Blending nautical novelty and history, Yankee Ferry (formerly the SS Machigonne) is certainly one of the most unique homes currently on the market—and not even because it floats.
This houseboat is out to defy expectations. With a 29-foot beam and multiple levels, Yankee Ferry is arranged as an 11-bedroom home. On the lowest level, visitors will find what was once the former crew quarters renovated into a bedroom, located near the engine room that’s still intact. The first deck includes an office space as well as several bedrooms. The second deck is home to a spacious ballroom, complete with a performance stage and banquet table (which can be elevated to ceiling-level for space). In the ferry’s wheelhouse, there’s an additional bedroom with an attached galley (or kitchenette).
After starting its life as a ferry in Portland, Maine, in 1907, the vessel served a stint in the Navy, shuttling supplies and soldiers to and from Boston Harbor during World War I. It headed south to ferry immigrants from Ellis Island until 1929, and then it brought tourists from the Statue of Liberty until World War II. It’s since traded owners several times, but the boat has been a part of so much history that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Today, the boat is owned by designers Richard and Victoria MacKenzie-Childs, known for their furniture company.
(Michael R. Franklin of Franklin Ruttan Unique Property Specialists)
Docked at Henry Street Pier in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Yankee Ferry is listed for $1.25 million. Interested parties wishing to learn more should click here to contact Michael R. Franklin of Franklin Ruttan Unique Property Specialists.
—RealClearLife Staff
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