Barchrisda - Builder and Owner History

Mathis Yacht Building Company ~ Camden, New Jersey ~ 1939

Specifications: Built: 1940 - LOA: 71' - LWL: 68' - Beam: 16' Draft: 4' 6” - Disp: 80,000 lbs Model: Houseboat - Machinery: - T 165-hp GM 6-71 diesels - Hull: Mahogany Over Oak

Company History: In 1910 the Mathis Yacht Building Co. was incorporated in Camden, NJ. Officers were William Robertson, President; John Trumpy, Vice President and John Mathis, Secretary-Treasurer. A spin-off from shipbuilder John H. Mathis Co. and the idea of John Trumpy, this new company was formed to build yachts and build yachts it did. For the next 29years the company prospered delivering magnificent yachts to the rich and by building military boats for America during WW I. In 1939 John Trumpy became president of the company and moved the operation to Gloucester City, NJ. In 1943 the company's name changed to John Trumpy & Son, Inc. The rest is American yacht building legend.

Vessel History: Built in 1939, this yacht was owned by Fred and Barbara DeRatto in 1989. The year of her launch she went by the name “Martha”. By 2005 she had seen 14 owners and in 1999 was donated by the DeRatto's to the Boy Scouts of America. One of her most colorful owners was non other than Howard Hughes who registered her as “Veta” for the Hughes Tool Company. Of course a number of stories are told about this period. One of them is that even though he never set foot on the boat he had a full time crew standing by keeping the boat maintained and ready to sail at a moments notice. The other tale is opposite. “Vita” was Howard's favorite place to entertain lady friends during his Florida visits.