Inside the Floating Island, a Canadian Couple Has Called Home for Three Decades
Catherine King and Wayne Adams spent over 30 years living on a floating structure off the coast of Vancouver Island. They didn’t buy land or rent a cabin, but assembled their home using salvaged wood, discarded platforms from old fish farms, and scrap material from nearby communities. They called it Freedom Cove.
The First Structure Took 90 Days to Build
In 1991, a heavy storm scattered planks of wood across the beach near a cabin where the couple was staying. When they tracked the lumber back to its owner, he surprised them by saying they could keep it. Adams immediately began building a small house with the salvaged wood and worked by hand until it was sturdy enough to float.
After three months, the compound was ready to be towed into a cove. Once it was in place, they expanded it with whatever materials they could find or trade for while adding new sections piece by piece.
The Home Floats Without an Anchor System
To ensure their creation remained stable, the couple relied on an unconventional mechanism. Instead of sinking anchors into the seabed, they tied the entire setup to shore with thick ropes weighted down to absorb pressure. Adams refined the setup over time and arranged the lines in a spiderweb pattern so that every platform moved together when strong winds swept through.
This design reduced strain on the joints and stopped buildings from slamming against one another during winter storms. Beneath it all, massive Styrofoam blocks provided buoyancy and lifted the compound on the water’s surface.
As the years passed, Adams added platform after platform to link them into a connected network. The result was a floating community that contained gardens, workrooms, and living space, all arranged in a way that could flex and move with the tide. Though close to shore, the island always drifted slightly, which reminded its owners that the sea still complemented their home.
Water and Electricity Come from Separate Systems
Image via Getty Images/Krith Narong
You might be wondering how anyone could power a home that floats on the ocean. Well, Freedom Cove runs on a mix of solar panels and a gasoline generator, two systems that balance each other depending on the weather.
On clear days, the panels collect enough energy to charge batteries that supply the lights and support the greenhouses. When clouds roll in for days at a time, the generator takes over to ensure the compound doesn’t go dark. Adams kept a close eye on the design, checking oil, refilling fuel, and making sure the power flow stayed steady.
Where water is concerned, Adams laid a line of pipes that carried freshwater from a spring located about 50 feet higher than the cove. Gravity moved it through the mechanism without the need for pumps. The flow stayed strong enough for cooking, cleaning, and keeping the gardens alive throughout the year.
King Continues to Maintain Freedom Cove Alone
After Adams passed away in 2023, King stayed at Freedom Cove. She assumed all maintenance responsibilities, including power management, repair work, and gardening. Family members and friends visit in shifts to help with upkeep, but she manages the day-to-day needs herself.
She still operates the same water system and continues to grow her own food. As of now, she has no plans to leave. Freedom Cove remains her home, and she cares for it using the same routines and designs they built together over three decades.