BB80' Trumpy 1947

The History of John Trumpy & Sons

John Trumpy worked as a yacht designer for the Mathis Yacht Building Company in Camden, NJ staring in 1910. During World War II Trumpy acquired Mathis and the company was renamed John Trumpy & Sons. Following WW II, the Trumpy operations and yacht yard moved to Annapolis, Maryland where they continued in operation until the early 1970's. Over 400 Trumpy yachts were designed and built during the 60-year history, of which about 90 still exist today.

Understatedly called a "houseboat" by her designers because the yachts offered her owners all the comforts of home, Trumpy was considered the Rolls-Royce of American Yachting. Known for their meticulous craftsmanship owners of Trumpy yachts included the likes of Howard Hughes, the Guggenheims, Dupont's, Chrysler, and Dodge families.

Today in the age of sleek, fast yachts built of carbon fiber and composites the enduring attraction to the unique elegance and provenance of a classic wooden yacht is like that to a rare, vintage bottle of wine or an iconic work of art. This is evidenced by the passionate attention that a Trumpy yacht will attract in every harbor they enter. This passion also helps to understand why a special individual would purchase a classic wooden yacht in need of repair and restoration and invest years and a literal fortune into authentically restoring the yacht.

The Making of BB

The owner of the 80' Trumpy motor yacht called BB shares this unique passion for restoring and preserving this treasure of American yachting history, having had just complete a 3+ year, and $4 million + authentic restoration, that has returned the yacht to her original 1947 splendor.

Designed and built by John Trumpy in as a "luxury cruising houseboat" she was commissioned by George W. Codrington of Cleveland, Ohio was was VP of General Motors and a member of the New York and Larchmont Yacht Clubs. Her hull was built at the Trumpy / Mathis location in Camden, NJ and then the yacht was then towed to the new Trumpy yard in Annapolis where she was completed and launched in 1947. Christened "SEAPLAY" she had the state-of-the-art amenities of the day which included, according to a review in the August 1948 issue of The Rudder Magazine, a "ship to shore telephone in owner's room makes possible instant communication with home or office from the "SEAPLAY." The article also stated: "She has a well-blended combination of seaworthiness, sleek lines, good turn of speed, ease of handling, sturdiness, compactness with comfort, reliability, and the ability to go anywhere her owner desires."

"SEAPLAY's" later names, in order, include: NATAMOR II, SEAWAY, BEAU RIVAGE, SS SOHPIE in 1998, and BB since 2017.

Specifications:

Classic 1947 Trumpy raised pilothouse motor yacht

LOA 80'0" / 24.38m

Beam 18'0" / 5.49m

Draft 4'9" / 1.45m Max

GRT 85 tons - GRT and NRT are listed at 57 on British Certificate of Registry

The yacht was repowered in 1961 with twin Detroit Diesel 6-71N (naturally asperated) 234 hp engines, which have also been rebuilt during restoration. The original pewter plate commemorating the 1961 installation of the new engines is proudly restored in BB's salon. These workhorse engine offer a cruising speed of 10-knots with a maximum sped of 13 knots. 820 gallons / 3,104 liters of fuel for a range of 700 miles.

On approaching BB at the dock, the first thing you notice is her impeccable high-gloss varnish - lots of it! Stripped to bare wood inside and out, an estimated 233 gallons of varnish were used during her restoration period. All superstructure is teak with layers and layers of high-gloss varnish - the deckhouse, raised pilothouse, cap rails, and trim shows the superb wood joinery of her pristine white hull and the distinctive gold Trumpy filigree on her prow.

Port and starboard gates allow boarding flexibility at the dock via stairs. A swim platform attaches to the bottom of the stairs for easy boarding from the dinghy when at anchor or after a swim. Swim platform / boarding stairs are lowered from the starboard side.

BB has generous walk-around decks and high stanchions with varnished teak cap rails. Walk aft along the port or starboard sides to access the generous aft deck through a teak and glass door on both sides. Walking forward is a teak door (also matching port and starboard) with access to the butler's pantry. Continue forward to mirror image balconette style bridge wings. Take 3-steps up the bridge wing to enter the pilothouse, offering with excellent visibility and privacy for captain and crew. There is a comfy leather bench seat aft, spacious chart table, helm seat, original teak wheel, and a fully modernized navigation and helm station. Windows fore and aft open for added ventilation.

