Pat Pendleton designed and launched her 16- by 84-foot Harbor Cottage houseboat at Lake Cumberland, Ky., back in May 2017 and she’s never looked back. Building this kind of Harbor Cottage Houseboat was a new venture for Lee’s Ford Marina at the time and Pat was actually the first customer to purchase one.
Pat keeps her home permanently docked at Lee’s Ford Marina, and with five bedrooms, two full baths, and a washer and dryer, living year-round has been a piece of cake.
“The Harbor Cottage Houseboats are built and insulated so well,” explained Pat, “I am comfortable in any type of weather.”
She also enjoyed the design and collaboration with the builders of Harbor Cottages. The team there was phenomenal to work with and did everything they could to create the houseboat she imagined.
From top to bottom, Pat handpicked everything in her houseboat from lighting and countertops to flooring and windows. She was also the first person to modify one of their designs. Some examples are how she chose to vault the ceilings and change the front porch so the roof extends over the entirety of the porch. It’s completely custom-made and she adores it.
What’s more, Pat loves the environment at Lee’s Ford Marina Resort. She can always count on her neighbors to keep an eye out and she does the same for them.
“I am not at all sorry that I did this,” said Pendleton. “I’m excited about it and I love how it turned out.”
Harbor Cottage Houseboats
Harbor Cottages makes good on its goal to keep houseboating affordable with its unique designs and wealth of amenities. They make is so everyone can enjoy the houseboating lifestyle. Harbor Cottages engineers their energy-efficient, low maintenance houseboats in a way that allows people to customize aspects such as spiral staircases, granite top wet bars with a stone exterior and stainless steel fridge, or 24-foot fiberglass party tops with eight LED lights and two fans.
Everything from the professionally engineered, in-house welded aluminum displacement hull to the proprietary isolation transformer that utilizes high-powered magnets to prevent Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) is a testament that this team of experienced naval architects knows exactly what they are doing. Not only that, but you can even dictate whether or not you want a propulsion system—for those who tend to stay in their slips, this will cut down on cost and maintenance. And if you change your mind later, it’s a simple matter to add a high-performing engine and thruster package to get you out to that private cove on the weekends.
Date Founded: 2016
Location: Nancy, Ky.
Best-selling Model or Floor Plan: 16’ X 52'
Smallest Houseboat to Date: 16’ X 52'
Largest Houseboat to Date: 16’ X 84'
Hull Design: Aluminum Displacement Hull
Water Applications: Saltwater, Brackish and/or Freshwater
In-house Transportation: No
In-house Interior Decorating: Yes
Looking to 2019
Harbor Cottages has noticed that their non-propulsion houseboats are resonating with many of their customers. When Harbor Cottage customers understand that they produce both full-powered houseboats and non-propulsion floating home versions, it makes the floating home option much more feasible for them. They can even retrofit a non-propulsion boat and drop in an engine package for customers.