Fully Operational Steam Powered Yacht ‘SS Delphine’ for Sale

If you want your superyacht to be truly unique in the whole world, you don’t necessarily need to commission the most technologically advanced, most luxurious, or even the largest vessel out there. You can also get yourself the world’s last fully operational steam powered superyacht, built back in 1921. Called SS Delphine, this historic vessel has been through a lot of adventures, but it still is in perfect working condition today.

It is an exceptional yacht, fully restored in 2003 with a huge investment from its then private owner from Belgium. He paid a whopping $60 million for the restoration, and the following year the SS Delphine won the annual showboats award for best refit. Its historic past has been successfully merged with contemporary comfort and technologies, thus making it an excellent choice for chartering or private cruising around the world.

Originally built by Great Lakes Engineering Works after a design by naval architect Henry J Gielow, the vessel’s first owner was Horace Dodge, the fabled American car manufacturing pioneer. It is powered by two Babcoq& Wilcox quadruple steam expansion engines, with 1,500 HP each, and it can travel to up to 13.5 knots. Its cruising speed is 9 knots, but speed is by far the least important thing when it comes to sailing onboard a historic vessel like this. Its listing price is €38 million (about $49.39 million).