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Sheriff Kelly Hanson Says The Houseboat "Neverlanding" Is Anchored In Port Austin
Russ Survance
Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:25:21 EST
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A Canadian-built homemade houseboat named "Neverlanding" has drawn a large online following as it makes a slow journey through the St. Clair River and Lake Huron.
The 21-metre, 48-ton vessel, built in spring 2025 by Harrow, Ontario, electrical engineer Steven Mylrea, is powered by a single 85-horsepower engine and has met all regulatory requirements, according to Windsor's harbourmaster.
Officials remain concerned about the flat-bottom craft's safety on rough late-fall waters and its ability to maneuver in busy commercial lanes, though they say the owner has complied when asked to move from restricted anchorages.
Social media users have been tracking the boat and sharing sightings, and an Australian boater created a Facebook group, Neverlanding - the Houseboat of Dreams, which has grown to more than 2,000 members who view the trip as a symbol of freedom and determination.
Marine recovery operator Wayne McCarty recently boarded the boat to deliver a Thanksgiving meal and said the solo captain, traveling with his dog, is highly meticulous and has multiple backup systems, with ambitions to reach Chicago by Christmas and eventually Madagascar.
After the boat reached Lake Huron off Michigan, Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said the captain entered Port Austin Harbor exhausted, reconsidered continuing, and agreed to keep the self-contained vessel in the harbor for the winter, with local officials exploring options to pull it onto Bird Creek Beach to reduce environmental risk from ice damage.
Hanson stated " The boat and operator are definitely self-contained and he'll be reevaluating his next move as time goes on".
