A former US Navy vessel turned $800,000 houseboat called 'the Evil Eye' is on sale the Bay Area- see inside

Mary MeisenzahlMar 6, 2020, 18:57 IST

Dianne Andrews

A houseboat once owned by author Shel Silverstein is on the market in the Bay Area.
The 1,200-square-foot home is listed for $783,000.
Before it belonged to Silverstein, the boat was a World War II balloon barge, and it has since been remodeled several times.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A Sausalito, California houseboat on the market for $783,000 has an interesting history.

Before it was bought by poet Shel Silverstein in 1967, it was used as a balloon barge in World War II - ships used by the US Navy to spot kamikaze aircraft.

Silverstein, the author of famous books including Runny Babbit and The Giving Tree, moved into the boat, christened The Evil Eye in 1967, and owned it until his death in 1999. In 2017, The Evil Eye was listed for $390,000, and photos from Curbed show that it was badly in need of a remodel.

Now, the houseboat is listed for nearly twice the asking price from 2017, but the new price tag comes with a whole new interior. The property at 8 Liberty Dock is listed by Dianne Andrews of Engel and Voelkers.

Take a look inside.

See A former US Navy vessel turned $800,000 houseboat called 'the Evil Eye' is on sale the Bay Area- see inside >>

The exterior of The Evil Eye has been preserved, despite renovation and additions.

Evidence of the boat's history remains in small details, but you have to look for them.

The view from the outside is deceptive, because the boat is actually a comfortable 1,200 square feet inside.

The name reportedly comes from the eye-like stained glass windows.

Inside, the wooden interior preserves the historic feel of The Evil Eye.

Stained glass windows add character to the space.

The main room is large and open, with windows that let in light and open up the rooms.

Columns and railings break up the visual appeal.

Historic details link the boat to its past.

Moving further into the home, it transitions from a classic wooden interior to an ultra-modern kitchen.

Repurposed, trendy light fixtures help link the old and new spaces.

The kitchen might be a happy surprise for buyers.

It's surprisingly spacious for a houseboat, or even a San Francisco apartment.

The single wooden wall is the only reminder that you're still on the boat at all.

The kitchen is so large that it serves as a cooking, eating, and living space, with seating that also acts as storage.

Modern fixtures and a black and white color scheme bring this World War II artifact into the 21st century.

Downstairs, the black and white renovation continues.

The living room comfortably fits several people, without being crowded.

It's still a houseboat, so no potential storage space is wasted.

One of the bedrooms on the lower level is perfect for children or guests.

The room maximizes lateral space with a unique bed, which is suspended from the ceiling.

Chains hold the bed up, meaning all the space underneath can be used for storage.

The houseboat only has one bathroom, but it's fully updated with a large bathtub, plus the continued theme of stained glass.

The other bedroom has a more typical bed.

However, it has enough space to fit other furniture without feeling cramped, a rarity for a houseboat.

While the boat is docked, there's space for outdoor furniture to enjoy the Bay Area weather.

Sausalito, where the boat is docked, is known for its colorful waterfront collection of houseboats.

Source: Roadtrippers

The floating home community in the area consists of more than 400 boats.

Source: Curbed

Cookies on the Business Insider India website