Presidential Yacht Restored, out for Charter

Innisfail, restored to her former elegance SW

Innisfail interior © SW

Last week we featured the lovely Manitou, John F Kennedy's classic yawl, which is currently for sale. Now there's another beauty taking to the water again.

The wooden yacht Innisfail used to be owned the by the U.S. Government and was used by Presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy and played host to many world dignitaries.

Frank Lynch, the owner of six Cactus Car Wash locations bought the yacht for $1.5 million and spent another $1.5 million bringing the 92-foot yacht back to her former glory adding a new deck and roof and antiques. The yacht, which was built in 1939, is berthed at the Charleston City Marina in Charleston, South Carolina and is available for charter for up to 65 guests for day cruises and events. Rates start at around $800 an hour.

Innisfail cabin © SW

About Innisfail:
Innisfail is a pre-war Mathis Yacht designed by John Trumpy, built during what would be called 'America's Golden Age of Yachting.' Each custom Mathis-Trumpy yacht was a maritime masterpiece. Their timeless beauty and classic lines are distinct in any harbor. In the 1940s, the U.S. Navy commandeered luxury yachts to serve as a shore patrol fleet.

The lovely Innisfail answered duty's call, and was refitted with two 20mm cannons on her deck and a depth charge rack on her stern. Innisfail was commissioned as YP-354 in May 1942, and served her country patrolling the east coast for five years.

In 1947, Innisfail was decommissioned and refurbished as a luxury yacht once again. Innisfail remained in government service until 1965, and was a host to world leaders and dignitaries from. Charles de Gaulle, Anwar Sadat, Presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy, and in later years Presidents Nixon and Clinton.

In 1965, Innisfail retired from government service and was returned to private ownership. Innisfail was used as a charter vessel in South Florida and Chicago. In the spring of 2008, Moores Marine in Beaufort, North Carolina was commissioned to painstakingly restore the yacht to her original condition.

Her name now reclaimed, Innisfail is once again fitted with museum-quality art deco furnishings and artifacts from the 1920s and 30s. The elegance and ambiance of her salon is unmatched in any other vessel afloat.

For rates and availability, call Lehanne Bailey at 843.873.2733 or 888.248.2824.