Here, an Off-Grid community of Tiny Home Houseboats and Boathouses have taken over an island - proving that living Off-Grid isn’t only reserved for land dwellers. With over 100 Tiny Home houseboats and boathouses, Latsch island is one of the most unique Off-Grid communities in America. Residents on the island live a self-governed life of freedom and mobility as they dictate their own laws and travel freely on the Mississippi River. Around half of the homes here have the option to be hooked up to the power grid, but many chose to live completely disconnected. Recently, with new money entering the glorified ‘Off-Grid’ lifestyle, the island is undergoing a transformation.
Gina is in the works on a podcast that will entail the FULL history of the Winona boat house community that will be sure to blow us all away. Stay tuned for that!
Everyone seems to know of a unique location for us to explore next. Let us know YOURS at: www.offthecuf.com/whereshould...
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What questions do YOU have about this Boathouse Island? We’ll try our best to get you all of the answers ✌️
Yeah more people need to check out barges that retired before they scap metal vessel. It easy to convert to nice house boat and even have. Deck on top or build up for more room but have to have deadman tie ups to release up and down on river levels and make sure pump out leaking department underneath vessel.
is that green stuff on the water safe for everyone? also: since we're still producing a billion PLASTIC BOTTLES PER DAY......we should collect them all into nets or such, and create millions of houseboat platforms or "islands"! WIN / WIN.
That green stuff is called Duck weed
I live up the river a few hours and its interesting cause pretty sure people do that unofficially up this way at one of my favorite hiking spots...I have a question though is what makes you do all these videos on off-grid living and alternative society communities? Are you going to start one someday and if so what type from all the exploring of them do you see most doable and practical?? Definitely need a lot more options out there as people are looking
What do most people do with #1 and #2 ? Self composting toilets? Holding tanks?
This is my 10 year goal right here. Either self sustaining on a boat house or build my own cabin in the woods, something, ANYTHING OFF-GRID, and detached from this dystopian society..
Same here, good luck!
Same here
God bless your goal I need the same
@@famulu3794 thanks. You as well friend!
@@angeltheman3773 God Bless you too sir, and I hope your dreams become reality!
Man this gives me unbelievable hope for humanity. The second home with the couple raising a child is truly inspiring.
Right?? It is really inspiring to see how happy they are. Would you ever live in a boathouse or houseboat?
@@OfftheCuff_Series I thought it was amazing how clean their house was :-)
Blue Eye bicycle boy could be a model !!
Concerned about the babies water safety? How do they handle that?
@@rvrandy1710 really
A cool place. Glad to see that there are still a few places in this country where people can live on their own terms as much as possible.
What about human waste?
@@johnengland8619 i have for off grid camping a portable septic tank. Holds 20 gallon liquid. We try hard not to go number2 in it. We conceal just like a diaper. Toss in trash. I hope they are being safe! For them and the environment. I feel its nasty but flushing,nobody really knows where thats going either. Fllushing is a luxury,i never want to be witbout. Fridge and toilet id never make it without. Well maybe i could with some fancy alternative. Hehe! LoriHutton
💯
Can shit in a newspaper, wrap it up and chuck it at the back of the fire. Nothing more hygienic than that. For the rich, a compost loo is £240. Make your own out of scrap.
My grandmother grew up on a shanty boat on the Ohio river. She was born in 1906 and probably lived that way until 1925.
That is awesome! I bet her early life growing up in a shanty on the Ohio river had some stores.
Very professionally produced and kept me interested the whole time. So inspiring to see people trying to live and maintain the simplest of lifestyles.
Love to see people free and living their lives they way they need to.
I lived on a houseboat at Gate 5 in Sausalito in the 70s, including a stint anchored out. It was a very similar place. Small, funky boats and a vibrant community though in one of the wealthiest counties in the state. Today there are still small boats but everything is on concrete barges, the place is expensive and the county is getting rid of the remaining anchor outs after 50 years. Long live the Mississippi river rats!
I think we need to support more people being able to live on boats easier. The abikity to travel affordably, the customizability. The esrth is 80% water, we should be using it.
I support autonomy and independence for any group who has a unique culture and way of living like these folks!
🤘
It's really cool that they won't have to worry about having their residences destroyed by periodic flooding events; they'll just float above them. If you're going to build on a floodplain you should either build something with multiple floors and a sacrificial ground floor with nothing much on it that could be destroyed by flooding, or a floating residence.
