I'm not planning on building a houseboat, and I'd rather avoid any serious remodeling efforts, but for those looking for ideas...

I stumbled across something called the "Tiny House Movement". The idea behind the THM (based on a couple pages I've read, I'm NOT an expert) is that you can simplify your life and not only be "greener", but healthier and happier. While I don't necessarily buy into their philosophy, even in my big cluttered house I see advantages of better storage solution and better utilization of space, and anyone that's stayed on a boat for weekend knows space if at a premium.

I'd suggest the builders and re-modelers check these THM homes out. People are designing and living in homes under 100 sq ft. That would be a cabin area of 8.5 foot x 12 foot. Some of them looking better equiped than my 36 foot Kingscraft!

A couple web sites to get you started:

http://faircompanies.com/

http://youtu.be/juWaO5TJS00

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/small-house-society

Take a look and let me know what you think. Are any of these ideas applicable to a houseboat remodel? I Kept thinking that these were almost all working in 2 dimensions (except for a few upper sleeping lofts). In a hull type houseboat you also have your lower hull, how could that be better utilized?