A houseboat that was built in 1986 has gone through the most phenomenal transformation in Canada. The tiny floating home was deemed unfit to live in before a couple decided to lovingly turn it into a piece of art. It took a year and a half for Jason and Cayley to fully restore the boat to its former glory.
A shipwright and a carpenter respectively, the couple have seen their fair share of daunting projects. “Well friends, This is what we’ve been up too lately. In September we found this gem in Esquimalt. It was a great fit for us since I love living on the water and Cayley has always loved the idea of Tiny Homes.”
“It was far too ruff for us to move into though so we had it towed to our home port of Canoe Cove and hauled out for a major refit. I figured I would post some before shots with lots more on the way. I can’t wait to see what the two of us can do to this thing as a team.” said Jason on @wood_and_wind on Instagram.
A floating home transformed from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan
“I came out here to learn wood boat construction but a by-product of that is that I’ve been living on the water for six years now,” Jason shared. “And it’s been wonderful. It’s something that gets in your blood.” When digging deeper into the project, the couple often thought they were in for more than they bargained on.
“We found a bit more rot in the hull than we expected. But that seems to be the name of the game. Pretty much anywhere the fiberglass was compromised required the plywood to be replaced. But back here the rot was in all the frames as well. Once the weather warms up fairing and fiberglass will complete these repairs…” said Jason.
The floating home has been named ‘Pax’
‘Pax’ was originally purchased by the couple for a mere $6,000, there was something about it that they saw potential in and they decided to take the leap of faith, which led them on the most amazing journey. The floating home measured in at 30 feet long and 12.5 feet wide – no small feat.
The roofing area is now a gorgeous open lounge. One only needs to imagine sitting here on a warm evening with some champagne and snacks, watching the orange-hued sun set in the distance. A lazy day of sun tanning is definitely on the cards too.
Read: I’ve slept in cardboard boxes, vans and trucks. Now I live with my three dogs in a 25-foot sailboat
Cayley designed the bathroom and its layout, taking into account the lack of space this floating home had. She even managed to fit in a small tub to make this space work beautifully and practically. The boat’s batteries have also cleverly been hidden in a box that also functions as a bench.
Even the stairs serve a dual purpose
The added stairs double up as storage space and they’ve even managed to hide the water heating there too. The readymade kitchen cabinets were fitted with space utilization in mind, with both the fridge and freezer strategically placed under countertops.
Image Credit: YOUTUBE – EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES
There is even a wine cellar in a storage area of the floating home which is uninsulated, adding to the natural cooling needed for this purpose. There’s a cute dinette where one can enjoy a meal while looking out at the water. We’ve kept the best part for last of course…
The bedroom boasts quite a lot of comforts
The bed is strategically placed between two sets of cabinets where one is able to store pretty much all their clothing and extras and there’s space to stand upright too. What a beautiful view to wake up to every morning.
Watch the full floating home video here
Keep Reading: This house looked like it was about to fall into itself! (look at it now!)
Sources
- “Couple restore tiny floating home into craftsman’s delight.” Home Hacks. Gianella Argao October, 8 2022.
- wood_and_wind. Instagram.
- YouTube. Exploring Alternatives.
