The Golden Century: Classic Motor Yachts, 1830-1930 [Hardcover]

Ross Mactaggart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2001

The recreational vessels of the rich and famous during the age of the classic motor yacht.

The history of sailing yachts has been recounted often, but these magnificent motor yachts, although far more popular in their time, have been largely neglected. They were the playthings of the very rich, men who competed with one another to have the fastest, longest, and most up-to-date motor yacht. Many of these vessels rivaled great mansions in both the luxury and the quality of their workmanship. And they cost fortunes to build and maintain.

This book is a loving look at some of the most beautiful motor yachts in the world, beginning in 1830 when the first private steam vessel was commissioned in England, the 120-foot Menai. It would be followed by more lavish private boats, some powered by gas, others by diesel. As one can see from the beautiful photographs in this book, all were elegant. Ross MacTaggart documents here a world that has largely vanished, a world where small fortunes were spent tastefully. 220 duotone photographs

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

For a brief moment in history, the world witnessed an outpouring of extraordinary creations: grand steam and motor yachts rivaling (and often surpassing) great mansions in both the luxury and the quality of their workmanship. They were graced with unimaginably lavish interiors, and required fortunes to build and maintain. Often with dramatic clipper bows, sweeping counter sterns, raked masts, and imposing funnels, they were radically different from their modern counterparts.

Steam and motor yachts were commissioned for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they were playthings of the very rich, millionaires who competed with one another to have the fastest, longest, and most up-to-date vessel. Other millionaires used their yachts to explore a world much more mysterious and unknown than is imaginable today. And some yachts were used as private commuters—the Lear jets of their day—while people of "moderate" means owned smaller vessels, although these yachts were still quite luxurious. The history of sailing yachts has been recounted often, but steam and motor yachts, although far more popular in their day, have been largely neglected. This book is a loving look at these creations, beginning in 1830, when the first private steam yacht was commissioned. This historic occasion marked the first time that a person, not the wind, controlled a water-borne schedule. Steam yachts gained enormous popularity beginning in the 1880s, an era that witnessed financier Jay Gould's dashing Atalanta, Sir Thomas Lipton's famed Erin, and the remarkable Lysistrata, owned by the notorious James Gordon Bennett and liberally decorated with—of all things—owls. Over 260 stunning black-and-white images, most never previously published, reveal these yachts in all their palatial splendor. Here Ross MacTaggart recreates this remarkable era, the men and women who commissioned these grand vessels, and the designers and builders who created them.

About the Author

Ross MacTaggart is a writer, researcher, architectural designer, and urban observer. He lives in Strong City, Kansas.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition edition (April 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393049493
• ISBN-13: 978-0393049497
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #992,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT PICTURES, GREAT OPINIONS!, February 11, 2003

By 

Susi Lulaki (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Golden Century: Classic Motor Yachts, 1830-1930 (Hardcover)

It's funny, but contrary to the adjacent review, I found the author's opinions of classic yacht design to be right on target, and I learned an incredible amount of historical information. Did we read the same book? Through the text (and amazing images!) I learned a great deal about the evolution of yacht design. Fascinating as well were the many "sidebars" offering a wealth of information on yacht designers, builders, and even a quote from Mark Twain! The biographies of the yacht owners also drew me in, and helped make their yachts come alive. Where did the author find all this information?
And while the adjacent reviewer also didn't like the author's personal history with yachts (a wholly separate section), I found this helpful. When I read about the author's experience aboard the derelict PANZOLA (page 242), for example, my heart was in my throat! And ALONDRA! The author plainly loves classic yachts, and I enjoyed learning the underpinnings of this passion.
The adjacent reviewer and I agree on one thing: The images are incredible. The author states that most were never published. All are beautifully presented in duotone, and a great many will take your breath away. I can't imagine the research required to find so many images. The lively text draws the reader in and makes the evocative images, and the era they represent, come alive in a way that would not have been possible in a dry, academic exercise.
Moreover, the "Timeline" and "Sources" at the end of the book make this an excellent research tool.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seeing the best at their best, December 15, 2003

By 

Kim Nielsen (Washington, D.C, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Golden Century: Classic Motor Yachts, 1830-1930 (Hardcover)

Ross Mactaggert's volume on the yachts of "The Golden Century" holds an important place within maritime works. This book begins to fill a gap often overlooked in works about yachting. It also continues to be the benchmark for quality of photographs. Browse any book store today and the newest publications still cannot challenge this book's impact. Not only are the illustrations glorious, but most have not been seen before. Mactaggert continues to get the question "where did you find these pictures?". The photos serve to speak for the ample research into the circumstances surrrounding the creation of these magnificent vessels by their often excentric owners. This book is about LIFE - life aboard a floating palace, built to impress guests and competitors, and provide the ultimate in comfort and luxury for the self-proclamed deserving owner. Mactaggert's personal asides reflect the same enthusiam for yachting that must have inspired these weathy barons to spend their fortunes on building these grand vessels. Mactaggert links us to this high life of a century past, a worthy research effort presented in a style befitting the subject. A must-have.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A landmark study, November 27, 2003

By 

Robert Soevik (OSLO, Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Golden Century: Classic Motor Yachts, 1830-1930 (Hardcover)

There's no denying that there are some opinions in this book, but whereas every yacht is in sum a testimony of great ambition and initiative, this book, and most certainly the following volumes, are the same. It's certainly a labour of love and as earlier mentioned it offers a plethora of beautiful detailed photographs, technical drawings and details to satisfy even the most professional of readers. The author's personal journey makes this publication more digestible in the sense that if differ from the standard encyclopaedic role of earlier books on the subject, and thus are accessible to more readers. This series will, without question, be the most important work in this field of marine architecture available. Worth every penny!