The Erie Canal is perhaps the least developed place in terms of recreational resources in New York, USA. Some international organizations like n New York Canal Organization are now actively promoting systemic and commercial development along the Erie Canal.

One of the projects being planned is having floating houses on the Erie Canal. The purpose of this project is twofold:

1. To increase the utilization rate of the canal

2. To promote economic development of the communities along the Erie Canal.

All of these are related to the use of water. Having fun on the water is one of the many ways to experience the canal.

There are three ways in which people can use the canal:

· Tour the canal on their own boat and visit the canal communities on holidays or weekends

· Spend leisure time on their own wharf boats, ride to a nearby lake for fishing or rafting, or dine on the pier.

· Join a day tour on the canal with a tour guide or arrange their own week-long itinerary with a rental yacht.

The biggest challenge for boat trips on the canal is to make reasonable arrangements as it takes time to experience the canal. The thought of touring and living along the canal is exciting and it makes a wonderful experience for tourists.

Can the docks frequented by boatmen be used by tourists on yachts? Can the canal area which had been completely forgotten by investment companies of the same industry be developed? Is there anywhere the New York State hope to see further economic improvement in? Are any people who had previously operated houseboats and would like to revive their business? Re-opening these houseboats would involve much simpler operations as they would not require re-installation of fuel equipment nor building according to tourism standards. Using a crane, these floating houses can be easily removed from the water after the tourist season and replaced once again in spring. Houseboats are generally built at the lifting locations to facilitate operations. These houses will be anchored in places where there is no danger of flooding, making them very resilient.

These houseboats generally have a pipeline that leads to the ship’s exterior and connects to the city sewage system or a nearby sewage treatment plant. This allows sewage to be discharged and ensures hygiene on the ship. In addition, for more distant houseboats, specialized technologies are available to convert liquid fertilizers into small amounts of ash to be cleaned regularly.

These houseboats can be purchased privately and can be parked at the pier, on water campsites or at the rental bay.

The river system stretches over 524 miles and is able to accommodate more than 100 ships. Each boat has the potential to bring in thousands of dollars in parking and storage revenue every year. Organizations that wish to own such houseboats or possess lease rights will be announced on Airbnb or VROB (a website that publishes holiday rental properties in the United States). Boats berthed at the piers will generate other revenue, such as rental for pontoons or fishing gear, hence creating opportunities for ports to upgrade their equipment such as adding a workroom or even a swimming pool.

Another example of a location with floating houses is Clinton Marina, Ohio, just off Lake Erie. These floating houses are slightly different, where a boat can be docked next to each house, and the cost of parking the boat is a part of its monthly income.

The floating house had its origins in Seattle, on the west coast of the United States. It is a product of a company called Eco-Sea Cottages that can be shipped to any American city or town. The company also locates boats for people who wishes to purchase them. In addition, they sell outboard engines and driving packages that help people move boats in limited conditions. For more information, visit its official website: www.eco-seacottages.com