‘Big Red’ – An End-Dock Houseboat with Breathtaking Views

• $820,000
2401 N Northlake Wy #B15Seattle, WA 98103

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Highlights

• Incredible unobstructed views
• Private, end-of-dock slip
• Water-level swim step
• Space for a small boat
• Full rooftop deck with towering views
• 1,100 sqft of outdoor living
• Full kitchen with peninsula and bar seating
• Powder room on main level
• Recently remodeled
• Huge cargo-hold below for storage
• Low-maintenance houseboat
• New aluminum hull & steel siding
• New electrical & plumbing
• Plenty of power with a 50-amp electrical connection
• Gas (propane) on-board
• Marina parking available
• Slip fee of $850/mo + $250/mo liveaboard fee
• Annual taxes: $4,398.81

What the Sellers Loved About This Houseboat

For us, Lake Union is an incredible “working” lake, that engages many different people every day, year around. To have a front-row seat to the continual action on the lake, with an unencumbered panorama, is a highlight that we won’t forget.

Big Red is an incredibly well-built, highly functional houseboat that quickly becomes home, once you step onboard. First step? Go sit down on the large decked front patio, and just take in the feel of being feet away from passing ducks, paddlers, rowers, sailors, and boat drivers. With a vigilantly-guarded seven knot speed limit on all of Lake Union, you feel safe swimming right off the water-level swim step.

Once cooled off, you go inside this beautifully adorned living room, with sitting room for eight or more visitors. You notice the large wall-mounted heater that keeps feet toasty on cold winter nights. You pass into the kitchen and sit down for a beverage at the four-person countertop. The kitchen has everything you want. Over your left shoulder you see the downstairs bathroom with utility. Behind you is the circular stairs leading to the second floor. To the right is the back deck, where you can launch you kayak, or sit on top sculling boat.

Upstairs, you are treated to a spacious front bedroom, with large deck for enjoying a morning espresso and morning sunshine. The full bathroom and shower are beautifully done, with slate flooring, and subway tiled full shower. Off the opposite side of the bathroom, is the guest room and office space – perfect for out of town visitors, as well as important zoom meetings. Off the back deck is another sitting area for private moments.

As you make your way up the second flight of circular stairs, you experience the capper – a picturesque view of Seattle downtown, the waterfront, Gas Works Park, Eastlake floating home community, and a host of lake users. You tower over all the nearby vantage points. As daylight shifts to dusk, you see the sunset over Queen Anne Hill. At dark you see the cityscape, the Space Needle all lit up, and plenty of boats stirring the lake front. In the winter, you enjoy a warm beverage as the decorated holiday ships pass in front of you.

All during summer, you strike up the BBQ, cook dinner for your guests while enjoying a favorite beverage, and taking in the feel of a luxurious vessel, as you relax in cushioned deck chairs. The twelve foot, retractable canopy allows you to enjoy as much sunlight as you choose on hot days.

At night, you go to sleep with the quietness and safety you appreciate, inside a secure dock gate. If the wind kicks up bigtime, you appreciate both the square sided hull design as well as overboard wave attenuators that help minimize any sideways shifting of the hull.

Recent Improvements to ‘Big Red’ Houseboat

In autumn 2020, we purchased this houseboat, and scheduled the hull replacement. Our son lived in this houseboat until February, 2021 when it was put in dry dock at Canal Boatyard in Fremont. Renowned shipwright Peter Proctor [lead shipwright for decades at Jensen Boatyard], and hull expert Mike Sherlock led the hull replacement and rebuilding of the entire houseboat. During the four months on land, the steel and wood beam houseboat was meticulously dismantled by Proctor and his team, all the ‘inners’ were removed, and the new Sherlock aluminum hull was built on-site and attached with amazing precision. Peter also led the houseboat structure rework, including floor, bathroom, kitchen on the main floor as well as floor and bathroom reconstruction on the second floor. Peter routed the propane systems outside the hull for safety.

Summary of Improvements and Associated Costs

$ 3,000 – Removal of steel cladding from wood beamed hull
$ 15,000 – Removal of wood hull
$ 4,000  – Removal of dated electrical, plumbing, heating systems
$ 5,000  Removal of Grey diesel engine
$ 118,000  – Construction and installation of new aluminum hull
$ 4,000 – Construction of swim step off front porch
$ 8,000 – Construction of new front and back porches and corner posts
$ 12,000 – Construction of new floor joists on main floor
$ 11,000 – Construction of new main floor
$ 42,000 – Construction of new kitchen with appliances and lighting
$ 18,000 – New wiring throughout the entire houseboat
$ 8,000 – Construction of new main floor bathroom
$ 15,000 – Construction of new bathroom, shower, floor, vanity for second floor bathroom
$ 8,000 – Construction of circular stairs from main floor and second floor
$ 3,700 – Construction of top deck stair railing
$ 5,500 – Construction of new second floor including leveling and flooring
$ 7,000 – All new paint throughout the first and second floors
$ 3,500 – New double doors on front and back of first and second floors
$ 1,700 – New 2nd floor balcony railings
$ 650 – New sealed second floor balcony
$ 6,300 – New propane heating system with external hull piping for safety
$ 3,400 – New water heater
$ 4,000 – New black water system
$ 2,100 – New fresh water holding tank and system
$ 7,250 – Boatyard haul out, residence, and launch fees
$ 3,100 – Trash haul away fees

$319,200 TOTAL COST OF IMPROVEMENTS
$525,000 PURCHASE COST OF HOUSEBOAT
$844,200 TOTAL PROJECT COST