The 125-Foot ‘Cangarda’ Steam Yacht That Sank in 1999 Returns to Sea

The 125-foot steam yacht, which comes with a storied 125-year history, has just returned to the seas after being fully restored at RMK Yachts in Istanbul, Turkey. The schooner was transferred to the nearby Rahmi Koç Museum in Haliç, where it will become a permanent exhibit.

Built by Delaware shipyard Pusey & Jones for Michigan lumber mogul Charles Canfield, Cangarda was originally delivered in 1901 and is considered one of the finest surviving steam yachts of the early 20th century. It is the only U.S.-built steel steam yacht still in existence and one of only three similar vessels remaining worldwide, according to the museum. Designed by H. C. Wintringham during the golden age of yachting, the 125-footer (or 138-footer including her bowsprit) cuts a classic silhouette with elegant lines and two towering masts. She also showcases engineering that was advanced for the time, including steam propulsion. 

Over the past century, Cangarda has changed hands multiple times and has undergone refits both big and small. She has spent time with a Canadian senator, hosted world leaders, and served as a training vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. She has even notched a year and a half on the ocean floor, sinking in Boston Harbor in 1999 and remaining underwater for about 18 months before being raised in 2000. Cangarda is now owned by Turkish entrepreneur Rahmi M. Koç, who founded the aforementioned museum in Istanbul and spearheaded the latest revamp.

The team at RMK Yachts focused on both restoring Cangarda to her former glory and also future-proofing the yacht for years of exhibition. “From the very beginning, we approached Cangarda not as a refit project, but as a responsibility towards global maritime heritage,” RMK Yachts director Cuneyt Okcu said in a statement. “Our goal was to protect her spirit, not to reinterpret her.” 

After arriving in Istanbul in October 2024, Cangarda received a mechanical makeover, interior revamp, and updates to rigging, deck equipment, and safety systems. “All interventions were carried out with a museum-grade conservation mindset rather than a modernisation approach,” adds Okcu. “Wherever technically feasible, original elements were preserved, including Cuban mahogany joinery, brass and bronze fittings, deck outfitting, interior layouts, and numerous mechanical components.”

The team lovingly restored original furniture, materials, and finishes to keep the interiors as historically accurate as possible. They also revived the steam propulsion system, reaching out to international specialists with expertise in 20th-century naval tech and engineering. Select components were rebuilt while others were restored.

All that work has clearly paid off, with Cangarda still looking great and performing well after over a century on the water. She will remain at the museum as a living testament to early steam-powered yachting. The yacht will also be the subject of a new documentary that is set to be released later this year. Stay tuned.