The owner of an unusual floating home in Surrey is speaking to Global News about his controversial invention.
Emilio Gilpo says his so-called “Hillbilly Houseboat” is a prototype that he is testing on the Nicomekl River in Surrey near Portage Park.
“I have to do what they call a ‘proof of concept,’ so I’m doing this,” Gilpo told Global News.
“If everything goes well, then it will be improved and see how it will goes.”
The houseboat is a camper trailer, sitting on top of a makeshift barge of 36 round containers and some steel beams.
Nearby residents told Global News that they witnessed the floating home get assembled and then launched into the water using a crane.
“You can use it as a recreational vehicle, or a houseboat…something like that,” Gilpo said.
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“Once it is improved on, then it can help the economy.”
The City of Surrey said it had warned the vessel’s owner earlier this month. It did issue one parking ticket when it was located on city land. The ticket was still visible on the side of the trailer on Sunday.
Now that it is on the water, it is in the federal government’s jurisdiction.
Transport Canada said it is going to follow up with Gilpo to ensure that the vessel meets safety and environmental standards.
Gilpo said there is nothing dangerous about his prototype.
The barrels in the pontoons are empty and there is nothing on board except a small generator.
He added that the barge will remain in the water for a few days while he makes modifications and improvements to the design.
He could not provide a timeline for exactly when that might be.
“Funny how when its whitey proposing projects they get shut down”
I love it when racist white people play victim. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside LOL
Of it’s not their own money then go take it away from them. Good luck
Bob,
If you think its FN’s own money funding these developments i have a bridge to sell. Funny how when its whitey proposing projects they get shut down. Give the FN a billion or 2 and now the project is a go. Is it just me or is something wrong with this picture.
Oh sorry, guess I don’t know what I’m talking about
@ Elldub, First Nations are thriving in Vancouver by leading massive, multi-billion-dollar urban real estate developments and actively reclaiming their cultural and economic power in the city
@ Bob B, First Nations thriving??? Look around bud, I don’t know what city you are referring to, for sure NOT Vancouver.
Isn’t it funny how these white power losers on the internet keep talking all this racist buIIshit about First Nations people being “conquered” yet the First Nations people are still thriving. If they were conquered then they wouldn’t still be here. Not only that but First Nations culture is thriving and their political power is currently one of the main issues in western Canadian politics right now. Have fun crossing the new Stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge because it’s not going anywhere and neither is the name lol
Tony of course you like white christians better. Most pedophiles do
@doug ,better white christians than muslambs anyday
Very cute and very original. Complete it till it’s beautiful, with a deck and floating garden. Let it be a live art installation. RVs are ugly no matter where they are but this is funny.
Did you know that a staggering 85% of all refugees coming to Canada are Muslim? Even worse a staggering 100% of the refugees that came to Canada in the 1800’s where white Christians
Jay Voorhees copycat – Coming from the guy who’s been copying my name for a year 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Settlers living in your head rent free coosin
Maybe she can use this idea to build the world’s trashiest flotella for her next attempt to float into the strip
This is how we suffocate development, new ideas. I understand the safety concerns and the regulations but common, give some breathing space to innovation!
Ahhh, the creation of a new form of slum. Need hundreds of these clustered together. At least during floods most of them will get ‘flushed’.
Lol…..
Live and Let live I say. I wish the best outcome of this cool houseboat. Cheers 🍻
@Jay Voorhees – you sound like a raving lunatic. You aren’t making your point, even with those of us with a high IQ.
No permits, no problem. This is BC, the lawless Wild West. If you can shoot up in the middle of the street you can do just about anything.
Illegal, ask the guy on Georgian Bay
Beautifully created. You nay sayers are. Ruining creativity….
People and government upset over this? Before dealing with this maybe clean up the illegal drugs and the homeless issue.
Huh huh huh something something chug huh huh huh something something JV’s mom huh huh huh something something McDonalds huh huh huh us white power boys don’t have much of an education y’all. So I’ll just keep repeating the same low IQ one liners over and over again huh huh huh. Long live the settlers y’all
Guy’s got it made.
Free living on the water.
All he has to do is negotiate like Trump and the Feds will walk away.
Love it
Actually… I think I’m related to this guy
IT’S NOT AN INVENTION!!!!!