Chitwood Charters Offers Classic Trumpy For Sale
By Steven J. Smith
Captain Jerry Chitwood, owneroperator of Chitwood Charters, has spent the last two years refurbishing an historic yacht for which he hopes to find an owner who is as enthusiastic to possess it as he was to bring it back to life.
“Corporate mogul John Kimberly of Kimberly Clark Corporation built the yacht, a 68-foot-long, twinengine Trumpy, in 1958,” Chitwood said. “It was named the Eskimo III. Kimberly was the Bill Gates of his time, financially speaking. So he had the money to work with John Trumpy and Sons to incorporate manufacturing techniques that were years and years ahead of their time.”
in real life — as President Kennedy’s rumored guest aboard the Sequoia — and on film, when the Trumpybuilt Enticer was featured with her in the classic “Some Like It Hot.” Celebrities from the upper echelons of American society — including presidents, media moguls, movie stars and industrialists — have owned, enjoyed or been entertained aboard a Trumpy.
Chitwood added Trumpy was probably most famous for building the U.S.S. Sequoia, known as “the floating White House” — a 104foot, 1925 yacht that has served our presidents since Herbert Hoover. Built for the rich and famous, Trumpy yachts have always reflected a wealthy, glamorous lifestyle. Marilyn Monroe, for example, experienced the Trumpy brand both
“In 1958 they didn’t make fiberglass boats,” Chitwood said. “This is all wood — mahogany and doubleplanked white oak. There were heads of state from other countries and all kinds of very important people on this boat with John Kimberly, joining him on pleasure cruises. Kimberly was the ultimate socialite, so this boat really has a wonderful, palpable sense of history about her.”