Boat A Home Ventura

WHAT WE LIKED
• Flexibility of caravanning or boating from the same vehicle
• Top quality fibreglass finishes throughout

NOT SO MUCH

• Lack of side entrances through fence to front and rear deck to assist transfer of people when dockside
• Minimal cold food storage space for an extended trip

There have been a few oddball inventions built over axles in recent years that cater for both marine and camping pursuits in the one unit.

But many seem to have faded into oblivion and most likely for a number of reasons, like the woes that beset owners when the harsh marine environment takes its toll on the running gear.

The Ventura model from Boat A Home has gone a long way to addressing many of the issues that come with a trailer-able houseboat that seconds as a caravan. For example, rather than having the road suspension permanently attached, the houseboat rides on a purpose built trailer.

Most of the internal panelling including the doors is moulded from fibreglass. While light weight they feel very strong with carpet lining adhered on the inside. They also close with a neat fit and feature quality catches and hinges.

The main superstructure consists of Divinycell foam sandwich panels which offer good strength and built-in insulation against the elements, and the cabin roof lining is soft vinyl upholstered.

With no timber used in the manufacture of Boat A Van other than 17mm fibreglassed transom boards, the manufacturer has made it rot proof against the elements that normally would readily attack wood in a marine environment. The finish all round is such that it will be a breeze to keep clean as well.

TRAILER BLAZER

The Boat A Home sits on a purpose built trailer constructed of aluminium framework on top of a galvanised chassis, which has a tandem axle set up with electric brakes.

The top side is fitted with plastic skids and a self aligning frame engages the gap between the pontoons to guide the boat on. Launching and retrieving the Ventura is probably as easy as it gets; it slides on and off with ease.

The front of the trailer has an aluminium checker plate staircase with steps down each side of the drawbar below. The top ramp on the staircase corresponds with the entrance on the front deck.

The trailer is rated to three tonne GVM and with the Boat A Van’s dry weight being 1700kg there’s plenty of scope for loading of extra fuel and supplies for a long trip.

The manufacturer advises that a vehicle such as a Nissan Navara 3.0-litre turbo diesel is sufficient as a tow vehicle for this set up.

HITTING THE WATER

The front deck is shorter than that at the rear and in the starboard corner an electric winch is located. It’s surrounded on both sides and corners by an ample stainless steel rail with the opening for boarding centrally located.

The rear deck follows a similar design and when alongside the wharf or dock, boarding and alighting is over or under the rail.

Side entrances would be the preferred option here and these and a host of other new features are in the pipeline for new models which are on the designing table as we speak.

The aft or rear deck has the entrance door to the cabin on the starboard or offside. This makes room against the back wall for a storage box which held spare fuel containers and could also be used as a seat. Nearby is a pair of gas bottles, fixed and plumbed in place, hidden behind a shroud.

Considering this Boat A Van hosts a 100 litre fuel capacity as standard (2 x 50l tanks) and the Honda outboard motors fitted are fuel misers, the box containing the fuel cans would be better utilised if converted to extra refrigeration or icebox space.

Centrally located in the deck is a large hatch which opens to a lazarette. In many boats the lazarette is the food storage area but in most it’s used to house all sorts of gear such as fenders, ropes, fuel, spare water and the like.

In the Boat A Home it provides access to the two fuel tanks which sit in each pontoon. They’re constructed of aluminium and are removable for servicing if need be.

There’s enough space inside the pontoons to option the fuel supply up to a 100 litre tank each side with enough room left to store deck chairs and other gear, out of sight.

The two 100 litre water tanks are permanent fixtures in the hull and the remaining voids are foam filled for positive buoyancy.

Above the gas bottle shroud, a set of steps allow access to the roof via a hatch in the raised overhead awning.

This area is fenced each side with stainless steel rails, with the front and rear brow providing the end stops should something slide around. It’s capable of having 250kg of weight stowed upon it and while it may flex underfoot the manufacturer advises that it won’t break under the weight.

FLOATING CABIN

Entrance to the inside of the Boat A Home is from either end.

