When I read “houseboat” I wasn’t thinking about something like that.
After graduating from college about 40 years ago, I took a job on Long Island in New York. I was perusing the house advt and saw houseboats for sale. I thought that would be cool to have a “house” I could take out on the bay for a ride from time to time. I when down to the marina where they were situated to learn that A: they had no engines, B: they were just rooms on barges and C: several of the boats I saw appeared to be listing and about ready to capsized at their docks. I quickly figured out why these homes were so cheap.
My dream of a quaint home on the water were quickly dashed.