The split-level houseboat, the “Inn Deep,” might correctly be renamed the “Love Boat,” thanks to the romance between its two occupants.
The houseboat is one of 12 featured on the upcoming Sausalito Floating Homes Tour, sponsored by the Floating Homes Association, a non-profit volunteer organization representing floating homes at five Sausalito marinas.
The houseboat was the perfect home for a single mom raising two boys, and became a shared home when Lisa and Don McNelley renewed a longtime friendship, discovered their mutual love and married. The couple now live on the houseboat, when not visiting their far-flung children.
The house was built in 1989, and depending upon how you count it, it has four or five levels. On top is a multi-level roof with a Jacuzzi hot tub on one level and, serving as ballast, seating and planters on the other level.
Entrance into the houseboat is from the side, leading into the living and dining rooms, which feature a fireplace and pub table made from old ship timbers. They also help provide ballast to counter the weight from a kitchen remodel and the hot tub up top.
Down a bit further is a bath and office/den on the bay side of the home, and on the next level is the laundry and guest room, known as “The Boardroom” because of the old surfboards hanging from the ceiling.
The upper level includes a master bedroom with a fully remodeled bath with skylight and window, with access to the Jacuzzi tub, and doors to the poop deck, which looks out to the water and Liberty Dock beyond.
Inn Deep
Address: 14 A Main Dock
Owners: Don and Lisa McNelley
Square Footage: 1,200
Number of Stories: 2 split level
Tickets: Prepaid registration is $50 per person; $55 on tour day
Time: 11 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Sept. 14
Location: Tour events are anchored at the Kappas Marina Green, 100 Gate Six Road, Sausalito, where there will be live entertainment, food and refreshments for sale, and artists and authors from the community offering their creations for sale. The tour is the primary fund raiser for the association and also benefits other local non-profits, including Sausalito Village and the Friends of the Marin City Library.
Other homes
Check out the other homes featured on the tour:
- Floating on a dream
- “White Elephant” houseboat focuses on whimsy, eclectic art
- Houseboat is a salute to modern Danish art and Hawaiian wood
- 4-story ‘Dragon Boat’ houseboat will be open to visitors
- Tiny houseboat makes a big statement
- Floating museum celebrates Denmark, old San Francisco and Jimmy Carter
- Landlubber transforms houseboat and himself
- Summer always in season on this Sausalito houseboat
- Colorful floating home suits a ‘pair of docs’
- Contractor takes his floating home ‘by storm’ to build his dream
- Transforming tiny floating home into a weekend getaway