The centrally located front door features a double glazed toughened glass window with a solid pull down shade, while an insect screen may be lifted from the bottom. They lock together and both are adjustable for length.

For privacy and to keep light out, heavy curtains may also be deployed here and on the rest of the windows about the cabin.

Either side of the entrance, a half wall height toughened glass window offers a panoramic view ahead for the skipper, who sits at the console situated on the starboard (right) side.

The console hosting the helm looks busy with full instrumentation for each of the two outboard motors.

The hydraulic steering wheel features a hub with a four position adjustment, which will suit operators of various heights and make life comfortable whether standing or sitting when underway.

Directly opposite is the dining suite which features a bench seat fore and aft of a good sized table. It’s ideally positioned for the occupants to keep the skipper company when travelling distances on the water.

Situated immediately behind the dining suite is the galley. It has a three burner cooktop with a sink included in the same stainless steel module; each sits under separate hinged glass tops to increase available bench space when required.

Bench space is available each end of the galley module and a raised end wall will prevent gear from sliding off.

Two large cupboard doors give access to the storage below the sink and there are overhead cupboards above this area which will be handy for plates, pots and other cooking gear.

There’s also a Dometic range hood sitting under this overhead module, which vents fumes from the cooker to the outside of the boat.

Behind the galley you’ll also find a 118 litre single door fridge/freezer installed at a good height for easy access. Below that is a hatch which doubles as storage space and housing for the 15 litre gas hot water service. It has a fast recycling time so continuous hot water is available provided your supply holds out.

OTHER FEATURES

The shower and toilet cubicle sits aft of the hot water service ‘hatch’ in the same module. It’s as roomy inside as you will find in many much larger boats (or caravans!) and the shower consists of an adjustable removable hand rose.

The Dometic toilet has a porcelain bowl and removable cartridge which is serviced via a hatch in the passageway between it and the galley. Initial thoughts were that it would be better having it serviced from outside of the superstructure, but during extended trips on water, access would be restricted should you want to pull into a pump out facility as it might be against or below the level of the wharf.

There are no side decks on this boat; just sheer walls to the water.

In the aft port corner (rear near side) the L-shaped lounge features a base in which the house batteries are stored.

The lounge easily disassembles to make up a standard sized double bed. With it laid out for sleeping there’s still access around the foot of the bed to move about from the rear deck through the cabin.

A television is mounted on a swing arm fixed to the back of the clothes cupboard which forms part of the ablution module and is viewable from here as well as the galley and the dining suite.

VERDICT

While initially sceptical as to what the end weight would be of a fibreglass construction of this size, we were pleasantly surprised to say the least.

The structure has been manufactured for strength and lightness and it has worked a treat. It’s by no accident though. The manufacturer, Poppy's Fibreglass, makes walls, roofs and panels for quite a few caravan and camper trailer builders in Australia so knows well how to get the best out of his materials.

Hull thickness is good with the solid fibreglass pontoons between 10 to 15mm thick and the floor spanning the two around 25mm thick.

Another welcome surprise was its performance on the water considering the low horsepower of the outboards; just 30hp each. Typical of a pontoon boat it climbed slowly onto the plane with three adults on board and run to full throttle it achieved 21 knots (just under 40km/h).

Steering was effortless due to the hydraulic assistance at the helm and cornering was typically flat for a boat with this sized beam.

If you’re looking for the best of both worlds in caravanning, boating and live aboard on water accommodation, here would be a good place to start.

BOAT A HOME VENTURA

Length (overall on trailer): 9.4m
Length (boat): 7.9m             
External width:  2.4m            
Internal height:  2.0m 
External height on trailer: 3.5m                       
Nameplate ATM:  3000kg         
Ball weight: 120kg                  
Cooktop:  Dometic three burner gas                    
Fridge: Vitrifrigo  118 litre                     
Gas: 2 x 4.5kg                             
Freshwater: 2 x 100 litre                
Trailer suspension: tandem axle leaf spring
Price: $139,700
Supplied by: Boat A Home (Poppy’s Fibreglass), Warana, Qld