Yes the flood does cause issues
I saw a house building thing on the TV and they built like half floating half normal house! So they wanted to build at a place where it flooded like two times a year and their house was floating but there where four stilts made it not stuck. When the flood come the house just floated up!
My dad's buddy lived had a trailer by a river. Most of them were 20 foot high. His was at the start so not too high
I want to come live there with someone off grid . This world is crazy . I love peace and the water
Born and raised in Minnesota just up the river from them and never knew about this community! Hope they know how positive this interview was for their island.
Pete, my family is from Winona. My grandmother was born there also. I'm glad the city could help. Pete, be safe
This gets more appealing every time I get a visit from my HOA or the city's code enforcement officer.
My house taxes are about $6,200 a year. That's robbery. So it takes me over $500 a month just to talk on my property. It's only going to get worse.
These vids deserve more views! Very interesting life style & place. I love the content y'all upload it looks like you put tons of work into it.
Glad you enjoy it!
@@OfftheCuff_Series Sweet, sweet, American lies. I can give you some tips to get around in life with having no car, living without airco, diswasher or drier and freezer though.
Most underrated channel ever
🥰🥰 spread the love!
Dream come true. Ide totally chill with the person with black flag shirt...she seemed very grounded..and kind
Love it! I would definitely live in a houseboat. Not so sure I'd want to live that far North in the Wintertime on one though.
Fair point! Where would you want to be? We’re hoping come back to see what it is like in the winter months, however :)
@@OfftheCuff_Series Caloosahatche River at Fort Myers.
@@OfftheCuff_Series Can't wait . . . for your shared observations ! 🤨
Devon, U.K. Taw & Torridge estuaries. That's Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton. 1990 --- the government were sick of us living in freedom. They couldn't stop us. Very old laws protected us. So what did they do? Sent in the SS (social services), later re-named SSFD which was meant to mean social services and family department, because they didn't like being called the SS, but of course it just meant SS and Family Destruction. They did a sweep of ALL our children. Said they were entitled to normal lives. WE NEVER SAW THEM AGAIN. It never hit the press. Child protection laws, don't ya know, against publicity around children. My elder daughter threw herself under a train. My middle daughter went psychotic. My neighbours committed suicide or disappeared. Denise Govier, RIP, killed herself. Families were ripped apart. An elderly man was forced to become a house dweller. Parted from his lifestyle, he died. Bifeford council came to break up the boat of John Matthias Vicary Alexander. We faced them down. They sent in contractors who told John they'd "put him six feet under the mud" if he stopped them smashing his boat. He wept. Ethnic cleansing was outlawed. For gypsies. Apparently not for boat people. This goes on all the time, protected by "closed courts", as we are got at through our children. Who as you say are happy afloat. And will not drown like town children if they fall in, as they are used to it. Mine could swim before they could walk. NOT A SINGLE BOAT CHILD REMAINS ON THE TAW & TORRIDGE ESTUARIES, AND MOST OF THE PARENTS ARE SUICIDED OR GONE MISSING because ONCE THE SS GET INVOLVED, NOBODY WILL BELIEVE YOU'VE NOT DONE WRONG. THEY ALL SAY THERE'S NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE. Well yes there is, as boat people know - smoke bombs, red flares, orange flares. IF THE SS START ON YOU FOR GOD'S SAKE RUN YOU ARE UP AGAINST THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT WHO DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE FREE. A snatched child is worth 3 million to them in adoption fees and your suicide only costs them a £25 chipboard coffin. I could list everyone on the river but I think you will get the message from this.
It's called back to the basics! It's beautiful.
Totally!
Should put up bat houses for bugs. I’d love to live like that. You guys look so happy
Great video guys! I liked the Michael's modern open house layout with the big open windows etc.
Really cool right??
I specially set this video aside for viewing during my vacation. Was worth it, keep up the great work.
Glad you enjoyed the episode! Would you ever live on the river?
@@OfftheCuff_Series will need a good architect for the move
We met an architect on the island we could hook you up with 😳
I am so glad I found this video. Both my parents were from Winona & I still have family there. It is a beautiful town. I hope you guys were able to make it up to Garvin Heights or hiked up to Sugarloaf.
So cool! We were able to explore a bit. I did climb Sugarloaf a few years back, however :) So pretty. My grandparents also live near there so I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Winona. Looking forward to getting back there someday!
@choossuck instead of insulting someone, how about just admitting that you didn't know that other locations besides MA have places called Sugarloaf. You've learned something new, be grateful.
