Packoderm
Super Nomad
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Living in Mulege's flood zone
Why doesn't anybody just trailer down a small houseboat to a low rent, flood prone lot in the Mulege river area and anchor it down with a length of
chain or fashion pilings so that it doesn't float away when the floods come? A 30 foot houseboat is as tow-able as a 30 travel trailer. I could easily
live in a 30 houseboat with an adjacent palapa for more room. I could make a floating 16'x16' platform for the palapa for about $800.00 including duty
incurred at the border. I now have a 4'x16' floating dock that I made for under $200.00 which is 100% supported by Styrofoam. A bigger dock would not
need 100% of the bottom supported by Styrofoam by a long shot which would save $$$. It doesn't seem that hard. The materials for the platform could be
towed down on the trailer, under the boat, between the pontoons. There is a lot of room under there.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
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House boats! Houseboats have to be anchored or attached at some point.  Sewage disposal?
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Dave
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Packoderm
anchor it down with a length of chain or fashion pilings so that it doesn't float away when the floods come? |
I doubt that you could anchor it down with anything that would survive another big flood.
But talk to this guy: http://www.floatingneutrinos.com
I'm sure he has some ideas. 
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
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"Sewage disposal?"
Electro Scan! It processes the waste clean enough to be safely discharged in the river.
http://www.boatersland.com/rarelectroscan.html
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Packoderm
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To secure it against a strong current:
They could be fashioned from telephone poles or maybe even palm trees. There is not a lot of draft on houseboats, so the pull on the pilings would not
be that severe. Anyway, the current doesn't look too strong unless you are anchored right smack in the middle of the channel. Photo courtesy of
Sharksbaja - well, I didn't ask his permission, but here it is:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=19077#pid1667...
Houseboat on the cheap:
And for the more discerning - you could probably save a bundle if you order it without the motor:
[Edited on 07/17/2004 by Packoderm]
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turtleandtoad
Senior Nomad
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During those floods, everything including the kitchen sink (and the house that it's attached to) comes roaring down the rivers and vados.
I doubt that any type of floating platform or mooring system would survive being pounded by all that debris. At best the debris would stack up against
the structure until it collapsed.
Mike & Robin; Full-Time RV\'ers
37\' Georgetown w/3 slides & 275 Watts of Solar Power
06 Taco TRD
www.turtleandtoad.com
I am here
To paraphrase Frank Lloyd Wright; I\'m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let\'s start with keyboards. --
Mike Dean |
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Packoderm
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"At best the debris would stack up against the structure until it collapsed."
You have a point there; and me not being there to witness it, I'd be reluctant to invest much in something that might go crashing downstream. I would
have to witness a major flood like this to see if a if my property would not be in such strong part of the current before I placed a houseboat there
- if I owned the property that is.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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Or untie it and let it float out to be retrieved at a later time?
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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jerry
Super Nomad
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or just build on the hill and walk down to the river????????
jerry and judi
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jerry
Super Nomad
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you can grow palms on a hill just pipe water to them make your own oassis out of harms way
jerry and judi
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
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And then build a tree house.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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ever live on a hill????
you have to walk up and down to get anything
too much work for us "older guys"
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craiggers
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 3-2-2007
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I think it would be easier to just plant a trailer there and move it to higher ground when it rains. Of course, you'll have to be smart enough to know
when its going to rain just a little vs a full on flood. You'd also need a small Catapiller to clear all the debris that parks in your front yard
after a flood. Then again, you could also use the Catapiller to move the trailer and for Sunday trips into town. Just think of all the friends you'd
have if you owned a Cat in a small town like Muleje. I think the pontoon boat idea is a bit over the top though it might work in some of the lower
rent areas of New Orleans.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
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Have spent more than a little time on houseboats. Would much rather live on dry
land.
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Paladin
Nomad
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Well I guess this is a good time to ask some questions about the future of the river parks.
I've pretty much made up my mind that I'm still going to live there, floods or no floods.
If I remember correctly there was lots of advance notice that something bad might happen, the hurricane was tracked for at least a week before it got
to Mulege and for some reason stalled there.
24 inches of rain in 24 hours pretty much told everyone something was going to happen.
I've been watching for real estate listings and they are sparse but it looks like the price has fallen dramactically???
How many people have given up on rebluilding???
I heard lots of talk about people having flood coverage on their homeowners policies.
I'm an insurance broker by profession and normally there is never flood included in HO policies.
Does anyone know exactly if anyone actually got insurance money for their flood damage???
Are there any restrictions for someone coming in and building now???
Are there any unusual number of properties for sale now???
Is anything being sold???
Based on prior posts it looks like there were lots of properties that generally survived the flood, of course they had some damage etc but it looks
like smart contruction and keeping your investment at a reasonable level could make the risk worth baring.
Personally I would forget about insurance because I doubt the insurance companies are very honorable in Mexico because of little or no Government
oversight. They sure aren't worth squat here in California
I want my boat parked in my front yard and parked in the river. I dont know where else to go...
2 more years and I'n out a here.
Thanks in advance for any information
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
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Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Don't do it!
Build and live somewhere else so you won't have to worry. There is soooooo much
desert out there and you wouldn't be bothered much by anything. Wait! Did you see the desert after the hurricane? It was changed in many places, no?
Hmmm. I guess some places are safer than others. Do they talk like this in the Gulf States? I'll betcha.
Best idea in to live in a place nowhere near Mulege. 
Like Jerry says, a few watered palms and presto, your own tropical paradise!
No offense Packo, I just find this thread a tad silly and a bit fatalistic. Sure ma nature will deal the place a few bad hands just like the rest of
the world. Did you see what that Nor'easter did last week to Jersey? I'll take my chances in Mulege again.. There is a certain amount of luck no
matter where you reside.
In response to your post on floating structures, I'll say I was amazed to see a few tethered small boats that stayed afloat with just the bow tied
off. Now, if you position yer "floating" home behind a good stand of big palm trees you most likely would from blocked from hits from large debris. I
saw where the palms saved many structures by fending off moving objects. You can still see big strikes and gnashes where stuff plowed into them but
saved the homes behind them.
It is obvious that there are two mindsets working here. The folks that exit Mulege for and not worry about the next one, and the folks who don't want
to worry but just enjoy life and the beauty and comfort of living along the rio.
It's a choice that has a gamble to it. It seems there are other "gambles" in Baja as well. When you choose to drive anywhere in Baja you are taking
and definite chance.
I say plant yourself where you feel good and try to scare off any others who would ruin your lifestyle. There are some however who would prefer to
see condos and skyscrapers the whole length of Baja. Who are those guys???
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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