In 1930, the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Michigan (then known as DeFoe Boat and Motor Works) launched one of just eight yachts it ever built. The 142-foot (43.28-meter) megayacht Janidore was massive for her time. Even larger today, at 163’6” (49.86 meters), she’s still cruising, as the classic superyacht Alicia, thanks to a massive restoration at UK-based SMS. What’s more, the yacht more accurately reflects her original design.
Located in Southampton, SMS welcomed Alicia under its roof in 2015. The owner, a Brit, wanted work done on home soil. SMS’ reputation also played a role. In recent years, the yard refitted Lady A and Shemara, for example—coincidentally, also for British owners. Shemara was essentially an entire rebuild, too. Further of note, but not coincidenta, all three refits saw direct lines of communication between the SMS staff and the owners. “Owners are therefore ‘masters of their own destiny,’ which is so very important to all those involved,” explains Peter Morton, CEO of The SMS Group.
The owner of the classic superyacht Alicia certainly enjoyed that role. “The team and management have been superb to work with from day one,” he says. He particularly praises SMS having “a real eye for the detail.”
Considering he wanted Alicia to look as Janidore did at launch, SMS had a “huge” challenge, according to Chris Norman, the managing director. “We built a new hull from the aft machinery bulkhead forward,” he notes. That’s a length of about 111 feet (34 meters) and beam of 24 feet (7.35 meters). SMS and its sister company, Wight Shipyard, designed and constructed a new aluminum superstructure, too. Both locations have all major trades in house, easing some burdens. However, “we’ve managed to install an equipment package suited to a 1,000-ton vessel into a 400-ton one,” Norman says. Modern machinery and limited headroom required a lot of planning. “It’s been a challenge that we’re proud to have overcome,” he adds.
Norman credits the owner of Alicia with being “passionately ‘hands on’ both operationally and commercially. He’s been a real big part of not only the project but also the business.”
With sea trials wrapping up soon, the classic superyacht Alicia next heads to the Med. She’ll participate in the annual Les Voiles de San Tropez in late September, alongside hundreds of other classic and modern yachts. Following that, “For many years to come, she’ll be a big part of our family,” the owner declares.
Raimondo Ruggiero
My grandfather was captain of Janidore during the interwar period in San Francisco. A master mariner, he was a Nova Scotia man with a background in sailing vessels and early steamers. In WW II he was in command of ocean-going salvage vessels in Pacific. He retired after the war.
fred Washburn
My Great Great Grandfather Issadore Zellerbach was the first owner of this boat when it was laid up in the Defoe shipyard in 1930. It was originally named with a combination of my Grandmother’s name (Jane) and his name Issadore. Thus the name “Janidore”.
Susan Zellerbach
To Whom it May Concern,
I have the original “Janidore” ship’s brass bell in my possession, as a family heirloom. Not sure how to repurpose it? Are you interested in acquiring it?
Please contact me at your earliest convenience. My great grandfather, Isadore Zellerbach, was the man who commissioned the original yacht.
Please respond to,
Susan Zellerbach
Helen DeFoe
Hello Susan!
My Father’s Father was Arthur DeFoe, the younger brother of Harry Defoe. Harry was the founder of DeFoe Boat and Motor Works, later Defoe Shipbuilding Company. My Grandfather spent his career at the shipyard as well. (You may notice the use of upper case and lower case “F/fs”. That is because the original spelling of our surname used the uppercase F. At some point around the 1920’s Harry changed his name, and that of the shipyard, to the lowercase f. His descendants continue to use the lowercase f to this day.)
I certainly know of the Janidore (and have always wondered where the name came from – now I know!), and have photos of her. I would certainly appreciate hearing from you about your Great-grandfather and the Janidore. Please email me at hjdefoe@hotmail.com. Thank you! Helen DeFoe, Jackson, Michigan
Helen DeFoe
You are correct: the Defoe Shipbuilding Company of Bay City, Michigan, did build only 8 yachts. The Janidore was not one of them. This is because prior to 1942, the name of the yard was the DeFoe Boat and Motor Works. It was under that name, the original name, that the Janidore was built by the company founded by Harry J. Defoe. (He began using the lower case “f” in the name in the 1920’s. Confusing, yes, since the rest of the family continues to use the original spelling with the upper case “F” to this day.)
From its 1905 founding until WWII, the yard build 75 yachts, the Janidore being one. The Roaring Twenties alone saw construction of 41 yachts, from 36′ to 158′. The yard was in existence from 1905-1976. Yacht buyers included automobile business executives Charles Fisher (Fisher Body), Fred Zeder (Chrysler Corp), Ransom Olds (Oldsmobile), Edsel Ford (Ford), Charles Kettering (General Motors), and Ralph Evinrude (Outboard Marine Corp.) and Tom Yawkey (Boston Red Sox owner). At the onset of WWII, more than 150 consecutive vessels were constructed for the U.S. Army (yes, Army!), Navy and Coast Guard, with no yachts built until the 8 post-war vessels you mention. The 1931 yacht Lenore, built for Montgomery Ward head Sewell Avery, ultimately became a Presidential yacht used by Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy (her most frequent user; Marilyn Monroe was invited aboard), Johnson and Nixon. The 1960’s saw 3 guided missile destroyers built for the Australian Navy. (It takes a darn good reputation for a Great Lakes shipyard to receive a contract from a nation 10,000 miles away!) The Research Vessel Knorr, built for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, was used by Robert Ballard to discover the wreck of the Titanic. Defoe yachts and warships have appeared in movies, including with James Bond. Yachts have been requisitioned by the Navy for use in WWI and WWII. There are DeFoe/Defoe yachts, Navy and Coast Guard ships, and fireboats, ferries and other craft still in use today!
Diane M. Byrne
Oftentimes we use the more well-known name of a shipyard when it has changed names over the years, but you have provided such great history that we added the original name to the article. Thanks for the extraordinary lesson!