Forward of the bridge is the "card room" which doubled as the original owner's office. The card room offers great views while underway or at anchor and is a wonderful space with a cozy settee aft, and a forward 3/4-day bed for sleeping an additional guest. There is a card / cocktail table in between that is ideal for games as well as enjoying morning coffee or sunset cocktails. The opening windows have custom wood venetian blinds and port and starboard doors provide excellent natural cross ventilation for an alternative to the yacht's new air conditioning system. The foredeck is graced by a large centerline sliding teak hatch for deck access to crew quarters and galley. The current owner had this hatch replicated from original specifications and photographs of the original foredeck hatch which had been replaced at some point by a fiberglass hatch. The foredeck offers plenty of seating with built-in forward-facing cushioned settee against the card room housing, plus matching port and starboard cushioned deck boxes.

On the port side just aft of the pantry door is a teak rope locker with storage for lines and PFD's.

Entering the full-service butler's pantry, you understand why Trumpy called this design a "houseboat". It is fully equipped with a generous sink, lots of stainless counter space for toaster, coffee maker, plus drawers, and under-counter storage including a refrigerator, icemaker, rubbish compartment, and above are glass and teak doored barware and china storage, teak and ash sole, and round opening port. Port and starboard pantry doors offer easy access for crew and guests plus excellent cross ventilation. The butler's pantry is great for guest self-service and for enabling the yacht's crew to provide seamless guest service.

From the pantry forward to starboard are stairs down to the full galley, crew accommodation, and engine room access aft. The galley has been completely restored with butcher style counter tops, integral sink, lots of storage, 2 opening ports, and teak and ash sole.

The interior of BB is decorated with authentic period furnishings and built-ins throughout, some antique and some reproductions, all in keeping with her 1947 launching. In addition, the restoration of BB included generous sound insulation throughout for nearly silent operation of all systems and climate controls.

Stepping inside and aft from the pantry you are welcomed by abundant natural light from the large windows of the open and airy salon. Beautiful rubbed-mahogany paneling and mahogany crown moldings are accented by a white acoustic insulated overhead with high-gloss varnished teak trim strips. Midships to port is a day head with traditional Trumpy fold-up sink. A server on the forward bulkhead has a built-in mirror above that beautifully reflects the natural light from the windows and is flanked by period glass sconces. At the push of a button what could be 1947 becomes 2020 as a 48" television rises from the port bulkhead. There is a sturdy fold-away mahogany table that blends into the port bulkhead and is easily set up for formal dining. Decor is simple yet elegant with beautifully framed black and white photographs on the bulkheads, prior glass sconce lighting, custom wood venetian blinds with fabric valances, restored floor timbers, white upholstery with yellow accent cushions and tasteful dhurrie rug in front of the sofa.

Built-in storage below windows along the starboard side and a mahogany desk that has leaded glass door above sits on the starboard aft bulkhead and all add to the houseboat feel.

BB Walk-Through

Continuing aft through the salon on the port side is the stairway to the lower deck guest accommodations.

Down the mahogany stairway, the generously appointed master stateroom is located aft and features a queen size centerline berth accompanied by a built-in pop-up flat screen 48" TV that goes up and down as desired by guest. The centerline queen berth replaces the original twin port and starboard berths. Twin aft bulkhead dressers and bedside reading lamps are located on either side of the queen berth. the bulkhead mirror lies above the queen berth. 4-opening ports with sliding shutters and the large mirror provides an open and airy atmosphere within the stateroom. Twin bench seats and hanging lockers are located on either side of the queen berth. Ensuite facilities located port feature teak and holly sole with a large wash basin, mirrored vanity, 2 storage lockers, Tecma fresh water flush head, 3/4 bathtub and shower. 2-Sliding shuttered opening port allow fresh air to flow freely.

Exiting the master stateroom, the starboard twin guest cabin ensuite facility is located to starboard and forward is the starboard twin guest cabin. The guest cabin features a twin berth with the option to convert to a full-size queen berth. Desk and bureau accompany the berth as well as a hanging locker. 2-Opening ports with sliding shutters allow for fresh breezes to flow freely throughout the cabin. Entering the ensuite facilities, stall shower with teak grating, generous storage, Tecma fresh water flush head and mirrored vanity.

Exiting the twin stateroom and moving forward to port, a third cabin features upper and lower bunks with a shared day head.

