The Nautilus is a floating love letter to reinvention — a cabin, a tiny home, and a houseboat all rolled into one quietly wonderful idea. Moored beside 1 Big Sustainable Island, it lets you wake to gentle waves at your door, watch the sunrise from bed, and step straight onto a floating porch for morning coffee. It’s proof that with a little imagination (and a lot of care), something old can become something entirely new.
Helpful Guides
The Nautilus Waterhouse - our floating off-the-grid stay. Not near the lake. On it.
Firelight, reflected. The lake holds the night.
Sleep where the lake lives.
Getting to the island is easy. Leaving is hard.
Connected if you want to be. Pretending to be unplugged is also allowed.*INT
Fish stories here require no exaggeration.
Grill, stove, or fire: Outdoor cooking, covered. Just add a cooler-full of your favorite foods*GRL
Composting toilets. (This is not an outhouse - Clean, sanitary, and nose-friendly).*TLT.
Night feels softer on water. The lake doesn’t rush you.
Meals float easily here. The lake sets the scene
Arrive by floatplane. Island bragging rights included.*BTG
The Nautilus feels far away. It isn't.
Arriving and departing are part of the adventure.*CHO
By day it's a couch. By night, it's a comfy bed.
Dock your boat at the floating porch.
Everything you need to cook. No gear lugging required.
Paddle to the Eagles's nest...
Meet Larry the Loon. Loons outnumber humans most days.
Wood stove warmth for ambiance on a cool night. Firewood included.*WST
Berry the Bass was temporarily unavailable.
Wake up floating. Bedside sunrise included.*SLP
S'mores belong here.
The fish bite at sunset.
Worth the rain. Silver linings included. *RBW
The stars like to show up here.*MTR
Meet your new time keeper.
Compare all of our eco-island stays.
A treasure map for island explorers.*IMP
You are here. Adventure nearby.*LMP
This stay works beautifully on its own — and it also plays well with others, combining with nearby island stays through our event console to create an easy basecamp for medium-sized gatherings. 🌲
Paddling gear included. Dogs welcome. Involuntary swimming possible.*BTG
Arrive by canoe, ferry, or bring your own boat or float plane.
Cozy, afloat. Still water below.
Hot Sauna. Cold plunge. Repeat.
An island visitor that quietly manages the place.
Gather ‘round. The fire’s on us with free firewood.*PIT
Off-grid floating comfort. The lake is part of the room.
Caution: this can be hypnotic.
Sunset Proposal Rock. Dog approved.
A small navy of canoes, kayaks, and SUPs are waiting!
Clean, hot showahs — eco-friendly.*HSH
...fishing with your bestie.*FSH
Peter Tuttle the Painted Turtle.
This counts as a commute.*EXP
A whole lot of nothing out front. Exactly the point.
BYOB could also mean Bring Your Own Boat.*BTG
All kinds of island visitors.
Occasionally the sky has something to say.*NTL
The private hammock does the work. You do the lingering.*HAM
The Loon Point public shared beach. Seating for humans. Commentary by loons.
Guest Reviews from Revyoos — Showing 10 of 143 Reviews
Wow what a beautiful and relaxing place to stay! Kent is a top-notch host and very willing to help out if you need something. Thanks for having us! Also if you like to explore the area, we love Absolem Cider just down the road.
My fiancé and I had a great time at 1BSI! We kayaked out to our accommodation and just enjoyed the peace and quiet for a couple days. It was so cool to stay directly on the water! One morning, eight loons swim right up to our dock. It was very cool to see! Kent and his partner were very friendly and helpful! They even checked on us during our stay to ask if we needed anything, this is the best Airbnb experience I’ve ever had!
Amazing place and host
The island and our Floating House was an incredible experience. We woke up facing the sunrise, the lake lulled us to sleep and our kids can’t stop talking about fishing off our floating dock and making breakfast with the wood burning stove! Kent is incredibly thoughtful about his design and proactive in helping you get everything you might need! We couldn’t recommend this experience more!
Such a lovely and unique spot- definitely recommend the boathouse. It has everything you need in a tiny space with just gorgeous surroundings. We watched the sunset and sunrise from bed! Definitely recommend the paddle to little island to see the eagles! We saw a mama and baby and it was so beautiful. Only complaint is that boats with loud music and tubers come out during the day. Everything about our island and the houseboat and the nature are serene and perfect for a real getaway!
One Big Sustainable Island was incredible. Great couple nights felt like a week unplugged. We have 2 kids and it was so amazing to spend such quality time with them. We will be back!
A really peaceful lake getaway. We had a great time.
Kent was very communicative and responsive. Very helpful and personable! We will be back!
One word: Perfect. OK, you want more. This is a 1 room structure that’s literally on the lake w/an attached dock. I do think it’d be a tight squeeze for 4 (2 small well-behaved children would fit). But it was a perfect get-away for a couple. The bed’s super comfy. Don’t try to think of extras because Kent already has. Plus he’s the perfect combo of laid back & organized. Yes, he’ll send you lots of info. No, a lot of it won’t sense until you’re there. And then it makes perfect sense. This is a labor of love for him. A truly eco experience. Yes, the compostable bathroom is a slight trek up a hill. But it’s cleaner than most bathrooms I’ve ever been in. The access to kayaks and the kayaking itself is amazing. I saw eagles. Yep, plural. We went for a dip in the lake every morning. There’s a hammock by the house & one on its own dock in front of your dock. We paddled back to land every day to go for a hike one day and a bike ride another. Go to the cidery, the Milkhouse & local farmstands.
We had a great stay! Peaceful surroundings, beautiful area. The lake was lovely to swim in, enjoyed having the lake at our front door for swimming!<br/>Quick note, bathroom is up on the hill, not next to or inside the boat house, just FYI. <br/>Bring paper or a torch as it was difficult to start our fire.<br/>Hosts were friendly and helpful, bringing us a new battery and kindling.
Nautilus Water House FAQs
What's special about the Nautilus Waterhouse?
The Nautilus is a floating waterhouse docked at the island - offering a unique on-the-water stay with stunning lake views and immediate access to swimming and paddling.
Is the Nautilus Waterhouse off-grid?
Yes. Like all 1BSI stays, the Nautilus is off-grid by design, using thoughtful systems that balance sustainability with comfort.
What's included in this stay?
A cozy sleeping space, cooking gear, hot shower/bathroom access on the island, firewood, canoe or kayak use, and access to a hammock swim dock, boat dock, and swimming spots.
How do I access the Nautilus Waterhouse?
You'll arrive on your front porch by boat.
Ready to plan your overnight island stay?
Bookings go fast in peak season. We'll help you pick the right spot.
