Ontario couple turn floating cottage dream into reality
Imagine taking in the views of Muskoka, Prince Edward County or even the Toronto Skyline all from the comfort of your living room.
Last year, a Port Severn man made his childhood dream a reality by creating a houseboat, or a floating cottage, that can travel up and down the Trent-Severn waterway.
"I just always wanted to have a home on a boat," said Joe Nimens.
With decades of experience building docks and steel foundations, Nimens began utilizing his skills to create his dream home last year.
While mulling over several design ideas, he settled on building the houseboat out of shipping containers that would sit atop a floating steel hull.
"It has all the comforts of a Northern Ontario home," said Nimens while sitting next to his partner Erin Morano.
"We wanted this aesthetic. We wanted to live in a box that's been travelling around the world," Nimens added.
The welded-together shipping containers now feature a fireplace, full kitchen and washroom, and internet. All of which is powered by solar panels.
The home also comes with a system that protects the 53-foot boathouse from large waves and when the lake freezes over.
"Our houseboat is equipped with four jack-up spuds. They do two things; they drop down and sit on the lake bottom; they don't have to dig in like an anchor would; they can just sit on the surface and hold us in place. But also, we can use them to lift our whole house out of the water like oil rigs do," said Nimens from his couch overlooking Little Lake in Port Severn.
The unique floating cottage has caught the eye of many locals.
Joe and Erin say hundreds of people have stopped to ask questions and take a tour.
The overwhelming attention has led the couple to turn their project into a business called Living Outside the Box (LOTB).
According to their website, LOTB can build a "tiny cottage" of around 240 square feet of living space starting at $46,000.
This design would feature one bedroom and bathroom, a kitchenette, a solar system, and a two-spud anchoring system.
Joe and Erin's model cost them around $450,000, but they say they wanted to build an elaborate model to showcase their work.
"We don't know what people are going to want from here forward, whether they want something similar or bigger, or maybe smaller and more simple, but we wanted to build something big and elaborate," said Nimens.
Over the next few months, the couple plan to put the finishing touches on their houseboat before drawing up design plans for their first customer.
"We plan to live the rest of our lives moving around the waterway," said Joe Nimens.
Dale MacEachern of Parks Canada says the structure "has not been permitted by Parks Canada for use on the Trent-Severn Waterway."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Trial begins for Winnipeg serial killer who claims he was mentally ill
The trial of a man who admits he killed four women in Winnipeg is set to begin Wednesday, and a law professor says lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have multiple hurdles to clear for a defence of mental illness.