Centerline is a lovely varnished teak half-glass door opening out that leads to the aft deck. There is a teak brass screened door that opens inward - a wonderful bonus when fresh air is desired in the salon.

The aft deck has a large custom built varnished teak oval dining table which the current owner had built and offers spacious seating for 8, with a curved banquette aft and 4-sturdy mid-century teak dining chairs. A mahogany overhead is painted in white enamel with high-gloss varnished teak trim strips.

Custom canvas side panels surround the entire aft deck up to the cap rails. From the cap rail to the overhead are isinglass curtains that easily roll up or down to allow this lovely space to be enjoyed if there is a change in weather.

Removed all planking for full frame inspection. Framing, planks & floor timber areas repaired / replaced include: master stateroom & master head, starboard guest stateroom & starboard guest head frame repair & planks, port aft bottom, engine room timber & framing replaced & re-planked, starboard galley to crew quarters bulkhead (7 sets), starboard frame / deck beam repair, lazarette frame & timber repair & water tank area, starboard frame / deck beam repaired, port frame, galley bulkhead; full-length frame repair chain locker / bow thruster, renew ceilings chain locker / bow thruster, renew ceilings chain locker / crew head area, crew galley, repair forefoot sides. Replace strut timber aft, 3-floor timbers master and lazarette, 6-floor timbers engine room bulkhead.

Bottom planked replaced, frame planks & floor timber repairs. 14-Spliced planks, butt blocks removed and replaced, butt joints reinforced, bow repair, upper stern repair, port hood end repair, bow plank repair (9) spliced. Remove and repair transom, refasten strut to transom. Remove epoxy in bottom seams, re-new caulking . Rudder blocks replaced.

Engine room planking above ports replaced, galley stern closet planking replaced / repaired, shaft logs renewed.

Starboard aft topside planks repaired, frame planking repair.

Crew bilge deck beam repair, frame end repair, ceiling beam repair galley / engine room.

Engine room ceiling / salon deck beams repaired / replaced.

Keel:

Bearding / keel checks for frame, keel repairs in midship, crew quarters, engine room area and bow. Outer keel repair (stern / keel) and keel top. Interior keel repair 10' section horn timber, and forward crew area 18' section horn timber. keel bolts removed and renewed. new worm shoe fixe. Deadwood stern keel repaired.

Deck Repairs:

Boat deck repair crew area outer deck, foredeck and sides. teak cap-rail repaired / replaced both port and starboard sides each in 16' sections; cap-rail repaired midships and stern, and aft deck cap rail. Starboard davit, accent battens and deck beams (side), aft deck teak accent trim, port and starboard waterfill areas, aft deck ceiling and beams. Fabricate lower tern bronze rub-rail, repair stem knee bolts. Re-fasten topside cabin house remove / renew water stained teak on house, rot damage repaired. Paint 14 port lights / 4 lids / 14 holes aft, paint davit plates / poles. Re-bed deck hardware, replace port light panel, port light outer rings painted. 6-Deck drains were replaced, port lights and port holes assembled and installed.

Bilge clamp deck carlings and deck beams fabricated and fixed.

14-Round port holes repaired, rub-rail wood repaired, bow planking repaired port and starboard topsides.

Gate handrails and forward port handrail repaired, forward gate cap rails repaired.

Step plate and sand tread repaired

Foredeck repair, crew hatch replaced

Structural repairs to card room, pilothouse and pantry, card room day bed customized

Stainless-steel rub rail replacement

Port light boxes and covers

New mast built

Exterior Miscellaneous:

Full exterior paint including custom logo and gold leaf trim

Teak doghouse repaired / rebuilt

New deck furnishings including custom aft deck dining table and settee

Hull painted and all teak varnished

Interior Restoration:

Floor timbers and framing removed and replaced as needed including master stateroom, aft strut timber removed, repaired, renewed or replaced, shaft log timber, crew quarters & crew galley, bow, crew bilge floor timbers, bow & holding tank area.

Entire interior painted and varnished

Custom shower pan fabricated for crew head

Full interior painting and varnish including crew quarters, bilges

Paint side and aft deck ceilings

Custom replicated authentic Trumpy night stands port and starboard guest staterooms

Custom mahogany lift-top desk

Design and build master bed footboard custom TV box

Custom television cabinet designed to blend with paneling and house a new 55" LG television with push-button "pop-up" controls in salon and integral to the foot board of the bed in the master stateroom.

