WILMINGTON—Inside the “Rooster,” you’ll find two “cruisers” in training. Shared by Jill Caldwell and Curtis Jacobson, the Rooster is a commercial fishing vessel-turned houseboat docked near Masonboro Island on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Referred to as “lovebirds” by their matchmaking friend, the Rooster is Caldwell and Jacobson’s soon-to-be permanent residence.
RELATED: Cedar shake 1930s beach cottage in Carolina Beach
“We’re not actual ‘liveaboards’ yet,” Caldwell said. “What we want to actually become is called a ‘cruiser,’ which means we live on the boat as we travel.”
Docked at Masonboro Yacht Club and Marina, the pair live nearby and bike to the Rooster daily. “We’re here every day,” she said. “We’re one of the few marinas that allow liveaboards.”
Alongside its dingy counterpart, “little hen” that sits atop the waterborne abode, The Rooster is a one-bedroom one-bath houseboat fit for cruising.
“Curtis and I are still working so it’s going to be probably another five to 10 years before we become cruisers,” Caldwell said.
A Thompson vessel built and designed in Florida, the boat is a rare find. Jacobson renovated electrical wiring and performed engine work on the boat to get it ready for a houseboat lifestyle.
“This one’s rare because of the length,” Jacobson said. “It’s a commercial fishing boat converted; it wasn’t built for cruising.”
Do you have a home, on or off the market, that our readers may be interested in seeing? Let us know at PCD@localvoicemedia.com.
Send tips to Johanna Ferebee at johanna@localvoicemedia.com or follow Johanna on Twitter @j__ferebee
