Blue cottage floats on Sarasota Bay

Visitors and residents wonder about the origins of the houseboat in the shape of a cottage docked near Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

By Amanda Morales
| 4:11 p.m. February 23, 2016

Allan Bazzy waves from the floating cottage docked in front of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Sarasota
Neighbors

The houseboat floating along Sarasota Bay seems like a better fit for a beachfront property, but then again it looks right at home.

The blue house boat known as the Floating Cottage or Floridian 42 is a product of the Bradenton Beach Marina. It appeared in our neighborhood this week when Allan Bazzy, co-owner of Bradenton Beach Marina decided to take it home to test out new motors.

“I kind of feel like Columbus,” Bazzy said.

Bazzy made landfall with Floridian 42 on Monday and has the boat anchored off shore from his home at 988 Boulevard of the Arts. The boat can be clearly seen from the John Ringling Bridge as well as the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

“This is the first time we’ve brought it down to Sarasota,” said Michael Bazzy, Allan Bazzy’s son and President of Bradenton Beach Marina. “It’s been getting a lot of attention.”

The Floridian 42 was built five years ago and was designed as a vacation rental. The pontoon-based boat is complete with a fireplace in the living room, big screen TV, kitchen, queen-sized bed, closet and a washer/dryer.