A ship called Invader is up for sale for almost $3.5 million, which, for a deep-pocketed millionaire with a penchant for history, Hollywood, and heritage, is a steal. Add to that one of the most recognizable entertainers on earth, Charlie Chaplin. By the age of 26, the comedian was not only one of the biggest stars in the world, but also among its highest-paid, earning millions and enjoying a life of luxury after a painfully troubled childhood.
Part of that glamorous world was Invader, a 1905 steel auxiliary schooner built by George Lawley & Son in Boston and now based at Genoa Marina in Sestri Ponente. Designed by Albert Stanton Chesebro and owned by American film studio executive Joseph M. Schenck, the vessel became a playground for Hollywood A-listers and played a memorable role in Chaplin’s life, years after he signed his historic $1 million contract with First National for just eight short films.
According to Ilsecoloxix, it was aboard this vessel that Charlie Chaplin met Paulette Goddard, with whom he later had an eight-year romance. That alone gives Invader a special place in Chaplin’s story. Their friendship blossomed onboard, and when Goddard was considering investing $50,000 from her alimony settlement in what Chaplin believed was a bad idea, he advised her against it.
Unlike Chaplin, who made his name through comedy, this classic Lawley-built schooner wore many hats over its 120-year existence and is now being offered for sale once again. It served as an exploration vessel, a Coast Guard reconnaissance vessel, a training ship, and even a floating restaurant. It also had its own brush with Hollywood, with Douglas Fairbanks chartering Invader in connection with Mr. Robinson Crusoe.
While its past is richly layered, the present tells a different story. Today, the vessel is something of an attraction at the docks during the “Yacht&Garden” editions of the Classic Boat Show. Yacht company De Valk Yacht Brokers is now seeking a new owner for the vessel, which last underwent a major refit in 2003, more than 20 years ago. Inside, she has retained the charm of 1920s glamour, with accommodations for six guests across three cabins, including a master suite and two twins, all fitted with entertainment centers and en suite shower facilities.
A large galley sits adjacent to the crew quarters, while guests are served in the saloon, which features comfortable L-shaped seating. The interiors also include a bar, an ice maker, and a Sony home theater system. A separate banquette dining area, with seating for six guests, keeps alive the sort of intimate onboard entertaining that once made Invader a favorite among Hollywood’s glittering set.
Invader is powered by a 700-hp Caterpillar diesel engine that delivers a cruising speed of 10 knots. It may not sound like much by modern standards, but back in the day Invader was no slouch. The vessel won the Transpac Race in 1926 and set a record time that remained unbeaten for the next 27 years. With more than a century of history behind it, and a past touched by Chaplin, romance, racing, and old Hollywood glamour, Invader does seem like a steal at $3.5 million, especially at a time when billionaires are splurging more than $50 million a year on their vessels.
