Some Detroit pride, save from the scrapper!

[Whitehouse]

I was reading an article about a yacht that was for sale. The owner is Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and one of the wealthiest men on the planet. The ship is a bit modest at 112 meters in length, considering that he also owns another, much bigger one.

Anyway, the amateur historian in me had a first reflex and tried to find out more about that ship. According to wiki this is the 26th largest superyacht in the world. And then I saw what was positioned on numer 47 in that same list.

This is was yacht commisioned by none other than Horrace Dodge, co-founder of Dodge Brothers. This ship was completed in 1921 and since Horrace died in 1920 he never saw the ship finished. His widow Anna became owner of this ship.

The ship had more than it's fair share of misfortune. Only five years after completion the ship caught fire and sank, but the she was recovered and restored. In 1940 she ran aground causing more damage. During WW2 she was aquired by the US Navy to serve as flagship for Admiral Irving. After the war she was returned to Anna Dodge and retrofitted to civillian status again. In 1967 the ship changed hands and in the following 30 years she changed hands multiple times. The name also changed time and again.

Until 1997, when she was sold for scrap metal value. And this is where the story ends many times. But it didn't....

She was bought by Jeaques Bruynooge, a Belgian national. And he saw potential in the ship. She was towed to Bruges in Belgium where a restoration started. After several dry dock periods, also in the Netherlands, she was finally ready to go to sea again. And now she's an awesome sight to see.



May I present you, the SS Delphine.



[[Copyright http://yachts.monacoeye.com)

Of all American build yachts built between 1893 and 1930 she is the only one still powerd by the original quadrupal expension steam engine!!

I doubt you will ever see her again grace the shores of the DetroitRiver again but at least this major part of maratime and Detroit history is still around.

Here's and article from Detnews from 1997.

Official site.
[[If you've got some money burning in your pocket, you can rent her for $1.500.000 a month minimum.....)

[stromberg2]

That's a hell of a boat! Too bad she can't come back. Thanks for this, Whitehouse.

Stromberg2