A Two-Level Home That “Floats” Over San Francisco Bay. No, It’s Not a Joke

In San Francisco, USA, there was another unusual occurrence on the day of the solar eclipse. The image of a two-story house—which was really a houseboat—drifting across San Francisco Bay enthralled many. Everyone was naturally interested in learning where it came from and where it was going. Even though its shingled facade would have looked good in any opulent area, the water claimed it on April 8. The boat was being hauled for the last two days from Redwood City to San Rafael, over the waters of San Francisco Bay. What story is this strange sail behind, then?

A big wooden house in the middle of the bay attracted people’s attention as they flocked to San Francisco’s Exploratorium waterfront on Monday to see the solar eclipse, according to a Fox 5 report. The floating mansion was assisted in crossing Alcatraz Island by a slow tow boat.

The San Francisco Standard said that the boat was one of several dozen that the city was forced to evacuate after a protracted court struggle, forcing residents along a San Mateo County river to do the same. At the marina, the once-thriving houseboat community of more than a hundred people had declined as a result of forced evictions brought about by lawsuits from nearby neighbors.

This particular houseboat was the second last to depart from Redwood City when it eventually arrived at its current position at the Commodore Marina in Sausalito. Local Sausalito resident Phil Hott said the arduous trek across the bay took longer than expected due to tidal and weather conditions.

He told NBC Bay Area that it traveled up a complicated canal, so you had to timing the tide right and come down without the wind banging you into the coast.

“These items weigh a lot. After that, it must pass through the bay. Additionally, the tide and winds are changing, and the current is diminishing. You don’t want to be pulled toward the Golden Gate Bridge by it.

Longtime Docktown hamlet inhabitants in Redwood City lamented to the local media the disappearance of individual houseboats during the last several years. Edward Stancil has lived in Docktown since 1986. He said to ABC7 last year, “I just can’t stand it because another boat goes out every day, another boat goes out.” And it really saddens me to witness the demise of affordable homes. You understand?”

Stancil continued by saying that his retirement income is not enough to pay for the expense of renting a house in Silicon Valley, given his current situation. He said that the remaining renters just want to stay, not be paid. According to the Palo Alto Daily Post, Redwood City offered Stancil and the four remaining Docktown residents a sum of around $85,000 (about Rs 70 lakh) in return for their agreement to move in October. Payments to others came to a total of $190,000 (more than Rs 1.58 crore).

Furthermore, Redwood City settled a case claiming unlawful use of state property submitted by several anonymous people for more than $1.5 million (more than Rs 12 crore).