Johnny Carson’s Yacht Serengeti Is in New Book

Whether you consider it serendipity or fate, Howard Smith would never have met the late Johnny Carson if he hadn’t retired in his 40s and moved to Malibu, California. In fact, the TV host and comedian just so happened to be a neighbor. They subsequently became quite close friends, too. In a new book, Howard shares that friendship with the world, including times spent aboard Carson’s yacht Serengeti.

The book, My Friend Johnny: The Last 20 Years of a Beautiful Life with Johnny Carson and Friends, provides insight into the famously private celebrity. For instance, Carson was a car enthusiast, with a prized classic car in his garage. According to Howard, though, “more than any car, John loved his boat.” He adds, “Well, boat is a loose term. It was 130 feet long with a beam of 26 feet.”

Carson’s yacht Serengeti—which still cruises, though in different owners’ hands—launched from Westport Yachts in 2002. She’s part of the successful Westport 130 series (sistership below), with five staterooms, a hot tub, and a 20-knot top end. Overeall, the series bears the amenities that keep numerous owners in the American yard’s fold. Those amenities and the overall space appealed to Carson. In a published excerpt from the book, Smith writes, “John spent a lot of time on the Serengeti, using it almost as a vacation home.” He cruised both U.S. Coasts, for example. Notably, sometimes Carson simply spent time aboard at the dock.

Howard and his family enjoyed an afternoon doing just that with Carson. “The highlight of the day was that John himself grilled hamburgers for us! John loved being on the water, it was his ‘peaceful place.’”

As for the inspiration behind the name, Carson chose it “because of his love for the African plains,” Howard writes. He adds that they reminded him of the U.S. Midwest. Carson was born in Iowa and moved to Nebraska at age eight, remaining in the state through college.

The book My Friend Johnny is available starting June 10. The yacht Serengeti, meanwhile, continues to charter up and down the U.S. West Coast. Furthermore, she’s currently for sale, for just shy of $8 million.

Westport Yachts westportyachts.com