The Honey Fitz Presidential Yacht is now available for charter

The legendary Honey Fitz Yacht has returned to the waves in all its timeless elegance after a meticulous three-year restoration to preserve the value and significance of 93 years of history when the ship was named “Presidential yacht“.

Honey Fitz is a yacht that has been used by five US presidents – Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy. In reality, the history of the Honey Fitz Yacht begins even further back, in 1931, when she was built by Defoe Boat & Motor Works in Bay City, Michigan, for tycoon Sewell Avery of Montgomery Ward. Originally named after Avery’s daughter Lenore, the yacht was made entirely of wood and had a wingspan of 93 feet (28.35 meters).

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From August 15, 1942, the US government used the Lenore Yacht for World War II: renamed CG-92004, she was assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard. At the end of the war, CG-92004 was transferred to the U.S. Department of Defense and served as a tender to the USS Potomac (another ship used as a presidential yacht by Franklin D. Roosevelt). During the presidencies of Truman and Eisenhower, the yacht (renamed Lenore II and later Barbara Anne) underwent a major refit and began service as Presidential Yacht of the United StatesThe ship was then used both for personal use (for events and excursions) and as a tender for the USS Williamsburg.

It was John F. Kennedya passionate sailor who named the yacht Honey Fitz in memory of his maternal grandfather, John Francis Fitzgerald, a famous mayor of Boston.
The yacht was further modified according to the tastes of Jacqueline Kennedy (who later also took care of some of the interior design of the 99.1-meter megayacht Christina O, owned by her second husband Aristotle Onassis) and was frequently used for family trips along the East Coast – mainly to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, Newport, RI and Palm Beach, Florida.

Later, President Johnson kept the name in honor of Kennedy. During Nixon’s presidency, the yacht was renovated and renamed Patricia. In 1970 it was auctioned and bought by Joseph B. Keating in 1971, marking the end of his presidency. Renamed The Presidents Under Keating, the yacht was chartered for dinner and day cruises.

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In the late 1990s, the boat was put up for sale after it had fallen into poor condition and was moved to a ship to prevent it from sinking. The boat was sold at auction by William Kallop, a Texas businessman, and was named Honey Fitz In 1998, the ship was recommissioned and underwent a comprehensive hull restoration to allow her to sail. In cooperation with the Lessing Hospitality Group Honey Fitz Purchased in 2020, the yacht underwent a three-year restoration to preserve its historical significance and restore it to its Kennedy-era splendor. After restoration, it was officially unveiled at the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show.

The interior is an ode to nautical tradition: varnished mahogany, white ceilings, wood paneling and blue fabrics make the Honey Fitz yacht extremely elegant and well-maintained down to the smallest detail. She can accommodate up to 35 passengers and has a main salon, formal dining room, sundeck, fully equipped kitchen and private owner’s suite. The Honey Fitz Yacht also participates in charity events; she is available for Charter through the Pelican Club in Jupiter, Florida, and for harborside parties, including weddings and parties.