Manitou, Classic Yawl and Remnant of History

by Des Ryan on 10 Jun 2008 If you have a couple of million (US Dollars that is) to spare, one of the most prestigious classic yachts of all time could be yours. Aristotle Onassis tried to buy her twice, failing each time, and the original owner bought her back just a few years ago. For a time she was the USA's 'Floating White House', and the world's most vital secrets of the day were whispered in her salon. She's Manitou, John F Kennedy's Presidential yacht.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] As one of his first official acts, incoming president Kennedy selected Manitou, the 62-foot Sparkman & Stephens yawl designed in 1936 to replace the 92-foot powerboat that was then the Presidential yacht. She had been donated in 1955 to the Coast Guard Academy. She was brought to the Chesapeake Bay and equipped with communication equipment so the President would never be out of touch with his office (or the Kremlin) while on board.

Kennedy sailed Manitou often on the Bay and in New England. Kennedy was so fond of the boat that he deemed her the 'floating Whitehouse.' She was named after Manitou Passage in Lake Michigan. 'Manitou' means 'Spirit of the Water.'

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Five years after his assassination in 1963, she was sold by government (Defense Surplus Sales Office) on May 23, 1968 to the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at Piney Point, Maryland for $35,000, and then used for training for the Merchant Marine.

In the same year, Aristotle Onassis, the Greek multi-millionaire made two attempts to buy the boat back when he was courting Mrs. John F. Kennedy. he married her a few months later (October 1968).

In 1999, Manitou was purchased by the granddaughter of the original owner, James Lowe. Since then, the boat has undergone a major refit. The current owner has seen some changes, too -- citing the birth of triplets in 2001. She has put Manitou up for sale.

Her shapely lines were originally built at the M.M. Davis & Son yard at Solomans, Maryland but has just completed an almost entire rebuild in the course of the past five years.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] Designed after Mr. Olin Stephens experience with the famed Dorade? and Stormy Weather she followed the Cruising Club rule, and she is a boat of solid construction intended to be able to handle herself smartly in almost any sort of sea. She was always an excellent design for extended cruising or ocean racing and she now has many features, some original and some from the refit that make her desirable.

She is built with teak planking on deck and Philippine mahogany over oak frames for the hull - all of which is now new.


[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] And here's what you get for the 1.9mil:

Length: 62 feet overall (44 feet on water line). Beam: 13 feet. Draft: 9 feet.

Power: gasoline engine (7-8 knots)

Equipment: radio direction finder, fathometer, radio telephone

Accommodations: icebox, propane stove, usable fireplace, head forward, and head admidships. Sleeps 3 crew forward, 4 in main cabin and the main stateroom aft sleeps 2.

Rig: Marconi rigged yawl. Requires at least 3 experiened hands [Sorry, this content could not be displayed]to sail her and another 2 or 3 to handle the sails and gear. In addition to regular working sails, has a complete set of racing sails.

For more information about the yacht as she stands for sale, go to the Sparkman & Stephens Association

Letters from Readers:

Sender: Lawrence(Larry) White

Message:
While she was in Coast Guard service I skippered MANITOU on many occasions including several ocean races. She was a sweet sailor, a pleasure to handle, and her memory lingers on even after all these years. Her history is very familiar to me, though I lost track of her after she went to Piney Point. Once I tried to see her there but was unsuccessful.
Several years ago my son-in-law located her in Deltaville where she was just into the refit and I saw her once more, stood on her rebuilt deck and enjoyed the flood of memories, including my introducing her to President Kennedy on a weekend at Johns Island, Maine. Obviously he liked her too, and a new chapter in her life began.
I'm happy that she is reborn to bring joy to some lucky new owner.
..........................

Sender: Ken Hollemon

Message: I crewed Manitou while at the US Coast Guard Academy 1962-1966. She was a real lady -- demanding of a lot of upkeep and giving back great memories. I served as 'cook' during the early years and we had fuel oil kitchen stove (augmented by an electric blower) that was not gimbaled. Lighting it required wads of toilet paper and a bit of luck -- anything cooked while heeled over involved putting it in a big skillet on the windward side and tending it as it slid downslope. I crewed on the Newport-Bermuda race in 1964 and 1966 -- the latter was known for it bad weather and we spent a great deal of time mending sails.

Sail on, Manitou -- you didn't win many races but you had class!!