If you could choose your dream mobile home, would it be on the water? Assuming the answer is "yes" and you have the budget for it, a new U.S.-based startup has an intriguing proposition for a new way of experiencing life on the water.
World, meet the Houseyacht, a new breed of livable watercraft with multiple functionality and plenty of luxury amenities. The Houseyacht is not a houseboat, as neither is it a luxury yacht or a piece of premium real estate. The Houseyacht is a combination of all these: part houseboat, part luxury yacht, and part luxury home, it's meant to address the increased demand for livable watercraft from discerning customers.
Apparently, that's a real thing. Hayri Dayi and Emin Gunal, the founders of Reina Boats, noticed an uptick in demand for livable watercraft during and after the health crisis of 2020. Yet people who could afford to move on the water lacked options. In fact, they could only choose between outdated and/or converted houseboats or catamarans, neither of which offered the gamut of features they wanted from their future floating home.
Since not everyone wants to live on a yacht full-time, Dayi and Gunal created what they call a new type of livable watercraft, the luxury Houseyacht. It can be a floating home, but it can also be a yacht, offering the increased volume, efficiency, and stability of a power catamaran, with the option to make it even more sustainable by adding electric propulsion.
Photo: Reina Boats
But the Houseyacht will also offer variety, with a range of sizes and configurations. Customers will be able to choose anything from a small dinghy to a day-tripper, a floating RV, and a waterfront condo. All the models are seaworthy, which is another advantage over standard houseboats. They're made from marine-grade aluminum with premium finishes used on yachts, so they'll be suitable for lakes and canals but also for extended cruises out at sea like a proper catamaran.
The Reina lineup includes 26-, 34-, 44- and 60-foot (7.9-, 10.3-, 13.4-, 18.2-meter) vessels in single- and two-story configurations and different passenger capacities. Whichever size you choose, you'll still get the same kind of uncompromising quality and seaworthiness the designers promise. You'll also get "a fresh, upscale look with high-quality furniture and appliances and smart home technology."
Power for these Houseyachts comes from twin Mercury latest-gen outboards, which offer reduced emissions, as certified by the Ultra Low Emissions rating from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and extended longevity.
Photo: Reina Boats
Optionally, lithium-ion phosphate batteries could replace generators for an even more sustainable floating home. Farther down the line, the propulsion system could be customized to include a solar package and electric motor, allowing seafarers to live onboard with a minimal carbon footprint.
The first Reina Boats unit will make its public debut at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October. It's the Reina Live 44DR model, the most luxurious version of the live-aboard Houseyacht on offer, with a passenger capacity of 12 and a sleeping capacity of seven.
The Reina Live 44DR is 44 feet (13.4 meters) long and features a two-story configuration, with the living area on the ground floor and the entertaining outdoor spaces up top. It's luxurious but still fully livable and offers a full kitchen, a living room area (which integrates the command center), two bedrooms, and a bathroom.
As shown in renders for the time being, the Reina Live is ideal for a family with children – as many as three, because one of the bedrooms has bunk beds. There's also a main bedroom for the parents with a very chic, full-wall wardrobe and a vanity corner.
Photo: Reina Boats
The U-shaped kitchen is compact but could still work for throwing together a quick meal. To be fair, though, we have a feeling that whoever lives onboard such a luxury watercraft isn't the kind to slave in the kitchen, if you'll allow the phrasing.
The entire second level is a large entertaining area, with an L-shaped sofa and outdoor dining under a canopy and an oversize lounger that could easily double as a bed for when you feel like sleeping under the stars. In the true spirit of replicating the amenities available on a yacht, the Reina Live 44DR has an outdoor mini-kitchen with a barbecue and a small sink.
In total, the Reina Live 44DR offers 448 square feet (41.5 square meters) of living space. Smart home features and premium materials will make it feel like a condo, but the 12-knot (13.8-mph/22.2-kph) maximum speed will still make this an impressive yacht.
Photo: Reina Boats
"You can live your life on a luxury yacht without compromising," Reina says in the introduction of the Houseyacht line. Sure thing, as long as you can afford it. The company doesn't say anything regarding the price of this new type of watercraft, but we'd wager it won't be cheap.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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