The Forum post says…
“Ken Hulme, out here on Kwajalein Atoll, in the Marshall Islands. I’m kicking around retirement liveaboard ideas. Call this one a “shantyboat” or “river cruising scow” or “pseudo-narrowboat” for shallow, sheltered freshwater. My idea is to start with a watertight, marine painted, standard 8x8x40 ft. shipping container. Cut away the ends, put new steel in where needed, frame in the cabin ends with plywood. Use cast concrete “joists” 12″ high to lay a removeable floor on. Underfloor is for storing water, supplies, etc. You still have 6′+ headroom. The “decks” at either end get storage seats built in. Cut out and frame in windows where needed.
Rough calculations show that the 8000 lb container will draft about….’
Read more Here: http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/metal-boat-building/shipping-container-shantyboat-10104.html
and…
Shipping Container Barge Forum Post
I’ve had the same idea for the past year. a forty foot long 9’6″ high container is my choice for cost effectiveness and clear head height. Originally I was planning to use a 40′ barge of some kind but I expect that more cost effective options are available. Closed cell polyurethane sprayed polyurethane insulation and exterior welded unistrut seem to be a good way to make the container habitable while allowing it to be “camouflaged” to fit an urban or natural area.