El Primero
Encyclopedia
El Primero was a steam yacht
built in 1893. This vessel was once considered one of the most luxurious yachts on the West Coast of the United States, and was one of the few steam yachts to be operated on Puget Sound
. The yacht has since been converted to diesel, but it remained operational as of 2010.
built on the west coast of the United States. The yacht had an auxiliary sail rig. The steam engine was rated at horsepower
, driving the vessel at a maximum speed of 13.5 knots.
, for whom the Mark Hopkins Hotel is named. In 1896 Hopkins was the member of the San Francisco and the Pacific yacht clubs.
In 1906 Hopkins sold the yacht to Chester Thorne of Tacoma, and the yacht thereafter came to be based in Puget Sound
. Thorne in turn wagered the yacht in a craps game
and lost the game, and the yacht, to Sidney Albert “Sam” Perkins (1865-1855), a newspaper publisher. El Primero transported four different presidents, including for example William Howard Taft
when he came to Seattle to visit the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
in 1909.
During World War II
the yacht was taken into the U.S. Navy as a patrol vessel, and returned to Perkins in 1947. During the 1950s, there were only two steam yachts operational on Puget Sound, El Primero and Aquilo.
After Perkins' death in 1955, the yacht went to his heirs and was later purchased by Sy Devening who was doing business as Puget Sound Excursion Lines, who converted it to diesel power. The yacht passed through two subsequent owners, an American and a Canadian, and was taken out of service in the year 2000, remaining at a dock in Blaine, Washington
.
In 2010, the yacht was purchased by a semi-retired tug captain and engineer. Encountering engine troubles, the new owner had the vessel hauled out at Port Townsend for repairs. With the vessel still in need of restoration, as of January 2010 the new owner was considering taking the yacht to Mexico or Thailand to have the work done.
Steam yacht
A steam yacht is a class of luxury or commercial yacht with primary or secondary steam propulsion in addition to the sails usually carried by yachts.-Origin of the name:...
built in 1893. This vessel was once considered one of the most luxurious yachts on the West Coast of the United States, and was one of the few steam yachts to be operated on Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
. The yacht has since been converted to diesel, but it remained operational as of 2010.
Design and construction
El Primero, constructed at San Francisco, California, was the first steam yachtSteam yacht
A steam yacht is a class of luxury or commercial yacht with primary or secondary steam propulsion in addition to the sails usually carried by yachts.-Origin of the name:...
built on the west coast of the United States. The yacht had an auxiliary sail rig. The steam engine was rated at horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
, driving the vessel at a maximum speed of 13.5 knots.
Career
The yacht's original owner was Edward W. Hopkins, heir to the wealth of his uncle, Mark HopkinsMark Hopkins
Mark Hopkins was one of four principal investors who formed the Central Pacific Railroad along with Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, and Collis Huntington in 1861.-Early years:...
, for whom the Mark Hopkins Hotel is named. In 1896 Hopkins was the member of the San Francisco and the Pacific yacht clubs.
In 1906 Hopkins sold the yacht to Chester Thorne of Tacoma, and the yacht thereafter came to be based in Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
. Thorne in turn wagered the yacht in a craps game
Craps
Craps is a dice game in which players place wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other or a bank...
and lost the game, and the yacht, to Sidney Albert “Sam” Perkins (1865-1855), a newspaper publisher. El Primero transported four different presidents, including for example William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
when he came to Seattle to visit the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
The Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition was a world's fair held in Seattle in 1909, publicizing the development of the Pacific Northwest.It was originally planned for 1907, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush, but the organizers found out about the Jamestown Exposition being held...
in 1909.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the yacht was taken into the U.S. Navy as a patrol vessel, and returned to Perkins in 1947. During the 1950s, there were only two steam yachts operational on Puget Sound, El Primero and Aquilo.
After Perkins' death in 1955, the yacht went to his heirs and was later purchased by Sy Devening who was doing business as Puget Sound Excursion Lines, who converted it to diesel power. The yacht passed through two subsequent owners, an American and a Canadian, and was taken out of service in the year 2000, remaining at a dock in Blaine, Washington
Blaine, Washington
Blaine is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The city's northern boundary is the Canadian border. Blaine is the shared home of the Peace Arch international monument...
.
In 2010, the yacht was purchased by a semi-retired tug captain and engineer. Encountering engine troubles, the new owner had the vessel hauled out at Port Townsend for repairs. With the vessel still in need of restoration, as of January 2010 the new owner was considering taking the yacht to Mexico or Thailand to have the work done.