This American Time Capsule Belonged to Some of the Nation's Richest: It's Up for Sale!

Ladies and gents, the history-filled ship before us today is none other than the Sobre Las Olas, a vessel that was brought to life back in 1929 by Wilmington Boat Works, making it one of the oldest machines I've ever written about.

Well, with nearly 100 years of history under its belt, this ship has come to have a whole lot to tell, but the real ticket item here today is that it's currently up for grabs for no more than $850K (€776K at current exchange rates), and with a little bit of sweet-talking, I'm sure you can get a better deal than that.

Yet, what can we get our hands on? Well, almost a century is quite a long time, and as we can see from the images in the gallery if you do happen to get your hands on this bugger, you will need to drop some cash into refreshing the interior a bit, maybe even the deck. Still, once all that is said and done, you'll own a piece of history. Let's see what's in store for folks like you and me.

Now, back in 1929, the main building block being used to craft such vessels was wood, and in quite a few cases, this material is still used today. As for Wilmington Boat Works, it's a yard that built ships to be used in WW2 and the Korean War, including tug boats and two "submarine chasers," but closed down in 1958. that's part one of this history lesson.

Part two includes this puppy's propulsion system. Can you guess what was available back in 1929 and found on American soil? If you guessed Atlas Imperial, you'd be right. Who is Atlas Imperial, you say?

Hmm, what if I told you that in 1919, Atlas would go on to build America's first common-rail injection diesel engine? Would that spark your interest in this ship? How about the rumor that there are only four of these engines left in existence today? Oh, and two of those bad boys are found aboard this very ship. All this was history lesson number two.

As for lesson three, it's all about the two big names that owned this boat over the course of its life. The first mention of a notable human being that Northrop & Johnson - one of the crews brokering this deal - makes is about Jean Paul Getty, the one and the same that founded the Getty Oil Company and whose fortune is calculated in the billions.

The second is William Randolph Hearst, who would put in motion one of America's largest newspaper and media companies, Hearst Communications. That's lesson number three, so from here on out, we'll be focusing on nothing more than what your cash can buy.

Overall, we're looking at 105 feet (32 m) of ship with that antique diesel engine in it, but masts also tell us that you can set sail in this baby. As for its looks, a white paint job is contrasted by countless panels of exposed wood, and in the evening light, with the deck aglow from artificial lighting, I just can't help but feel like a millionaire from the 1900s.

Now, once we climb aboard, we can clearly see which sections of the Sobre have been tampered with and upgraded over the ages. In particular, the sun deck has received some attention and includes modern appliances and lounge features. Still, a dash of wood trim is left behind, almost as a reminder of where this boat has been.

More modernization can also be found inside the Sobre Las Olas, typically in the shape of a kitchen and the bathrooms, but other spaces have been kept as of-era as possible. You know what I don't feel I need to point out? All that wood, again. If you like this building block, then this is the ship for you. Heck, even the bathroom includes wooden walls, all except the shower, which is tattered in green and yellow mosaic tiles, minus any tangible scenery or images.

As I continued to scroll through the images in the gallery, I realized something that you, too, may find is right up your alley: the Sobre Las Olas appears to have been and could very well be someone's long-term home. The bedroom, lounge/living room, and even that little office space all tell me this puppy has been lived out of.

What does all this mean for folks like you and me? Well, it all depends on the sort of lifestyle you want to live. For example, if you're looking to head down south for the winter, the Sobre Las Olas is perfect for that; just live it up tied to a dock.

If you're the more adventurous kind, go through a checkup to make sure everything is in working order, and head out to sea. Maybe you can plan a trip along America's western coast, maybe the eastern one too, or just head down south and do a tad of island hopping.

Better yet, dump a tad more cash into this timeless beauty and transform it into nothing more than the most wicked and time-capsule Airbnb around, or just rent it out for movies and commercials; according to sources, some films have been shot aboard this vessel already. Honestly, there are bound to be plenty of options with something like this on your 'assets' list. Turn it into an investment and scribble your name into the Sobre Las Olas' lifetime.