by Erika Vidal Holmes | June 4, 2017
The Roost: Buoyant Beauties
Who needs a driveway or a garage? An eclectic collection of floating abodes gives living on the water a splashy twist.
PENSACOLA
See the world from the comfort of this modern 50-foot blue water trawler, designed for long voyages of up to 2,000 miles. With three staterooms, there’s sufficient space for guests. The sunset-savoring is ideal from the Portuguese bridge, which is a walkway that allows safe passage separated from the foredeck by a bulwark. Thanks to meticulous attention to detail, this Selene 50 Ocean Trawler is in pristine condition. It’s decked out with a fully equipped kitchen (with an oven, refrigerator, and water desalinator) plus options boat aficionados will appreciate, including Naiad stabilizers for a smooth ride and a Westerbeke generator.
Pensacola
List price: $549,000
SARASOTA
Own a piece of nautical history with Eskimo III, a 68-foot 1958 Trumpy yacht houseboat cruiser originally commissioned by John Kimberly, founder of Kimberly-Clark. With crisp white hulls and polished wood detail, Trumpy yachts were once considered the Rolls Royces of the ocean. The crusier’s current owner spent two years restoring every inch to bring it back to its original glory (even the original hand-painted sinks are intact). Eskimo III has sleeping room for 10 and two full bathrooms, and the picturesque fantail is like a sunroom on the ocean.
Sarasota
List price: $750,000
KEY LARGO
Sunshine and 360-degree water views are daily pleasures aboard this custom-built, 65-foot 1996 Sunstar houseboat, Sunny Days. Crafted on a double aluminum hull, the self-propelled, two-story residence features upstairs sleeping quarters and a full bathroom on each floor. The first floor offers plenty of open living space and an epicurean’s kitchen, which has stainless steel cabinets, a full-size refrigerator, a large pantry and a huge island with a butcher-block countertop. Sunny Days has cable, water, central AC and more. And, of course, start and end each day on the second-story deck, overlooking your very own ocean backyard.
Key Largo
List price: $145,000
KEY WEST
This one-of-a-kind floating home offers the best of both worlds—a sturdy foundation built to weather any storm plus the flexibility of living anywhere you want. Of course, with Key West’s perfect weather and laid-back lifestyle, why go anywhere else? This two-story home offers 1,043 square feet of living space with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms and modern amenities. A gourmet’s kitchen features Blue Louise stone countertops and stainless steel appliances. The second-floor master suite has a soaking tub plus a 240-square-foot deck—the perfect place to nibble on sponge cake while watchin’ the sun bake.
16D Hilton Haven Road, Key West
List price: $495,000
FORT MYERS
A cozy three-bedroom, one-bathroom houseboat with $30,000 in recent renovations, the 60-foot Monticello is practically new. It comes with an entertainment package that includes a 37-inch flat-screen TV, Blu-ray player, speakers and an auto tracking satellite system. The U-shaped galley (boat speak for kitchen) has all the appliances needed to whip up the day’s catch, plus plenty of seating. There’s ample storage and open space inside and out for entertaining your guests.
