A home of a very special kind can currently be found in the portfolio of Engel & Völkers Yachting in Newport Beach. “The Ace” is a former ferry, which has since undergone major refitting as a cruising boat. She is anchored in Marina del Rey in the US state of California. As “Ferry Boat Number 4”, she used to ferry people across the main channel in the Port of Los Angeles, before being converted to a local cruising boat in 1990.
Since ceasing service as an active ferry, “The Ace” has undergone several extensive retrofits, most recently by the current owner. The American businessman used the yacht for recreational trips and as a floating office, thereby avoiding the daily commute to his factory. He has completely redesigned “The Ace” over a period of two and a half years and at a seven-figure cost, transforming it into a luxurious workspace and floating home. “This yacht offers heritage and state-of-the-art comfort, all in one vessel. ‘The Ace’ celebrates its 101st anniversary in September. Comprehensive modernisation means that she is fully functional despite her advanced age. As a motorised apartment, she is ideal for taking short coastal cruises as well as she is well equipped for long cruises in the West, Northwest and Canada. The current owner has maintained her condition with great dedication, and transformed her into a work of art,” says Walter Johnson, Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Yachting Newport Beach.
“The Ace” is almost 19 metres in length, with a beam of 6.25 metres. The asking price is 569,000 US dollars (around 480,000 euros). Her amenities include two bathrooms, a large kitchen with a copper sink and a table for six, a master bedroom with a skylight, two electric fireplaces, an office with a 180-degree marina view, and a full rooftop patio lounge complete with a bar and ample seating. “The Ace” sleeps four, but could easily be converted to sleep six.
