258 foot steam yacht Delphine
American yachting history is filled with great boats, but perhaps none so storied as the 258-foot steam ship Delphine — which just became available for sale on the brokerage market for the first time in years.
Great Lakes Engineering Works built Delphine in 1921 for pioneering auto builder Horace Dodge. To this day, she remains the largest steam ship ever constructed in the United States. Delphine would go on to serve as the Dodge family’s personal yacht as well as the flagship for America during World War II, when she was rechristened USS Dauntless.
In 1997, a Belgian citizen bought her and began a six-year restoration to bring her back to her original design. Her interior was rebuilt in aluminum and covered in wood veneer to comply with modern safety regulations while preserving her classic looks. When the refit was complete in 2003, Delphine re-launched and became available for charter. She has been among the most historic yachts visible on the world’s waters ever since, at a weekly base rate of about $470,000.
Now, Delphine has been listed for sale with Northrop and Johnson. The asking price is €38 million, or about $50 million at the current euro-dollar conversion rate — for a priceless piece of U.S. yachting history.
Details are at www.njyachts.com.
