United States

Great Lakes Engineering Works

It has to be said, sometimes older is better and there are many in the industry who would say that sailing on a vintage yacht gives an unbeatable feeling which cannot be matched by today's high-tech vessels. For a select few owners, taking on a restoration project is extremely rewarding, as proven by the cases outlined in this list of classic yacht refits where vessels were brought back to their full potential after decades or even centuries of use.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5247" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vagrant39.0m (127'11&quot;)Herreshoff1913">Vagrant</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Herreshoff (Company)">Herreshoff</a>, 39m<img src="/uploads/store/photo/11648/image/large-9aa98906108d975407c2227f6a7d0615.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/11648">The 39-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Herreshoff (Company)">Herreshoff</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5247" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vagrant39.0m (127'11&quot;)Herreshoff1913">Vagrant</a>, built in 1913, was refitted in 2017 at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman Shipyard BV (Company)">Royal Huisman shipyard</a>, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra</a> revisiting her naval architecture. The refit included the reinstallation of her engineering systems and classic interior and the restoration of the deckhouse as well as brand new crew quarters. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/937" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SS Delphine78.55m (257'9&quot;)Great Lakes Engineering Works1921">SS Delphine</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/689" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Great Lakes Engineering Works (Company)">Great Lakes Engineering Works</a>, 78.55m<img src="/uploads/store/photo/98408/image/large-8591bd7113e7347c85b0275ea8eaf516.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/98408">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/937" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SS Delphine78.55m (257'9&quot;)Great Lakes Engineering Works1921">SS Delphine</a>, built in 1921 by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/689" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Great Lakes Engineering Works (Company)">Great Lakes Engineering Works</a> and first known as Dauntless, has had several refits, the most recent of which was carried out in Zeebrugge, Belgium, in 2003. The original owner's daughter conducted extensive research for the various refits, and the yacht currently calls back the roaring '20s, combining a classic feel with today's amenities and communication means. &nbsp; <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/290" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Haida 192971.1m (233'3&quot;)Krupp Germania Werft1929">Haida 1929</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/263" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Krupp Germania Werft (Company)">Krupp Germania Werft</a>, 71.1m<img src="/uploads/store/photo/53800/image/large-9de3c91ccf04e5fa4c4c1be73450a02c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/53800">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1457" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RINA (Company)">RINA</a>-class <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/290" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Haida 192971.1m (233'3&quot;)Krupp Germania Werft1929">Haida 1929</a> has sailed under many previous names including Dona Amelia and has undergone several refit works, including in 2011, 2016 and 2018. This involved rebuilding the ship’s structural integrity, an extension of the sundeck and several alterations to the interior, such as the addition of a Hammam spa. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/203" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Over the rainbow of London35.0m (114'10&quot;)Dickie & Sons1930">Over the Rainbow of London</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/174" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dickie & Sons (Company)">Dickie &amp; Sons</a>, 35m <img src="/uploads/store/photo/30280/image/large-0e673654460e26aac388bafa74db8b6c.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/30280">The 35-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/203" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Over the rainbow of London35.0m (114'10&quot;)Dickie & Sons1930">Over the Rainbow of London</a>, a mono-hull displacement yacht built in 1930 by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/174" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dickie & Sons (Company)">Dickie &amp; Sons</a>, was restored to glory in 1991 and had another refit in 2004 at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/72" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mondomarine SpA (Company)">Mondo Marine</a>, being held to the highest standards throughout her lifespan.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2841" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nahlin91.44m (300'0&quot;)John Brown & Sons1930">Nahlin</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="John Brown & Sons (Company)">John Brown &amp; Sons</a>, 91.44m (Credit: Giovanni Romero)<img src="/uploads/store/photo/39878/image/large-a5132adc2bc9e7f3c2b82929d9230185.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/39878"> This <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1653" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="John Brown & Sons (Company)">John Brown &amp; Sons</a> build from 1930 is 91 metres in length and has a volume of 1,356 GT. She underwent a refit from 2006 to 2007 at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nobiskrug (Company)">Nobiskrug</a>, and was then brought over to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blohm & Voss GmbH (Company)">Blohm &amp; Voss</a> from 2007 to 2009 where her old steam turbines were replaced by diesel engines. She has gone through a total of five years of restoration since being purchased by her current owner.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blohm & Voss GmbH (Company)">Blohm &amp; Voss</a>, 135.94m<img src="/uploads/store/photo/75270/image/large-67263cca37648ff4adad4b1c093ed31e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/75270"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/210" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savarona135.94m (445'12&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH1931">Savarona</a>, the 136-metre built in 1931 by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blohm & Voss GmbH (Company)">Blohm &amp; Voss</a>, featured original naval architecture and exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/94" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cox & Stevens (Company)">Cox &amp; Stevens</a>. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Diana Yacht Design B.V. (Company)">Diana Yacht Design</a> revisited her naval architecture and her latest interior comes from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/41" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Donald Starkey Designs (Company)">Donald Starkey Designs.</a> The yacht is currently used as the presidential yacht for Turkey and once belonged to Atatürk.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2291" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Malahne50.29m (164'12&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1937">Malahne</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons Shipyard</a>, 50.29m <img src="/uploads/store/photo/41798/image/large-315d2c5f2192782eea621e046e52400d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/41798">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/192" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard (Company)">Camper &amp; Nicholsons</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2291" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Malahne50.29m (164'12&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1937">Malahne</a>,&nbsp;measuring 50.29 metres and built in 1937, has had several refits, the latest of which happened in 2017. This refit brought her design back to the original and upgraded her to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1452" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyd's Register (Company)">Lloyd’s Register</a> class.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3572" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shemara64.68m (212'2&quot;)Vosper Thornycroft1938">Shemara</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/270" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vosper Thornycroft (Company)">Vosper Thornycroft</a>, 64.68 <img src="/uploads/store/photo/22695/image/large-78e60326a7ca9a9cf1512dffc5461e75.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/22695">The 64.68-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/270" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vosper Thornycroft (Company)">Vosper Thornycroft</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3572" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shemara64.68m (212'2&quot;)Vosper Thornycroft1938">Shemara</a> has changed owners only twice since she was built in 1938. It was under the ownership of her most recent owner that she received maintenance works in 2016. The owner created a company for the extensive refit, Shemara Refit LLP. She was given a contemporary interior while keeping a lot of her original attributes, and she now runs on a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2207" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rolls-Royce Marine (Company)">Rolls-Royce</a> diesel-electric system.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1042" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alicia51.0m (167'4&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1930">Alicia</a>,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/753" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Defoe Shipbuilding Co. (Company)">Defoe Shipbuilding Co</a>., 51m <img src="/uploads/store/photo/68657/image/large-c6eaf8e16deceb4b854d39b7f5886f19.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/68657"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1042" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alicia51.0m (167'4&quot;)Defoe Shipbuilding Co.1930">Alicia</a>, built in 1930 and known under many names including Janidore when she was built, has received a rebuild in 2015-2018 at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5098" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southampton Marine Services Group (SMS) (Company)">Southampton Marine Services group</a>, during which she was given an almost entirely new steel hull and a completely new aluminium superstructure, with all of her onboard systems also being replaced.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/621" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Endeavour39.56m (129'9&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1934">Endeavour</a>, Camper &amp; Nicholsons Shipyard, 39.56m <img src="/uploads/store/photo/94600/image/large-9a16e10d12e128a753a97a032b6ed91c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/94600"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/621" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Endeavour39.56m (129'9&quot;)Camper & Nicholsons Shipyard1934">Endeavour</a> is a 39.56-metre J-class sailing yacht from Camper &amp; Nicholsons Shipyard, with naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra Naval Architects</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/229" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Charles E. Nicholson (Company)">Charles E. Nicholson,</a> who also designed the yacht’s exterior. She was restored to her full glory in the 1980s in a trailblazing restoration project which you can read all about <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/the-j-class-endeavour-and-royal-huisman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">here.</a>

