There’s no bow, stern, hull or anything resembling a boat. Even if it wasn’t anchored to the ground with heavy-duty posts sunk in concrete, it wouldn’t look particulary seaworthy. Yet, it has a state boat license and is located on the bank of the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River in North Bend. It’s built atop a county dike and extends into the river floodway with support posts in the river channel.

Come to think of it, it looks a lot more like a deck than a boat.

That’s what North Bend building inspectors thought, too. City regulations don’t allow property owners to build in a floodway, let alone the river bed – both places boats are free to roam. Perhaps the property owner felt he could avoid having to follow building codes by getting the deck licensed as a boat, speculated Greg Kirk, city building official.

For the complete story, subscribe to the Valley Record, (425) 888-2311