Houseboat
A houseboat in the Island Paradise
Houseboats are a type of residential lot introduced in The Sims 3: Island Paradise and The Sims 3 (Wii). Unlike normal homes, they have the ability to move on water. They are built on docks, using a unique type of platform and then can leave the dock. Sims can leave the boat to go diving or on a smaller type of boat. When services, such as a repairman are needed, the hired Sims will come on boats. Houseboats require controls to be able to move in water, and are much smaller than normal houses. There are no restrictions on what the player is allowed to put on their houseboats.
An important component of said houseboats is the new houseboat control port. This port, similar to the mailbox and dustbin, is automatically given to the player and can be placed anywhere, but not duplicated or deleted. This control port is very important as this is the only way in which the player can move their houseboat. To move a houseboat, simply click on the control port and choose "Move Houseboat". The player will then be taken to Map View, where they can click the point of interest that they'd like to visit (provided it's in the water).
A glitch with houseboats is Sims will do a lot of teleporting. If a Sim has to work, they will teleport to the carpool outside your dock because carpools are land vehicles.
Houseboats can be pretty finicky about routing, with Sims at the helm often complaining if there's any obstacles to the left or right of the docks. The boats are also unable to drive between bays separated by off-limits terrain, notably between the main bay and Recurve Strand in Sunset Valley.
Trivia[]
- In Into the Future, wrecked houseboats can be found in the wasteland of Oasis Landing.
- Houseboats can also be changed into community lots and resorts.
- Some houses in Lucky Palms and Roaring Heights are described as houseboats, but very clearly aren't functioning houseboats.
- The The Sims 3 (Wii) houseboat cannot be detached from its port.
