Encinitas Boathouses,

726-32 3rd Street, Encinitas, CA 92024

Located on 3rd Street in Encinitas, California, the Encinitas Boathouses are a unique sight to behold. These two towering structures, resembling enormous boats, stand out among the quaint beach houses and cottages in the area. Built in the late 1920s by architect Miles Kellogg using salvaged timber from a local bathhouse and the historic Moonlight Beach Dance Parlor, these boathouses have never set sail. Instead, they have served as homes for landlubbers for decades.

With 19 portholes, mariner's wheels, and a quirky starboard list, the SS Encinitas and SS Moonlight showcase early California courtyard architecture and vernacular design associated with Historic Highway 101. Each boathouse measures 15 feet tall by 20 feet long and offers around 1100 square feet of living space.

Managed by the Encinitas Preservation Association, these boathouses are currently rented out as private residences. However, there are plans to transform them into a small museum once the loan is paid off. Visitors can explore these historic structures as part of the Guided Downtown Walking Tour, offered every third Saturday from September to July. Don't miss the chance to see these unique boathouses at 726 and 732 Third Street in Encinitas.