Courtesy Ocean House
Any seasoned boater cruising the waters off Watch Hill, Rhode Island, knows a proper classic when one comes into view. This summer, those making their way through the harbor may want to keep an eye out for Chanticleer, a 108-foot Burger motoryacht with a pedigree worth knowing.
Launched in 1973 as Buckpasser, the yacht was commissioned by thoroughbred owner and breeder Ogden Phipps, who named his 98-footert after his celebrated racehorse, which was dubbed Horse of the Year in 1966. Built by Burger Boat Company and designed by naval architect Jack Hargrave, the vessel made an impression from the start. At the time, she was the largest yacht Burger had ever delivered, and the first from the Wisconsin yard to feature a helipad.
She changed hands in 1986, when Frances Langford—a singer and actress who had married to Ralph Evinrude of the outboard family—bought the yacht and put her to work as a fishing and entertaining platform. The helipad was converted to an area for open-air dining, and the hull was stretched to 108 feet with the addition of a fishing cockpit. It was during this era that the yacht received the name Chanticleer.
The current owners came to the boat with a clear-eyed respect for what she is—a classic American motoryacht, not a candidate for wholesale modernization. Chanticleer recently completed a restoration at Cracker Boy Boat Works in Riviera Beach, Florida, where she received fresh paint, new teak decking and carefully considered interior updates.
Courtesy Ocean House
Designer Kellie Burke worked with the owners to refresh the interiors with a lighter palette that takes its cues from the natural world and complements the original wood and varnished finishes. Updated materials and decorative elements were also added, without stripping the yacht of its character.
Staterooms were refinished, the master bath was rebuilt, and modern systems—including new navigation electronics and an air purification system—were integrated without disturbing the bones of the original build.
Twin 435-hp Caterpillar engines push her to a cruising speed of 10 knots and a top-end speed around 12 knots. But performance has never been the point of this design. The boat’s appeal lies in what she is: A well-kept example of an era when American yards built yachts that were meant to last.
This summer, Chanticleer will work the waters around Watch Hill, where she will be available through the Ocean House resort for dockside stays and private charters. New boats attract attention. Yachts like this one command it.
