{"id":23487,"date":"2026-09-13T01:46:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T01:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=23487"},"modified":"2026-09-13T01:46:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T01:46:18","slug":"in-1982-a-bay-area-couple-paid-8000-for-a-derelict-1912-tugboat-44-years-later-their-restored-sausalito-floating-home-is-asking-1-million-after-an-800000-price-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=23487","title":{"rendered":"In 1982, a Bay Area couple paid $8,000 for a derelict 1912 tugboat; 44 years later, their restored Sausalito floating home is asking $1 million after an $800,000 price cut"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134156510,imgsize-119844,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg\" alt=\"In 1982, a Bay Area couple paid $8,000 for a derelict 1912 tugboat; 44 years later, their restored Sausalito floating home is asking $1 million after an $800,000 price cut\" title=\"Historic 1912 Sausalito tugboat bought for $8,000 now asks $1 million. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Historic 1912 Sausalito tugboat bought for $8,000 now asks $1 million. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)\">Historic 1912 Sausalito tugboat bought for $8,000 now asks $1 million. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A historic Sausalito houseboat with a remarkable past is now on the market for $1 million, offering buyers the rare chance to own not just a floating home but a fully functioning seafaring vessel, according to SFGate.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>Known as Mirene, the more than 100-year-old houseboat is berthed at 13 S 40 Dock in Sausalito&#8217;s Waldo Point Harbor. The vessel has been transformed from a derelict tugboat into a stylish 583-square-foot floating home and motor yacht.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>Its current owners, entrepreneur Ryan Phelan and her husband, writer, editor and designer Stewart Brand, rescued Mirene from salvage more than four decades ago.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>From working tugboat to abandoned vessel<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Mirene was built in the early 20th century at the Kruse &amp; Banks Shipyard in Coos Bay, Oregon. <!-- -->According to Phelan, the shipyard was known at the time for building wooden vessels on the West Coast.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>In 1912, Mirene began its working life as a gas schooner, combining a combustion engine with sail power. It initially operated as a cannery tender in Alaska, transporting catches from fishing vessels to canneries.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>However, its heavily built hull proved less suited to carrying large quantities of fish. Mirene was subsequently used as a river tug in the Pacific Northwest, where it spent decades towing log rafts.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/>By the 1970s, the vessel had reached San Francisco Bay and was being used as a commercial fishing boat.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"19\"\/>But its fortunes soon changed.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"21\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Stewart Brand and Ryan Phelan bought Mirene as salvage<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A derelict tugboat transformed into a one-of-a-kind Sausalito floating home.\" msid=\"134156648\" imgsize=\"82034\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"A derelict tugboat transformed into a one-of-a-kind Sausalito floating home. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-82034,msid-134156648\/a-derelict-tugboat-transformed-into-a-one-of-a-kind-sausalito-floating-home.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A derelict tugboat transformed into a one-of-a-kind Sausalito floating home. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>By 1981, Mirene had become \u201cbasically derelict,\u201d according to research by Phelan and Brand. Much of the interior had been stripped out, and even its engine was gone.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/>The couple saw potential in the abandoned vessel and bought it as salvage for just $8,000.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>\u201cStewart and I had just fallen in love when we came across Mirene, anchored out and neglected. <!-- -->We thought \u2018what a great project to do together\u2019-little did we know it would be our haven for the next 40 years,\u201d Phelan said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/>The restoration eventually transformed Mirene into a houseboat that retained its historic character while gaining modern amenities.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Inside the 583-square-foot floating home<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"This 1912 tugboat spent decades being restored into a floating home.\" msid=\"134156705\" imgsize=\"76226\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"This 1912 tugboat spent decades being restored into a floating home. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-76226,msid-134156705\/this-1912-tugboat-spent-decades-being-restored-into-a-floating-home.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>This 1912 tugboat spent decades being restored into a floating home. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/>Despite its compact size, Mirene features a carefully designed interior with plenty of clever storage.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>The kitchen has a full oven, four-burner gas stove, dishwasher and microwave. <!-- -->Copper cookware hangs from a ceiling beam, while a fold-down cutting board and built-in overhead stemware rack make efficient use of the limited space.