This awesome ! More power to these people
I wish there were more places like this. Someday I hope I can break away from "normal" living and truly be free.
Your vids are amazingly well produced. Thank you
Glad you found the channel :)
Id love to live there, still proves nobody is free in America.. I grew up on Mississippi river near LAX Wisconsin... Up until I was about 18 u could live on river free .. however now the government is so freaking big and overbearing that you can't sleep at an island more than 7 days.. which is rediculous. The best thing about living on a river is Mississippi connection with Ohio river the Missouri river. Etc etc. It's a great sense of freedom.
Yea To them who can still live Freely what a blessing
Hey! This is my home town! I've actually replaced barrels under one of these two weeks ago. Alot of us (myself included) want to get one of these but they are very expensive and the rules about them are very grey. You can only fix a certain amount of it per year and you can't stay over night in them legally but people live in them. I continue to keep an eye out for any going up for sale in a price range I can afford.
Its cool to see people that are independent
I don’t understand why more people haven’t subscribed because your content is amazing
the sheltered calmer parts of rivers and lakes are much more important than you expect
This video was amazing you need so much more credit!
Glad you enjoy it :) would you live in a houseboat??
I love it congratulations to all those free people from Alaska.
I grew up on this island. I didn’t live on the island. I lived in town, but I was there pretty much every day.
This is awesome, that second house was amazing actually, it had the best view!
Definitely some crazy homes there!
When I first watched one of your videos, I really didn't like you guys for a reason that I still can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it was the hair, who knows. However, I somehow found myself 15 min. later having watched the whole video... Now I'm countless videos in to your channel and absolutely love what y'all do and the way you do it. Great work guys, keep it up and thanks for sharing with the world!
Hey thanks for sticking with it! We’ve got more on the way and maybe even an update on the hair…. Shhhhhh
I came here for the boat houses and fell in love with the presenters
Thanks 🥰 Plenty of us in our other videos!
I live off the grid in Maine mts. I love it. ✨💚💜💙✨
Very good, Keep going!
Really enjoying this channel, have watched pretty much all of your videos. Presentation is soothing and lots of great insights. When is the next video coming out?
Welcome aboard! So glad that you're enjoying our videos :) We hope to have our latest ep out in the next couple of weeks! Any suggestions on where we should go next?
@@OfftheCuff_Series would love to see anything that explores interesting/unique places within the mountain towns of America, maybe hit the slopes and shred some gnar too 👍
Equally as amazing and interesting as the Earth Ship episode!
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Would you live in a boathouse?
How? All the spots are taken. And if you get 'lucky' you have to deal with the people who might hit you or worse.
You know, I would.
Right on!! Where?
I would if I had the necessary funds, price range, connections, and of course the Object of my desire available in an accessible place… in other words probably not 😂
This is like a dream for me, I want to live on a narrowboat in the UK canals one day.
I'll go right now ! Always dreamed of living on the river. I grew up on the Ohio myself...
Very cool! Was it a similar situation you grew up in?
No mass shooting, no crowds, no high rent prices, and no stupid people driving crazy
Amen. Leave them alone. If there is no problems to public or to themselves. All of our introvert just don't feel comfortable around public.
I love it....!!! I want to be a part of what y'all got going on.....
Wow i actually stopped at the boat launch right there last week. Those things caught my eye coming over the bridge
What a sweet guy Pirate Pat is!! 😊
@choossuck well thank you 🙏🏼
I love those small ones like the first one or the one in the thumbnail
DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS. GOOD JOB
Thanks for watching :)
I understand the need to regulate unsafe things and make sure the public knows about them being unsafe. I would never support a large apartment building being actually unsafe and being allowed to be rented to people. There is enough proof that most companies and investors will not act altruistically in the face of diminished profit. That however is someone doing something to others. But I feel a lot differently when it comes to people taking their own safety into their hands. Yes some protection should be given to children and the elderly but mentally cognizant adult humans should have as much freedom as possible so long as it doesn not infringe on others safety and freedoms. I dont see this as being infringement or unsafe for others. Also at a certain point we have to acknowledge housing is in crisis. People working one or even two jobs can not afford societies norm for housing anymore and we are going to have to allow people to simple get by. Unhomed or un stable homes people do not usually wish to be a nuisance...they simply have no where else to be. And people who are not hurting others should be allowed to just freaking exist damn it
Basically so long as these individuals are not hurting others by living this way they should be left to it
Quite interesting, to say the least. Thanks for making the video!
Glad you enjoyed it :)
You should visit in the winter!
