Among all of the megayachts delivered by Burger Boat Company, Sycara IV is a perennial favorite of yacht-watchers and yacht owners. Even those with contemporary tastes comment on just how authentically she replicates 1920s cruising style. Seven years after debuting at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), she’s participating again, as part of the Burgess brokerage fleet.
If you like classic yachts, you’ll like the story behind Sycara IV. Having enjoyed several custom yachts, the owner yearned to travel in the fashion of famous yachtsmen like J.P. Morgan. Morgan commissioned a few projects in the early 20th century. Corsair IV, delivered in 1930, was the one this modern-era owner liked the most. You can see the influences aboard the 151-foot (46-meter) Burger, designed by Bruce King. The most prominent ones are the fantail stern, the bowsprit, the funnel, and the trail boards (the decorative panels to each side aft of the bowsprit, seen above).
There is even a good story behind the trail boards. The owner requested bids from a few wood specialists. Some didn’t suit the budget, unfortunately. With other bid packages, the companies couldn’t match the elaborate detailing and quality the owner wanted. When the owner was at Burger Boat Company one day, he and his project manager mentioned the challenges. A young woodworker from Burger’s joinery department overheard the conversation. He said he could do the job; the rest is history.
The rest of Sycara IV makes you feel as if you’re stepping aboard history, too. Interior designer Ken Freivokh makes liberal use of madrona burl paneling with macassar ebony inlays, plus Lalique crystal insets. Art Deco elegance abounds, especially in the formal dining room (above). The wall curves mimic the shape of the table, and full-height French doors accentuate the graceful ambiance. The saloon is a cozy seating space, with a separate bar aft. You can just imagine well-heeled men and women scattered about, discussing the news of the day.
Sycara IV is listed for sale for $27.5 million. Take an armchair tour below before seeing her at the boat show.
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