a fishing village so not uncommon to move large boats. With a 15' boat plus trailer height it will be well above some of the power lines so the trick is to move in the middle of the night and push the lines up over the wheelhouse as you go along. Remember, we live in a small town so if the cops get involved it will only be to help out out vs. write tickets, no so in a city, you need all kinds of permits and expensive professional movers with flag men, caution cars, etc.
Cost estimates:
$5, 000 boat
$1, 000 teardown shed and prep hull
$10, 000 move/dig/concrete/waterproof
$10, 000 finishing, plumbing, electrical, etc.
$4, 000 misc expenses
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$30, 000 (keep in mind, I'm retired and there will be 100's of hours I'm putting in but I've done lots of this type of work so won't need much paid help)
Airbnb Rental (start low and get a dozen quickly to streamline the process and shoot for 5 stars) Raise the price slowly like $50, $80, $100, $120, $150, etc. You will find the happy price, I shoot for 80% occupancy so I have flexibility. I block off weeks when I have friends and family come to town and I'll also rent local for trade like fish, crab, prawns, moose, veggies, etc.
I think I might start a Facebook page for folks that want to follow this adventure. I can't find anything like this on Airbnb so should be an unique experience.
Good luck but my advice is to check with regulations to make sure you can do it where you live. Talk to your neighbours, you don't want to start a war.
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