Shantyboats are a North American tradition spanning 200 years. Crude, ramshackle houseboats, they can still be found navigating the Mississippi and other rivers. The late Kentucky-born artist and writer, Harlan Hubbard, celebrated them (and the river life) in a series of books.
I wrote about shantyboats (and Harlan Hubbard) for the UK-based Ernest Journal, a few years ago.
https://ccohanlon.tumblr.com/post/681161363631095808/shantyboat