Cove Is Home to Cool Pontoon Houseboat
Cove Is Home to Cool Pontoon Houseboat
Example of a Vessel Fit for Purpose, Responsible Owners
A recent story portrayed the waters of Green Cove Springs as having too many neglected vessels prone to sinking or breaking free from their anchors. The sweet little houseboat pictured above is not part of the problem.
Charles Halbrook of Worthington Springs purchased the boat in Sanford for $9,000 and he and his wife spent another $14,000 fixing her up over a four month period. The Halbrooks have her anchored off the swampy back side of the city’s signature cove.
The boat has a rooftop observation deck with a diving board and slide. She’s powered by a single outboard motor and steered from inside with the driver looking through a window.
About three dozen boats lie at anchor within city limits, many of which were designed to sail around the world, though unlikely to ever do so, even when they were new. In other words, they are way too much boat for the protected waters of the St. Johns River, where pontoon, bass and jon boats rule.
The owners are keeping her anchored for now until they can obtain an insurance policy. Nearly all marinas require some kind of coverage to keep a boat in a slip.
Meanwhile, Halbrook said they spend most weekends Easy Livin’ on Aqua Island. For local entertainment and fellowship they have become members of the Elks Lodge at the head of the cove.