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"43\"\/>The bathroom features a Japanese soaking tub in a striking brick-red finish.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/>The bedroom sits toward the top of the vessel, offering panoramic windows and access to the upper deck. The main entrance opens onto the lower deck.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"47\"\/>The living room is perhaps the home&#8217;s most distinctive space. <!-- -->Designed by Phelan and Brand as a library and salon, it features floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a wood-burning stove and expansive windows overlooking the harbor.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"51\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Mirene was transformed into a seagoing yacht<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sausalito's historic floating home gets a major $800,000 price cut.\" msid=\"134156729\" imgsize=\"96228\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"Sausalito's historic floating home gets a major $800,000 price cut. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-96228,msid-134156729\/sausalitos-historic-floating-home-gets-a-major-800000-price-cut.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Sausalito&#8217;s historic floating home gets a major $800,000 price cut. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"54\"\/>The restoration eventually went beyond creating a comfortable floating residence.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"56\"\/>In 1996, Brand began considering whether Mirene could once again become a seagoing vessel. With assistance from a Sausalito-based crew, the couple installed a new engine and began sea trials.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"59\"\/>\u201cBy 1997, we were doing sea trials,\u201d Phelan said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"61\"\/>Since then, Mirene has cruised around San Francisco Bay and the Delta. According to Phelan, the boat can accommodate 30 or more guests for a day on the Bay and can also serve as a getaway for a romantic weekend anchored near Angel Island or docked along the San Francisco waterfront.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"64\"\/>The engine room also provides storage space and houses a full-sized washer and dryer.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"66\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>What comes with the $1 million Mirene sale?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bay Area couple's $8,000 salvage project is now worth $1 million.\" msid=\"134156769\" imgsize=\"47900\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"Bay Area couple's $8,000 salvage project is now worth $1 million. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-47900,msid-134156769\/bay-area-couples-8000-salvage-project-is-now-worth-1-million.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Bay Area couple&#8217;s $8,000 salvage project is now worth $1 million. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"69\"\/>The property includes Mirene&#8217;s berth at Waldo Point Harbor as well as a 15-foot Boston Whaler tender, commonly used to ferry passengers and supplies between a larger vessel and shore.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"72\"\/>Phelan described the berth as offering excellent water views and a spacious turning basin for navigating in and out of the dock.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"74\"\/>She also described the Waldo Point Harbor houseboat community as friendly and close-knit, with residents participating in gatherings, potlucks and shared gardening.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"76\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Mirene was originally listed for $1.8 million<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Phelan and Brand put 13 South 40 Dock and Mirene on the market in October 2025 for $1.8 million.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"79\"\/>In July, the asking price was reduced by $100,000.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"81\"\/>The property is now being offered for $1 million, giving a new owner the opportunity to acquire a piece of Sausalito houseboat history that has evolved from a 1912 working vessel into a distinctive floating home and seagoing yacht.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/real-estate\/news\/in-1982-a-bay-area-couple-paid-8000-for-a-derelict-1912-tugboat-44-years-later-their-restored-sausalito-floating-home-is-asking-1-million-after-an-800000-price-cut\/articleshow\/134156053.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Historic 1912 Sausalito tugboat bought for $8,000 now asks $1 million. (Photo: Ben Barghabany) A historic Sausalito houseboat with a remarkable past is now on the market for $1 million, offering buyers the rare chance to own not just a floating home but a fully functioning seafaring vessel, according to SFGate.Known as Mirene, the more [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Historic 1912 Sausalito tugboat bought for $8,000 now asks $1 million. (Photo: Ben Barghabany) A historic Sausalito houseboat with a remarkable past is now on the market for $1 million, offering buyers the rare chance to own not just a floating home but a fully functioning seafaring vessel, according to SFGate.Known as Mirene, the more [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":3,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":4,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/historic-1912-sausalito-tugboat-bought-for-8000-now-asks-1-million.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23487\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}