Yacht Big Bad John Auction: Own a Piece of History

In 1990, the late country and western singer Jimmy Dean took delivery of the yacht Big Bad John. Although he subsequently sold her when he took delivery of yet another custom yacht, his personality remains evident onboard. An online auction later this month means the megayacht can land in the hands of new owners seeking to restore and preserve a piece of the fascinating past.

Dean christened the yacht Big Bad John in honor of his chart-topping song from 1961. While he rose to fame for his singing and acting, he gained further prominence for the successful Jimmy Dean Foods company. Amid all of this, Dean fervently pursued other passions, especially cruising and fishing. In fact, the 109-footer (33-meter) was the eighth yacht he named Big Bad John. He commissioned her as his then-biggest boat, with a raised pilothouse and cockpit, from Denison Yachts in Florida. From her homeport in Fort Lauderdale, the custom superyacht set out for some of his favorite destinations each year. The Bahamas and Montauk, New York were just two annual favorites. “We’re like nomads,” Dean told the New York Daily News in 1996 about the cruising he and his wife regularly pursued. “I’ve never been happier.”

Currently in Miami, the all-aluminum yacht Big Bad John still has some of Dean’s original décor choices. For instance, the mirrored wall behind the bed in the master suite has an etching of his company’s famous logo, with a cowboy boot. With designer Susan Puleo, he selected marble, granite, high-gloss cabinetry, Lucite acrylic, brass, and other details. The black-marble sole and custom Sherle Wagner gold sink in the day head on the main deck are original. So, too, are the acrylic columns atop the wood console between the dining area and saloon.

Featuring three staterooms, the semi-displacement superyacht has just 800 hours on each of her Detroit Diesel engines. She should cruise around 18 knots under half load and top out at 20 knots.

The online auction of the yacht Big Bad John, with no reserve, takes place on January 20. The opening bid is $260,000, with a $20,000 deposit required.

National Liquidators yachtauctions.com