Cangarda is a 38-meter steam-powered motor yacht with a rich history spanning 125 years. Who would have known that, built in North America, Congarda would eventually end up in Turkey, where it would become a museum yacht? Let's trace the history of this fascinating vessel.
The origins of Cangarda's history
Built at the Pusey & Jones shipyard in Delaware for Michigan lumber magnate Charles Canfield, the yacht Cangarda was launched in 1901. Today, she is recognized as one of the most outstanding surviving examples of early 20th-century steamships.
After restoration. Source: RMK Yachts.
According to the Rahmi Koç Museum in Turkey, where the yacht is now located, it is the only surviving American-built steel steam yacht and one of only three such units left in the world.
Designed by G.K. Wintringham during the "golden age" of global yachting, this 125-foot vessel (its length reaches 138 feet when including the bowsprit) boasts a classic silhouette with elegant lines and two tall masts. Cangarda's technical features, including its steam engine, were state-of-the-art engineering for its time.
Some technical features of Cangarda
Since its launch, Cangarda has been considered a unique yacht. Unfortunately, some of its systems are hopelessly outdated, and some hull components have had to be replaced. However, this doesn't change the fact that even today, Cangarda remains a showcase for interesting technological solutions:
- The engine—the original triple-expansion steam engine—was a Sullivan engine producing approximately 300 horsepower (at 226 rpm). This design allowed the vessel to reach a cruising speed of 12 knots and a maximum speed of 15–18 knots.
- Auxiliary machinery – six additional steam engines are installed onboard, providing power to the auxiliary systems. They power virtually every component, from the anchor capstan to the condenser pumps.
- Materials: The interior trim is made of solid Cuban mahogany. During the restoration, the panels were carefully removed, restored in the workshops, and reinstalled.
The process of delivering a preserved hull. Source: RMK Yachts.
- Details: Two separate wooden superstructures are located on the deck. The interior retains unique elements, such as Tiffany glass skylights and original bronze and brass fittings.
- The hull is steel, with an elegant clipper bow. Interestingly, during one restoration, the original hull sections had to be completely replaced with a new one, recreated using laser scanning and 3D modeling to accurately replicate the historic lines of G.K. Wintringham.
- Boiler: During a major restoration from 2004 to 2009, the original 1911 coal-fired boiler was replaced with a modern automated liquid fuel (diesel) boiler. This allowed the yacht to be operated without a large crew of stokers, while preserving the authentic sound and mechanics of a steam engine.
Long history of operation
Over the past hundred years, Cangarda has changed hands numerous times and undergone numerous renovations of varying scale. Her service record includes years serving a Canadian senator, serving as a Royal Canadian Navy training ship during World War II, and even hosting diplomatic receptions for world leaders.
Source: RMK Yachts.
The yacht's biography includes a tragic chapter: in 1999, it sank in Boston Harbor. Cangarda spent about a year and a half underwater before being raised in 2000. A year and a half underwater!
An earlier stage of her career—wartime service with the Canadian Navy—also inflicted serious damage on the yacht. However, 79 years after the war, having survived a sinking and several major renovations (particularly significant in 1983 and 2004), Cangarda finally found a new owner. He is the founder of the Rahmi M. Koç Museum, an institute specializing in the history of industry and transportation.
Cangarda restoration and a careful approach
The RMK Yachts team focused on two tasks. They had to restore the vessel to her former glory and prepare her for long-term display as a "floating museum." Shipyard Director Cüneyt Okçu emphasized the particular significance of this project: "From the very beginning, we viewed the work on Cangarda not just as another refit, but as a responsibility to global maritime heritage. Our goal was to protect her spirit, not to offer a new interpretation."
Restoration work
The yacht's work program included conservation, maintenance, and functional restoration of all vessel components:
- Hull and Systems. A full audit of the steel hull and supporting structures was conducted. The mechanical and safety systems were completely updated.
- Steam engine. Particular attention was paid to the yacht's "heart." The team restored the steam system. International experts in early 20th-century naval architecture and engineering were even brought in for the work. Some components were restored, and missing parts were recreated based on the original drawings.
- Exterior. Craftsmen restored the rigging and deck fittings. Particular attention was paid to preserving the authentic brass and bronze fittings.
At the dock. Source: RMK Yachts.
The restorers spent a great deal of time and effort on Cangarda's propulsion system, which was one of the most challenging stages of the project. Engineers managed to preserve the original steam system configuration, but individual components were completely rebuilt to meet modern safety and operational requirements.
Leading specialists from Tüpraş (the energy division of Koç Holding) were engaged for the project. The coordinated work of these professionals ensured flawless execution of the complex engineering tasks.
Interiors: precision in detail
The yacht's interior underwent more than just restoration work; it underwent a thorough renovation, focusing on museum-quality restoration rather than modernization. The team lovingly restored the original furniture and finishes, striving for maximum historical accuracy.
“Wherever technically possible, we retained original elements: Cuban mahogany trim, brass fittings, deck fittings, and the historic layout of the rooms,” adds Cüneyt Okçu.
Something that cannot be restored
Those structural elements that had fallen into complete disrepair over the decades and were deemed "beyond repair" were recreated by the craftsmen. Authentic methods and materials from the era had to be used to ensure a "true restoration."
This approach applied to both the hull and superstructure. Protective treatment and repairs were carried out with deep respect for the original construction technologies of 1901.
Source: RMK Yachts.
"All work was carried out with a view to museum conservation and restoration, not modernization," concludes Cüneyt Okçu. Wherever technical conditions permitted, specialists preserved original details—from mahogany joinery to bronze fittings and mechanical components.
Today, Cangarda is open to the public as a "living testimony" to the dawn of the steam yacht era. All the efforts have paid off: after more than a century on the water, Cangarda looks magnificent and is in excellent technical condition. To capture this monumental journey, a documentary about Cangarda's restoration is currently in production, scheduled to premiere in late 2026.
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11.03.2026
