Click for YF Listing Service Click for Westport Click for JetForums Click for Abeking Click for Comfort

Feature: Trumpy "El Presidente"

Discussion in 'Trumpy Yacht' started by YachtForums, Dec 28, 2004.

  1. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    One of the most famous Trumpy's... "El Presidente".

    This historic yacht has been beautifully restored and spends summers in Chicago and winters in South Florida. Originally, El Presidente is a 96 foot, 1939 Mathis-Trumpy motor yacht. El Presidente, originally named Innisfail, was built for the J.M. Cudahy family of Lake Forest, Illinois for pleasure use on the east coast in 1939. During World War II, the vessel was pressed into service by the U.S. Navy. She was refit at the Naval shipyard in Philadelphia in May of 1942, and was commissioned as the YP-354. The ship was mounted with two 20mm cannons on her deck, and a depth charge rack was placed on her stern. El Presidente served as a coastal patrol boat for five years.

    Attached Files:

  2. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Following decommissioning in 1947, El Presidente was refurbished and remained in government service via a lend-lease arrangement until 1965. During that time, the vessel was used by U.S. Presidents, foreign dignitaries and heads of state. Her guest list of U.S. Presidents includes Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. The current owner has painstakingly sought and acquired many of her original furnishings, including gifts by former French President Charles de Gaulle and by former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. El Presidente has been frequented by countless celebrities and has been featured in several motion pictures.


    Forward Quarter...

    Attached Files:

  3. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    El Presidente underwent a major restoration in 1996. The complete structural, mechanical, electrical and cosmetic reconstruction succeeded in making her a state-of-the-art yacht while still retaining the grace and elegance of an era gone by. Aboard, guests enjoy original Art Deco-style furnishings, an elegantly appointed main salon trimmed in teak and mahogany, and a teak afterdeck. El Presidente is commercially documented and enjoys "new boat" status with the United States Coast Guard due to her extensive renovation. With the ambiance of the old and the amenities of the new, one of the world's most beautiful and historic cruising yachts is now a charter vessel.

    El Presidente - side pic

    Attached Files:

  4. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Way before her current refit...

    Attached Files:

  5. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    As she is seen today in her native waters off Chicago...

    Attached Files:

  6. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2008
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    Charleston,SC
    New Life, Old Name

    El Presidente is now once again M/V INNISFAIL.

    In late 2007, the vessel was sold to a new owner. After delivering the boat to a yard in Beaufort, NC, extensive repair work on the boat deck and some re-fitting in the saloon, staterooms, wheelhouse and boat deck, she once again bares her original shape and original names, INNISFAIL.

    Her home port is Charleston, SC, and she is still available for private charters, not only in Charleston harbor but along the Low Country coast.

    Here she is with the owner aboard steaming along the Ashley River"
    [​IMG]

    Attached Files:

  7. SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2007
    Messages:
    1,360
    Location:
    out on the dock
    The refit is stunning. The removal of that horrible enclosure on the roof and the return of her traditional profile stack is wonderful. Great job!
  8. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2008
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    Charleston,SC
    Of course, the next step is to fit a new stem, one that does not have a clipper "beak" and has a convex shape like she had at launching.
    Considering that the stem and all the planks that are rabbetted into it are only eight years old, we most likely shan't be doing that any time soon.

    A captain of a Trumpy here in Charleston jokingly chided me for having Trumpy scrollwork. I don't have the heart to point this out to the owner.

    Thanks for the kind words.

    Eric, did you work on Trumpys yourself, or are you simply a fan?
  9. SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2007
    Messages:
    1,360
    Location:
    out on the dock
    Greetings, I am a yacht broker, a past commodore of The Classic Yacht Club of America, and a student of boats. I have owned a number of classic and wooden boats during my lifetime. As a yacht broker, I have a sub-specialty in classic and wood. I have listed and sold many Trumpys in my 20 year career, some of the boats several times. Its always a challenge in marketing a significant yacht, to ascertain that the new owner is prepared to properly maintain the boat going forward. I dislike placing a nice boat in the hands of someone who will let her "die". My most recent success story is the sale of "Claudette" an unmolested 1970 58' Trumpy cruiser. She has gone to a New York owner who has previously owned large wooden boats, and maintains them beautifully. She has a good home. I do my best to keep in touch with the Trumpy community, and always enjoy seeing a pampered yacht gliding past on the waterway.
  10. Bamboo

    Bamboo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2008
    Messages:
    934
    Location:
    Palm Beach, FL
    This news as a vessel nearly identical to this one has had several passes to Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach (shores) bearing the name "El Presidente" in the last few weeks. Of course I could be mistaken, but if this is not the same vessel I'd be very surprised.
  11. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2008
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    Charleston,SC
    Bamboo--

    It is definitely not this boat. We have been in Charleston, SC since APR 2008.

    There is another Mathis that is very similar in looks to Innisfail. She was the first boat built for the original owner, now named Enticer.

    If you get a chance to post some pics, would love to see another classic yacht named "El Presidente."
  12. dsharp

    dsharp Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Messages:
    240
    Location:
    lake jackson, tx
    I believe this is a picture of her in the late 1950's or early 1960's. This boat was sold to Daytona Boat Works at about the same time.

    Attached Files:

  13. william skip

    william skip Guest

    yacht shiawassee

    In the late fifties I crewed on a....could have been trumpy houseboat out of Star Island Miami Beach, Fl. for Calvin Bentley. She was a beautiful boat, we did all the varnish work ourselves..six coats. i think she was near 100ft. Her name was Shiawassee. Have never been able to find out what happened to her after the owner died. If anyone knows thanks. Hope she didn't get forgotten.
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Innisfail used to sit on the New River behind a house during the winters I believe. She is a beautiful boat and has beautiful lines.
  15. SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2007
    Messages:
    1,360
    Location:
    out on the dock
    The "Shiawassee V" was 92' built in 1925 for Thomas M. Howell. She was contract #175 originally named "Thalia". Her most recent documented name was "Private Dancer". Last I heard of her was in the mid 1990's. She was located in New York and was in very tough shape, having been kept afloat by a continuously running AC sump pump connected with an extension cord which eventually failed. I'm quite certain she does not survive.
  16. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I was on M/V INNISFAIL today in Jacksonville FL.
    What a beauty.
  17. d romberger

    d romberger New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2017
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Maine and Florida
    Seeking any and all info on Trumpy 76'houseboat "Drifter" launched 1939
  18. Joe duke

    Joe duke New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2018
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Brooklyn ny
    Does anyone have any further info on private dancer . Last I saw her was in 1990, after doing a 300000 refit on her . What a crime if she is lost. She was a beauty.
  19. WhiteStar

    WhiteStar New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    Boston Mass

    I believe she sank and was cut up. I was on her in the mid to late 90s in city island New York. I have a ton of pictures of anyone is interested.
  20. Joe duke

    Joe duke New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2018
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Brooklyn ny
    I would love to have whatever pictures you have , most of mine were lost. I put two years , a ton of money and a lot of love into her, what a crime she is gone.