Great video. I hope you can revisit them in the winter and see how they are living then. I'm interested in how they heat their boats and so on. Thanks
We hope to! There are many different challenges that they must face when the river freezes over. It also opens up some opportunities for transport as they can drive on the ice.
Had you heard of this community before?
@@OfftheCuff_Series I haven't. Seems like a good place to live besides neighbor disputes but there are always two sides to every story ;) The history of the community is quite interesting as well. Job well done on your part.
That looks like the Way to Go !
This is my hometown!
Most awesome time's in lifetime. Miss it's lifestyle. But have to love water. We had electric water hooked up. Own property above.
Why did you move away?
Nice video guys, good to see something local
Glad you enjoyed it! Have you ever been down to the Island by chance?
@@OfftheCuff_Series I haven't, I want to go check it out some time
@@eletor definitely do! It’s a very fascinating place. The surrounding area is fun as well
I had a friend that lived on a houseboat north of Atlanta on Lake Allatoona. She came to work one day and said they were going to have to move. A law was passed no more living on the boats. That was around 25 years ago.
Precisely. Govt does bot support freedom
beautiful
Some super nice, some not so super nice.. but all super happy ☺️
Very interesting.
I love pirate pat's shirt! lmaoo
Loved it!
Well done ! Thank You .... Just subbed :-)
Perfect
Very nice place.
Upstream in St. Paul there was still a squatter marina up through the 1990s. Now municipalities are actually seeing 🤑 in river front access now that they aren't just dumping sewage right into it. The histories of the poor folks living in the disregarded public common that was the riverside is really fascinating and personally alluring as a person who doesn't fit into this present society
I work at a historical railroad and mine and it started in 1870. Come to Colorado and ride a historical railroad and take an amazing silver mine tour
Some people just dont have much. I know that's DIFFICULT for law school alumni ( our statesmen/women) but not everyone is that INTELLIGENT. So these FOLKS R making DUE with what the GOOD LORD GAVE THEM.
I'd love to see a follow-up in January.
I love his security
awesome!
Thank you! Cheers!
Cool lifestyle
I LOVE ❤❤❤ IT
Majorly cool
Glad you enjoyed it! Would you live on a river?
Wow that’s so cool 😎
Glad you liked it! Think you could ever live on the water like this?
Great video!!
🤟🤟
I find these videos very interesting
Glad that you’ve found our channel! Be sure to subscribe so you know when our latest stuff comes out. We’re going to be releasing a few new episodes that we recently filmed around the UK :)
I don't blame them.we like people out our business
Self governing society, and its free? Sign me up!
Do it up!
cool show!!!
Glad you like it!!
I'm drawn to this
Right on! Where would you want your houseboat / boathouse to be??
These little boats and their little nautical community is amazing to me…. I am discovering so many fabulous little gyms in life. Damn I’m just so old L O L.
your channel is underated i think
lol thank you I think
I could live there definitely
Lovely living...
Ive lived my entire life in Tucson, Az and you have no idea how totally strange that is to me.
There was a hippie commune in Winona, MN, where Winona Ryder spent her childhood.
Im born and raised in south Louisiana, we call it a house boat down here....😆
God forbid anything happen to my family but I would be this guy for sure away from everything and everyone
In the 1980s there was a similar boat house community on the west side of Richardson Bay, which is attached to San Francisco Bay. It was just north of Sausalito, California. I was a commercial fisherman and often sold my fish at a pier in Sausalito. Just north of it was the boat house community. It wasn't uncommon to see marijuana plants and naked people on these boats and barges.
Wild! Any chance that community is still around at all?
@@OfftheCuff_Series: I searched on Google Maps satellite view and couldn't find it. Everything is so much different now than that last time I was there in the mid 1980s so couldn't even find the pier where I sold my fish. It looks like now there are docks with slips, and a lot of yachts and sailboats in that area.
@@DFDuck55 The Money moved in...
"Semi retired my whole life" ... dam he's got it right.. we aslo look alike haha..
Right on!
Just out of curiosity, how do these people maintain their boathouses? It doesn't seem like there's a drydock anywhere and after some time the floats will wear and fall apart, causing the boathouse to sink. Do they just swim under that gross water and replace the floats or something?
America!!!!!
"all of these boat houses are boat houses". Gives me a good idea of the IQ of residents here! LOL
I lived there during one summer in a boat house that I bought for $300. It sank during a storm 1974 or 75.
Oh man, so sorry to hear that!