ENCINITAS — The nearly century-old iconic Encinitas Boat Houses, SS Encinitas and SS Moonlight, currently sit empty in critical condition, plagued with structural issues and a lack of funding for necessary repairs, members of the Encinitas Preservation Association told The Coast News.
Built in the late 1920s by local architect Miles Minor Kellog, these local New England-inspired landmarks comprised of reclaimed lumber are afflicted by foundational issues caused by decades of moisture, poor drainage and deteriorating building materials, leaving one of the boats at risk of collapse.
“These boats are collapsing,” said J.T. Knowles, an Encinitas Preservation Association board member. “Every single day, we worry about losing them.”
Potential natural disasters, such as earthquakes or storms, could further exacerbate the homes’ ongoing structural decline, underscoring the urgency of the repairs.
However, members of the local nonprofit are hopeful that with sufficient support, the houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places can be stabilized and preserved as a lasting tribute to Encinitas’ coastal history.
Salvaged from the wood of a Prohibition-era hotel, nightclub and bathhouse, both houses are supported by a series of concrete pilings with wooden beams hoisting the hulls. SS Encinitas, the southernmost house, is now being supported by a wooden cradle to prevent the structure from tilting further.
“The boats are getting to be 100 years old, and it’s pretty amazing the way they’re structurally supported, that they’re still here because it’s just like little four-by-four posts holding them up,” said Bart Smith, president of the Encinitas Preservation Association board. “So, we need to do is figure out a way to shore them up so that they’re supported for another 100 years.”
The interior of both boat houses has warped over the years due to water damage and disrepair, making the wooden floors, walls and ceilings crooked and uneven.
Board members said several temporary measures have already been taken to help stabilize the nautical-themed homes, such as addressing water intrusion issues and minor structural repairs. However, since the group lacks the funds needed for a complete restoration, these efforts have only served as temporary, stop-gap solutions.
The Encinitas Preservation Association, a nonprofit, faces financial strain as the properties remain vacant due to safety issues. With no rental income from the houses, the association is struggling to cover the mortgage, with the only revenue coming from the low-income units at the back of the property.
“The EPA is a nonprofit, and as such, is completely dependent on rent to pay all its bills,” Knowles said. “And now that these are empty, we’re running out of money fast.”
The group is now embarking on an urgent fundraising and grant-writing campaign to secure the estimated $1 million needed to restore the structures. To support the restoration efforts, the Encinitas Preservation Association plans a fundraising event early next year in partnership with local businesses and community members.
The members said they are also working to secure additional funding through city, county, state and federal grant programs.
“It’s like we’re constantly just playing catch up with the work we’ve done, not really addressing the big elephant in the room, which is the major structural work,” said Sean Englert, an Encinitas Preservation Association board member. “And now I’d say we’re bordering on emergency.”
