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 than 100-year-old houseboat is berthed at 13 S 40 Dock in Sausalito’s Waldo Point Harbor. The vessel has been transformed from a derelict tugboat into a stylish 583-square-foot floating home and motor yacht.Its current owners, entrepreneur Ryan Phelan and her husband, writer, editor and designer Stewart Brand, rescued Mirene from salvage more than four decades ago.
From working tugboat to abandoned vessel
Mirene was built in the early 20th century at the Kruse & Banks Shipyard in Coos Bay, Oregon. According to Phelan, the shipyard was known at the time for building wooden vessels on the West Coast.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.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.By the 1970s, the vessel had reached San Francisco Bay and was being used as a commercial fishing boat.But its fortunes soon changed.
Stewart Brand and Ryan Phelan bought Mirene as salvage
A derelict tugboat transformed into a one-of-a-kind Sausalito floating home. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)
By 1981, Mirene had become “basically derelict,” according to research by Phelan and Brand. Much of the interior had been stripped out, and even its engine was gone.The couple saw potential in the abandoned vessel and bought it as salvage for just $8,000.“Stewart and I had just fallen in love when we came across Mirene, anchored out and neglected. We thought ‘what a great project to do together’-little did we know it would be our haven for the next 40 years,” Phelan said.The restoration eventually transformed Mirene into a houseboat that retained its historic character while gaining modern amenities.
Inside the 583-square-foot floating home
This 1912 tugboat spent decades being restored into a floating home. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)
Despite its compact size, Mirene features a carefully designed interior with plenty of clever storage.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.The bathroom features a Japanese soaking tub in a striking brick-red finish.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.The living room is perhaps the home’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.
Mirene was transformed into a seagoing yacht
Sausalito’s historic floating home gets a major $800,000 price cut. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)
The restoration eventually went beyond creating a comfortable floating residence.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.“By 1997, we were doing sea trials,” Phelan said.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.The engine room also provides storage space and houses a full-sized washer and dryer.
What comes with the $1 million Mirene sale?
Bay Area couple’s $8,000 salvage project is now worth $1 million. (Photo: Ben Barghabany)
The property includes Mirene’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.Phelan described the berth as offering excellent water views and a spacious turning basin for navigating in and out of the dock.She also described the Waldo Point Harbor houseboat community as friendly and close-knit, with residents participating in gatherings, potlucks and shared gardening.
Mirene was originally listed for $1.8 million
Phelan and Brand put 13 South 40 Dock and Mirene on the market in October 2025 for $1.8 million.In July, the asking price was reduced by $100,000.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.
