Brisbane, CA (KPIX 5) -- Are you looking for that special gift for your loved one this holiday season? Are you searching and hunting in pursuit of that incredible gift that will make this Christmas a once-in-a-lifetime event? Then oh man, you're going to love this.
A fellow in Brisbane is selling a real life pirate ship.
For a small fee (relative to local Bay Area home prices), you can buy a ship equipped with a player piano in a saloon, a 3 inch-thick huge dining table made of rich mahogany, three bedrooms, a galley, and a full bar (obviously). It even comes with one of those big round steering wheels on deck.
The "Sultana" is an authentic replica of a brigantine by the same name that sailed in the 1700s. It's the grand dream of a man named Captain Al Karsevar who, in 1979, bought a pre-made ship hull and began building his own pirate ship.
"When he'd work on it on weekends, he couldn't get anything done because there was always a crowd…you know, oooh what's going on?!" says Elaine Elder, Captain Al's sister.
Working from books, it took him five years but Captain Al finished the ship and started a non-profit business in the '80's hosting kids' birthdays and private parties. He had a crew of about 40 volunteers and his daughter Alice actually lived on board until she was six.
"Kindergarten, I'm drawing a picture…'cause our teacher tells us draw a picture of where you live…so I draw a pirate ship," says Alice Karsevar, who grew up on the pirate ship.
But Captain Al moved to follow a job and the "Sultana" has been sitting in the Brisbane Marina for 20 years. And according to an ad on Craigslist, you can now own it for a mere $50,000. It does need work, but the bones are good and there has been no shortage of inquiries from wannabe buccaneers.
