This houseboat in Sausalito, California, could be of interest to you if you’re looking for a boatload of history.
What’s great about this $783,000 bohemian paradise with one bedroom and one bathroom? It was Shel Silverstein’s once.
In 1967, the author of “The Giving Tree” moved into Sausalito’s floating home community of artists and gave his houseboat the name Evil Eye. The houseboat belonged to photographer and artist Larry Moyer, a friend of Silverstein’s, until March 2016, when he passed away.
During World War II, the ship now stationed at 8 Liberty Dock was a balloon barge. Balloon barges were Navy ships “whose lofted cables were designed to snare kamikaze aircraft,” according to Smithsonian Magazine. Houseboat community in Sausalito began after Marinship Corp. stopped producing ships after World War II.
Richardson Bay was left with tonnes of scrap metal, wood, and other materials, which gave homeless drifters and artists the opportunity to build rent-free houses out of abandoned vessels in the 1950s and 1960s.
Drug traffickers and squatters also resided in the houseboat community throughout Silverstein’s stay.
Moyer told the magazine, “People lived here because they could afford it.” “Because of the shipyards, you could always find an old lifeboat hull to build on and recycle materials.”
One of the most premium and vibrant real estate markets in the San Francisco Bay Area these days is the houseboat village of Sausalito. The 1,200-square-foot house last sold for $375,000 in 2017.
The completely refurbished barge would make a perfect holiday rental or second house. The first thing that greets guests is what looks to be a dilapidated collection of wood and spare components.
The houseboat’s exterior, with its wood cladding and retro appearance, has been preserved by its present owners.
There are still minute elements that hint at the past occupants of the house.
The houseboat’s stained-glass windows, which resemble eyes, are perhaps why it was given the nickname “Evil Eye.”
Despite being small by tract home standards, the interior of the house seems airy and open.
Despite being small by tract home standards, the interior of the house seems airy and open.
The bathroom has been restored with subway tiling, contemporary fixtures and the old stained-glass windows still intact.
Despite being small by tract home standards, the interior of the house seems airy and open.
The top deck’s eat-in kitchen is roomy and well-lit. For those who don’t mind the excitement of sleeping a few feet off the ground, there is a lofted Murphy-style bed.
Despite being small by tract home standards, the interior of the house seems airy and open.
We suggest setting sail for Sausalito to seize this unique home for a buyer with an adventurous spirit looking for something different.
Look through the entire listing for more pictures and information.
Real estate in Sausalito, California
Study up on Sausalito, California
