Just when you think the adventure is over for another season. Something like this happens. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Last week, on the Today Show, there was a feature on the restoration of the presidential yacht, Honey Fitz. The yacht was built in 1931 for the founder of the Montgomery Ward Stores. During World War II it was commissioned into the Navy for coastal patrol. After the war, it was returned to its owner who said, "keep it, it's a mess. I don't want it." The government then decided that maybe Harry Truman would like it. They cleaned her up and turned her into Truman's Presidential Yacht. After Truman, Eisenhower took her over, and then Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. However, it was during the Kennedy years that the yacht gained its greatest fame. Named after his grandfather, the Honey Fitz became the nautical playground for the Kennedy clan during JFK's brief presidency.
She later was sold to a charitable organization that could not afford to maintain her and wound up in Louisiana literally rotting away. Two years ago, she was sold for nearly $6 million to a wealthy entrepreneur who had her towed to West Palm Beach in Florida. $5 million later, the vessel has been completely restored. She is magnificent. She is now on a journey north to Boston where she will be exhibited near the Kennedy Library.
Peg and I were sitting on our boat having dinner, when we looked up and saw the Presidential Seal on her funnel at our marina. We thought, is that the Honey Fitz and what is she doing here? So after dinner, we walked over to the dock she was on and sure enough, it was the Honey Fitz. We saw the First Mate and started talking to him about the boat. He asked us if we wanted a tour. Wow. What a piece of history. She's 93 feet long and has only one state room. I wonder where the Secret Service slept? But if that stateroom could only talk. Jackie, Marilyn, who else? Anyway, you should check out their website for more info at:
www.myhoneyfitz.com
Also, check out the photos I took in the photo gallery. I hope this adventure never ends.