There’s a labor-intensive — and labor of love — project going on in South Florida right now. It’s the restoration of Honey Fitz, one of the most famous yachts to grace American waters.
Built by DeFoe Boat Works in 1931, Honey Fitz measures 92’3” and was commissioned by American financier Sewell Avery, who gamed fame (and infamy) for pulling Montgomery Ward out of a lengthy economic depression. Avery was a passionate yachtsman and named the yacht Lenore II, in honor of his daughter. During World War II, the U.S. government appropriated the yacht for wartime use, as it did with many other private vessels. The cruiser went on to see service as a tender to the Presidential yacht Potomac in June 1945, and became an official possession of the U.S. Navy later that same year.
While Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower used her, as did subsequent American leaders, Lenore II gained a high profile under President John F. Kennedy. That’s also when she gained the name Honey Fitz, a nickname of JFK’s grandfather. JFK used the yacht every summer weekend, often cruising with his young children. (On an interesting side note, one of the original Kennedy life preservers and two of the flags from the boat are in the Kennedy Library in Massachusetts.)
Honey Fitz is presently up on the hard in Riviera Beach, Florida at Moores Marine, an antique- and classic-yacht restoration company. The team of expert woodworkers are replacing planking and carefully evaluating the original drawing plans to ensure the restoration is accurate. Moores Marine is well versed in American-made wooden yachts, having rebuilt the 92-foot Trumpy Innisfail, the 63-foot Mathis Washingtonian, and others.
I’ll have an interview and more details next week. For now, check out the slideshow that the restoration team put together, showcasing the work needed and work in progress.
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