Salon TV panel repair, varnish / stain salon and deck, salon mantle for TV, grab rails for stairs, paint and replace hardware in closets.

Guest stateroom floor timber repairs

Vertical and horizontal salon panel seams

Stern repair, build crew quarters port shower and closet

Master stateroom inset panel, aft bulkhead repaired in master stateroom

Re-frame guest hatches for new bunks

New port guest head with shower

New master shower

Varnish:

All varnish interior and exterior stripped and re-varnished (237 gallons)

Mechanical:

New bow thruster installed

New fire suppression system in engine room

New smart plugs for the shore power

New watermaker 27-gallon per hour

New water tank

2-Northern Lights 40 kW generators rebuilt

Fabrication of 40 genset bolts

Strip and paint generator platform

Galley & Butler's Pantry Totally Refurbished:

Custom made US Cooler refrigerator and freezer with Sea Frost refrigeration systems

New JennAir stove

New exhaust hood

New Bosch dishwasher

New sink

New faucet

New countertops

Crew Quarters:

Fully painted and varnished

Wood paneling replaced as needed

Soles refinished

New mattresses

New washer and dryer

(3) 50-Amp shore power inputs

(3) Galvanic isolators

120V / 240 V AC electric system

12V / 24V DC electrical system

Major Bass Products electrical panel

Mastervolt battery chargers

(8) AGM 8D batteries in series

Master Volt Chargemaster Plus 24 / 40-30 battery charger

Emergency bilge pump

Reverso oil change pump

Fire System dampers

Arid bilge dry system

Fuel filters

Engine room blowers

Jabsco Par Max Plus 82600 0094 fresh water pump

Water Makers Inc. WMS-1400, 230V

(2) Whale F1200, 11 gallons each, 120V hot water heater

Bronze 4-blade propeller 32" X 29"

Stainless-steel 2-1/4" dia.

Bronze V-type

Rubber cutlass type

Bronze 25" X 23" spades

Naiad stabilizers

Stabilizer cooling pump

Side Power bow thruster

Thruster batteries

Port and starboard fire hoses on deck, operated off power take-off from port generator

Fire extinguishers located in staterooms, galley, main salon, card room, crew quarters, and engine room

Fireboy fire suppression system

Lazarette fire suppression system

EPIRB Global Fix

Flares

Fire aid kit

Viking 4-person life raft

Viking 6-person life raft

Danforth 100# stainless-steel anchor with 200' of 1/2" chain

Danforth 75# spare anchor

Muir 4500 electric windlass

Bilges, forward

Sump pumps

Water filtration and stabilizer pump

Emergency pump pick up

Aft mid bilges

Shaft log

Aft sump pumps

Lazarette bilge

Dometic MC6X60 SMRT STRT 230V, 60,000 BTU

Cruisair MTC36C 230V, 36,000 BTU - can be run independently for light conditions or in parallel for hotter climates

(3) Lorex remote cameras, stern view, mast view, and engine room view

(2) Garmin 8612 XSV multi-function displays

(2) Sailor TT 6210 A VHF's

Garmin GHC 20 autopilot

Danforth compass

Garmin AIS 800

Stabilizer controls

Muir windlass control

Orion flare kit

First aid

EPIRB

Compressed air horn with pull operation

New 12'6", 3.8m CL 380 Highfield with 20 hp Honda outboard, 20 hours

Spectra lifting bridle

Custom Sunbrella canvas cover

Aere fenders with covers, custom leather fender hooks

Deck boxes with Sunbrella cushions and with canvas covers

Sunbrella bow seating with Sunbrella canvas covers

Top deck seating with Sunbrella cushions and Sunbrella canvas cover

MarQuipt boarding gangway

Custom wooden boat hook

Magma grill

Ocean Explorer 2-person, 14' kayak with custom canvas cover

Inflatable paddle board

NautiBuoy swim platform

Sea Frost refrigerator and freezer, SA 3.5 220V 404a

Franke EFD 5H5 refrigerator

Bosch SHXM4AY55N/01 dishwasher

JennAir JJW2430D503 stove

JennAir cooktop

GE washer, model WCVH4800k3WW and dryer, model GFT 14ESSLOWW