Medea (yacht)

The Medea is a 1904 steam yacht preserved in the Maritime Museum of San Diego, United States. Named after Medea, the wife of Jason, she was built in a record 51 days on the Clyde at Alexander Stephen and Sons shipyard at Linthouse by John Stephen for William Macalister Hall of Torrisdale Castle, Scotland.^[1]

Quick Facts History, United States ...

Medea at the Maritime Museum of San Diego
History
United States
Name	Medea
Namesake	Medea
Owner	Maritime Museum of San Diego
Builder	Alexander Stephen and Sons
Completed	1904
Status	Museum ship
General characteristics
Type	Steam yacht
Tonnage	143 (gross)
Length	109.7 feet (33.4 m) (LWL) 134 feet (41 m) (LOA)
Beam	17 feet (5.2 m)
Draft	8 feet (2.4 m)
Installed power	2-cylinder compound reciprocating steam engine, 254 hp
Speed	8.5–10 knots (15.7–18.5 km/h; 9.8–11.5 mph)

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During World War I, the French Navy purchased Medea and armed her with a 75mm cannon for use in convoy escort duty. (Her name under the French flag was Corneille.) Between the wars, she was owned by members of Parliament. During World War II, the Royal Navy put her to work anchoring barrage balloons at the mouth of the River Thames.

After World War II, Medea passed among Norwegian, British, and Swedish owners before being purchased by Paul Whittier in 1971. Whittier restored the yacht to its original condition and donated her to the Maritime Museum of San Diego in 1973.

This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (September 2023)

Medea was featured in the "Steam Ship Cleaner" episode of the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs, when Mike Rowe cleaned the inside of the boilers of the yacht.

According to the Maritime Museum of San Diego, “Medea still cruises the Bay on special excursion cruises for invited guests.” She is not permitted to carrying passengers, but is available dockside for visitors.^[1]