With the Fourth of July upon us, our thoughts turn to all things American. And what better way to celebrate than to take a look at the four largest American-built megayachts?
- Aquila. In 2014, the yacht originally known as Cakewalk changed hands, and obviously changed names. At 280’8” (85.6 meters), she made history at launch in 2010 from Derecktor Shipyards in Connecticut. (The company no longer has a presence there, maintaining two new-build and refit operations instead in New York and Florida.) She’s not just the largest American-built megayacht in length. Aquila is also the most voluminous. Gross tonnage is 2,998.
- Delphine. This 95-year-old (above) took shape at Great Lakes Engineering Works in the midwestern USA. Delphine reigned as the biggest American-built megayacht throughout much of the 20th century. She additionally gained renowned as one of the world’s largest yachts during that time, being 258 feet long. Delphine was commissioned by Horace Dodge, of Dodge automobile fame. He named her for his daughter. Dodge was more than just a yacht owner: He designed her original quadruple steam engines. They remain onboard, and operational, today. That’s due to a reported $60-million restoration undertaken back in the late 1990s.
- Cocoa Bean. Her code name during construction at Trinity Yachts in Gulfport, Mississippi was New Horizon. Cocoa Bean, 243 feet (73.98 meter) LOA, was the yard’s biggest project, handed over to her owners in 2014. Despite her four decks and significant size, she has intimate spaces centered around family time. Charter guests have enjoyed those same spaces, too, in the popular ports of the Caribbean and the Med.
- Laurel. From handover in 2006 to 2012, the same family cruised all over the world aboard this 240-footer (73-meter). Since they were extraordinarily private, Laurel (above) was never featured the way other new deliveries are in the usual yachting press features. She called on countries as far flung as America and Australia, covering more than 120,000 nautical miles in the process. Media, and the public, finally got a look at her spaces when she was made available for select charters and for sale in 2012. One feature the media couldn’t stop talking about: a well-seeded herb garden on the sundeck. While different owners enjoy Laurel’s spaces now, her original name remains. Also remaining: Laurel’s place as the largest megayacht built by Seattle-based Delta Marine. Furthermore, Laurel was the largest American-built megayacht in more than 74 years at launch.
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