Blatto Boat

Blatto Boat

Seattle, WA

Blatto Boat is a wood-framed houseboat located at the north end of Lake Union. The house is supported by a custom steel hull engineered by a nautical engineer. Given the constraints of the existing boat’s over-water footprint, structural elements were minimized to optimize livable space, utilizing LVLs for floor joists and 2×4 framing for the walls. The shear walls were strategically designed to facilitate storage access beneath the stairs and built-in cabinet niches. Base plate anchorage and hold-down anchors were welded directly to the steel hull to securely fasten the house to the boat. Notable features include removable floor framing for water tank access, two roof decks with custom guardrails, and two custom steel ladders.