Experiencing life aboard a houseboat can vary widely depending on the vessel, location, and personal preferences of those on board. For Victoria Sass, a designer from Minnesota, embracing full-time boat life is a cherished summer tradition. Each year, her family sets out on their motor-powered boat, exploring the vast stretches of the Mississippi River. This annual journey started during the pandemic and has since become an integral part of their family’s way of life, drawing from past experiences and a quest for adventure.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Designer: Victoria Sass
Location: Mississippi River, Minnesota
Boat Name: Freya
Restoration Lead: Victoria’s Husband
Family Tradition: Sailing and River Living
The tradition of living on a houseboat began as a reflection and adaptation of Victoria’s and her husband’s childhood memories. Victoria reminisces about her upbringing in California, where her family spent time camping in a Volkswagen van along the coast. Similarly, her Danish husband recalls sailing through Scandinavian fjords as a child. Both have sought to recreate these cherished experiences with their children in the Midwest. Favoring the dynamic river life over static lake sailing, they chose the Mississippi River as their aquatic pathway, adding a sense of journey and exploration.
Neither Victoria nor her husband had previous experience operating a houseboat before they embarked on this adventure. Despite this challenge, the family took their experiences in stride, with Victoria’s husband having some sailing background and their 14-year-old son even learning to drive the sizable motorboat under supervision. The houseboat, named Freya for ease of communication during travels, was discovered by Victoria’s husband in a state of disrepair. Its original teak interiors appealed to Victoria’s sense of nostalgia and style, leading them to undertake extensive restorations to transform it into a homey sanctuary.
The restoration of Freya involved numerous changes to enhance the boat’s comfort and aesthetics. They repainted the exterior, replaced carpeted areas with parquet flooring, and updated the lighting and upholstery. By maintaining the original cabinetry and teak accents, they balanced preserving its vintage character while making modern upgrades. Rugs, residential-style lighting, and art installations further personalized the space, imbuing it with warmth and a sense of their family’s narrative.
A typical day on the boat is characterized by early starts and continuous movement. The noisy diesel engine drives them forward, making typical remote work activities like Zoom calls impractical and encouraging focus on the simplicity of life on the water. The journey is punctuated by interactions with river traffic and navigating through locks, requiring full family participation. Feeding and entertaining their children, exploring small river towns, and managing their Bernadoodle dog, Gus, are all part of the active and engaging lifestyle.
While river life tends to follow a structured routine, it also demands adaptability in the face of unexpected hurdles, such as mechanical issues. The boat is well-equipped with amenities like showers and a full kitchen, offering much-needed conveniences during their journeys. Staying at marinas to replenish supplies adds a layer of expense comparable to hotel stays. Despite the predictable daily rhythm, these river adventures offer unique challenges and opportunities that foster a strong sense of community and family bonding, providing an enriching, screen-free environment that emphasizes responsibility and togetherness for everyone on board.
