Build a 20,000+ sqft floating platform to put a small pre-fab home on and then boat/float a few miles (international waters) off the coast of California.
This would be perhaps a floating disc with a radius of 80ft or a floating rectangle 108X185ft...
Do not concern yourself with how I would get fresh water or food...
Thank You!
2006-11-29 06:41:54 · 10 answers · asked by juan70ahr 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
Let's look at this idea as it stands, then try a modified version.
The platform with a house on it idea will be very difficult--near impossible. The assumption of 6 foot swells during a Pacific storm is a frightening underestimate. Let's put it near reality, and say a 15 foot swell (and that's fairly common, it'll happen at least a couple times a year). Now, your height difference just went up to 30 feet. I can't think of a cost-effective structure that would handle the weight of a house and handle all surface conditions that the Pacific could throw at you.
Ok, so let's modify this. Let's build a flexible structure that is, itself boyant, and also the living structure. I'm thinking of something that looks a little like those plastic hampster tubes, but slightly more flexible. Assuming you could make it water-tight, and you could get over the CONSTANT motion, it might be possible. Especially if you made it totally self-sealing so you could ride out nasty storms and possibly even tolerate flipping. This, is, by the way, a design nightmare. Then, the only problem you would face is modern-day piracy.
Once somebody figures out you're out there all alone in you very expensive floating island, it wouldn't take long for someone to decide you've probably got money, and they now want it. You'd be a sitting duck (literally) for piracy.
Are you sure you can't be happy just moving to Canada, or Puerto Rico, or some other country? It seems kinda difficult to "build your own private country."
2006-11-29 09:05:10 · answer #1 · answered by Brian 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well.. here's a couple of issues that I see.
Making a platform that size is quite an undertaking as the amount of structural support would be enormous. This is quite possibly an impossible project for a 'do it yourselfer' with out the proper mechancal engineer knowledge. The problem I see is the stress caused by the rolling actions of the waves. Let's say you built this platfor and going with the longest side of 185ft. If your platform must 'ride out' storm with 6ft seas, this would cause each end of your platform to pitch up and down a distance of somewhere around 12ft. You can only imagine the beating the structure will take rising and falling 12ft at one end and then the same on the other end.
Large ships and boats and can handle this type of wave action because thier hulls are elongated they are heavy enough to 'cut through' the waves with minimal rise and fall. Since you are looking at an almost square or circular platform this wouldn't happen.
Just my thoughts.
OH.. the 12 foot distance.. is calculated with simple geometery using a 6ft wave with an 80 'break over' point.
Hope this helps!
2006-11-29 14:57:48 · answer #2 · answered by wrkey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
+ I suppose you have chosen as good as any way to die. Firstly building it will be difficult, surviving for any extended period of time would be near impossible. I have been at sea off of the coast of California and you won't last long. I would think that you would have another problem as it might be considered a hazard to navigation.
Just as a test go there on a boat first and stay out for a day or two just to see for yourself what a floating cork is like.
May God Bless you for trying.
2006-11-29 17:26:29 · answer #3 · answered by Clamdigger 6 · 9⤊ 1⤋
It wouldn't work-the waves would break over it and hit the house. Ships keep moving in bad weather, not just anchor and get pounded by waves. In a protected body of water it would work.
2006-11-30 02:16:37 · answer #4 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The problems that I see are tides, currents, weather,waves. Will you anchor? motor about? The shape is not sea worthy. Power source out on the water? Docking at times? It needs a hull for stability and a keel.
2006-11-29 15:35:42 · answer #5 · answered by science teacher 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Go ahead. Anything is possible.
And I assure you, I will not lose any sleep worrying about your food and water supply.
Change your nick name to shark bait.
2006-11-30 13:06:58 · answer #6 · answered by Two dimes and a Nickel 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
its been done with flat pontoon platforms to park your own holiday trailer on,so why not a house
2006-11-29 14:44:52 · answer #7 · answered by doug b 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i think that guy mispelled "bait" when he alluded to shark bait. i think it's "sh@t" isn't it????? you might want to check the laws...i think there's 200mi. to be concerned with when dealing with the US government and there coastline.
2006-11-30 19:16:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's your life
do what ya gotta do.
2006-11-30 07:28:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
feasible....yes
reasonably safe....no
2006-11-29 15:37:27 · answer #10 · answered by mcd_48230 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