A floating house that once served as a famous wedding chapel has hit the market for $425,000.
The Chapel on the Bay, docked on the Manatee River in Palmetto, Florida, was once known as the only structure of its kind in the country.
It was bought by retired contractor Sam Cribbs, 67, and his wife Linda in 2015.
The couple spent $240,000 transforming the houseboat into a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house. They added features such as a kitchen with granite counter-tops and a spiral staircase that leads to the upstairs bedroom.
One-of-a-kind: The Chapel on the Bay is docked on the Manatee River in Palmetto, Florida, is on the market for $425,000
Sam Cribbs and his wife Linda bought the home in 2015 and spent $240,000 transforming it from a chapel to a home
Sam said: ‘I basically took it all apart and put it back together so that it could actually be lived in.
‘I didn’t buy it to keep. I bought it as a project. It’s really cool and it’s in perfect shape for someone to move in.’
The 30×60-foot vessel now operates as a vacation home with a price of $345 a night, and owner Sam says it stays very full throughout the year.
The couple turned the former houseboat into a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house, adding features such as a spiral staircase that leads to the upstairs bedroom
The unique home still features the podium that was used for weddings is still in the living room (pictured left)
But the renovations have not overwritten the original features that make the structure so special, such as the exterior church design, 19-foot ceilings, stained glass windows and heavy wooden doors.
Even the podium that was used for weddings is still in the living room.
‘It’s a real unique property and it can be used for anything – a vacation home, converting it back to a chapel, or someone could live in it for the rest of their life,’ said owner Sam.
‘Every compliment you can think of, the visitors have said. I’ve had people who stayed in it three times. I don’t think we’ve ever gotten a rating that was less than five stars.’
The home now operates as a vacation home with a price of $345 a night, and owner Sam says it stays full throughout the year
The 30×60-foot vessel was originally built in 2004. It comes with a a kitchen with granite counter-tops and an ocean view
The former houseboat is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also built to last, with a fiberglass exterior strong enough to withstand a hurricane and carry a wedding party of 100.
While its originally construction in 2004 cost more than $1 million, and about $1.3 million has been spent on it in total, houseboats of this size do not sell for that much.
Sam said: ‘The people that built this thing used materials much stronger than you would use for a standard house.
‘I’m just trying to sell it so that I can move back to the west coast.’
A number of potential buyers have shown interest in the home since it was originally listed for $600,000 last year.
Some have shown interest in living in it, while others have considered transforming it back into a floating chapel.
Its originally construction in 2004 cost more than $1 million, and about $1.3 million has been spent on it in total
The former houseboat is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also built to last, with a fiberglass exterior strong enough to withstand a hurricane and carry a wedding party of 100
Brenda Thompson, the property marketing expert for the home, said: ‘We’ve had a bit of a response. Everything from retired veterans to people who wanted to rent it out as a charter boat.
‘Some were even looking to convert it back into a chapel. It can easily be done.
‘It is difficult to find someone who is serious though. It’s not considered a house and it has no address. It’s more like a yacht.’
To view the property’s listing, visit http://specialfinds.com/listings/houseboat-for-sale/.
Home with a view: A number of potential buyers have shown interest in the home since it was originally listed for $600,000
Renovations have not overwritten the original features that make the structure so special, such as the exterior church design, 19-foot ceilings, stained glass windows and heavy wooden doors