L.A.’s quaint Gesner boathouses are by no means yacht-sized. Yet they’re a rare, attention-getting commodity on the infrequent occasion that they come up for sale.

Only 12 of these iconic, nautical, hill-hugging homes were built.

Now that one is docked on the L.A. market for $1,599,000, buyers should be ready to come aboard, lest they miss the boat.

This home last changed hands in 2022 for $1.4 million. It has been on and off the market since November 2023, for as much as $1.7 million—and up to $8,000 per month as a rental.

Building the unbuildable

Legendary modernest architect Harry Gesner designed these houses in the late 1950s, on lots that were previously considered unbuildable. He favored a unique, floating-vessel style with a humble, curbside entrance and a design that jutted over the hill in the back, all supported by sturdy, wooden stilts. It gives the impression of a ship heading out to sea—or out over the canyon, in this instance. The common denominator? All of these boathouses have remarkable views.

Gesner brought in Norwegian shipbuilders, who are reported to have used tools like hand axes—which were more suitable to boat building than homebuilding—to fashion the wooden beams. The result had a solid, artisanal quality.

Along those lines, it should come as no surprise that these homes were also built with shiplap walls and ceilings.

Sweeping canyon views

This particular boathouse, situated among similar ones in the Cahuenga Pass, measures 1,136 square feet. It has two bedrooms and one bath and sports the signature, modified A-frame design. The floor-to-ceiling windows afford sweeping views of the canyons and city below, illuminating the entire structure.

It also features a balcony that extends from the living room across the back of the house, so warm California nights, cool canyon breezes, and sparkling night scapes can be savored al fresco.

The home’s facade is deceptively humble. There’s virtually no front yard—just a carport attached to the front of the house and set back from the curb. The main-entry door is at the back of the carport.

Behind that front door, there’s a wide-open living space with an elevated office loft to one side, a recently renovated kitchen on the other, and a great room with remarkable views straight ahead.

The bedrooms are set below the main-entry level at the back of the house, so they also have exceptional views as well.

The boathouse has been listed for less than a week and seems priced to sell at $1,599,000. Best of all, a buyer will enjoy the place fully furnished.

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