10 classic yacht refits and restorations

SYT has compiled a list of 10 yacht refits of iconic yachts that have been restored to their full glory. 

10 remarkable refits and restorations of classic yachts

<img src="/uploads/store/photo/89124/image/large-818a47d5268e46e01cb53c4b59fd157b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/89124">Captured here at anchor recently outside St Tropez is the 78.55-metre superyacht<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/937" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SS Delphine78.55m (257'9&quot;)Great Lakes Engineering Works1921">&nbsp;SS Delphine</a>. Originally built in 1921 buy the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/689" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Great Lakes Engineering Works (Company)">Great Lakes Engineering Works</a> yard of the United States for the Dodge family, she spent much of her time on the Great Lakes of North America between Chicago and Detroit under her original ownership. Original naval architecture was undertaken by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/691" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Antoine Wille (Company)">Antoine Wille</a> in cooperation with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/690" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gielow & Orr (Company)">Gielow &amp; Orr</a>, with the latter also responsible for her exterior design. Her original interior design was the work of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/692" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tiffany's (Company)">Tiffany’s</a> of New York. &nbsp;After serving in WWII, the vessel was laid up and later entered a state of dilapidation by the 1990s. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/937" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SS Delphine78.55m (257'9&quot;)Great Lakes Engineering Works1921">SS Delphine</a> was later acquired by a passionate owner who completely restored her at the Belgian yard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/694" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Scheepswerf Zeebrugge (Company)">Scheepswerf Zeebrugge</a>; an intensive project that was completed in 2003. Today, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/937" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SS Delphine78.55m (257'9&quot;)Great Lakes Engineering Works1921">SS Delphine</a> is a common sight in the port of Monaco and cruising grounds around the South of France, operating as the world’s only surviving steam-driven luxury yacht.

Superyacht SS Delphine in St Tropez

The 79-metre classic superyacht SS Delphine anchored under a sunset sky in St Tropez on the French Riviera. 

The classic superyacht SS Delphine anchored at sunset

<img src="/uploads/store/photo/31913/image/large-c65d906e50fc9660d1d078a702d86559.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/31913">The 78.55m SS Delphine in Monaco Pictured here in the Principality of Monaco is the 78.55-metre superyacht SS&nbsp;Delphine. Originally built in 1921 buy the Great Lakes Engineering Works yard of the United States, she was completely restored at the Belgian yard Scheepswerf Zeebrugge, an intensive project that was completed in 2003. Original naval architecture was undertaken by Antoine Wille in cooperation with Gielow &amp; Orr, with the latter also responsible for her exterior design. Her original interior design was the work of Tiffany’s of New York.&nbsp;

The 78.5m restored superyacht SS Delphine in Monaco

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/125805/image/large-8cb4dba6a1e6ec112b25345194e28ec0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/125805">SS Delphine off CannesSS Delphine anchored off Cannes during the 2008 Film Festival in May of this year. The 78.55 metre yacht was originally built by Great Lakes Engineering Works in 1921, but she was completely restored by her current Belgian owners. Since 2003 the yacht has been based in the South of France from where she charters. Delphine has also just been listed for sale by Edmiston, asking EU 49,500,000.By Merijn de Waard