LIBERTE - CLASSIC FOR SALE

To possess a truly singular piece of American maritime heritage is to join a rare echelon of extraordinarily fortunate yacht owners. Only a handful of early-1900s American-built classics still roam the world’s waterways; many of their sisters rest behind museum ropes from Biloxi to far‑flung maritime collections. Now, an opportunity to step into that privileged circle presents itself.

The 1930 47' ACF LIBERTE offers entrée into this exclusive, international fraternity. Conceived in an era when yachts of such pedigree were reserved for the very few, she embodies the grace and stature of a classic motor yacht, a vintage wooden cabin cruiser, and a gentleman’s cruiser of the highest order.

American Car & Foundry (ACF), incorporated in New Jersey in 1899, expanded in 1901 by acquiring a railcar manufacturer that also owned the famed Jackson & Sharp shipyard in Wilmington, Delaware. While continuing to export rail cars until 1920, the Wilmington works diversified between 1918 and 1945, turning out minesweepers for the U.S. government, schooners, barges, steam-powered passenger and freight vessels, and a select run of private yachts. Self-sufficiency was their hallmark: the yard operated its own lumber mill, transforming raw timber into planking, frames, and ornamental joinery, even using sawdust to power the machinery that built both ships and rolling stock. From that tradition of craftsmanship emerged a limited series of bridge-deck cruisers whose quality has stood the test of time.

Commissioned in 1929 by Boston magnate Griswald J. Hayward, the custom ACF 47' cabin cruiser was launched as HELEN. In 1932, she became MAXINE under new owner Max Bear. Julius Sylvack acquired her in 1943, and the following year she was purchased by the Morton’s officers and cadets club, represented by John L. Morton, and rechristened MORTON. After five years of service with the cadets, she passed to William Nobles, Jr. in late 1949 and took the name JOYCE, which she proudly carried until 1962. It is believed that between 1962 and 1973 she assumed her enduring identity, LIBERTE, before being sold in 1993 to her current owner and custodian. Under his careful stewardship she has benefited from extensive restoration and vigilant maintenance, including the application of C‑Flex to her stout mahogany hull, yielding a solid fiberglass bottom that resists the usual enemies of wooden construction. Over the last three decades LIBERTE has become a fixture on the Southern classic boat show circuit, amassing awards and admiration as a true collector yacht and museum-quality vintage motor yacht.

She is, in every sense, a head‑turner: a showpiece of the Gatsby age, elegant yet purposeful, with the poise and presence of a heritage cruiser designed to travel in style. Perhaps most compelling, LIBERTE stands as one of the last known surviving ACF 47' cruisers, a living testament to American Maritime History and a worthy centerpiece for a private collection—even as she remains ready to cruise with confidence. For those seeking a classic yacht of rare provenance—an antique motor yacht that blends authenticity with thoughtful modernization—she is the embodiment of that ideal.

The current guardian, facing age‑related health considerations, has made the difficult decision to offer LIBERTE to her next steward. She may be viewed in her boathouse in Madisonville, Louisiana, and courtesy showings or video walk‑throughs can be arranged. A comprehensive album of more than 450 photographs and videos is available upon request, reflecting both her meticulous care and her storied life.

LIBERTE awaits a new custodian to continue her legacy of aristocratic cruising. For the connoisseur of classic yachts—those who value pedigree, craftsmanship, and enduring elegance—this vintage wooden cabin cruiser, gentleman’s yacht, and heritage motor yacht invites you to write the next chapter in her remarkable voyage.

Walk through

The first glimpse of LIBERTE makes you pause and step back to take in her majestic, perfectly proportioned lines. Aft, beneath the covered cockpit, a built‑in bench at the transom, free‑standing chairs, and a stowable table comfortably accommodate four to six guests for impromptu cocktail hours and unhurried sunsets. Forward, a pair of highly varnished companionway doors, each adorned with the ACF golden crest, conceal integrated screen doors; descend three steps and you arrive in a generously sized aft stateroom. To port, built‑in bureaus line the cabin, every drawer face bearing the iconic ACF crest, with a hanging locker forward of the dresser. On centerline, an exquisitely crafted mahogany dresser—again with the gold crests—sits beneath a classic lamp and framed artwork: a vintage boat‑show poster celebrating LIBERTE herself. Along the starboard side, a second hanging locker partners with a double berth and additional drawer stowage below. As throughout the yacht, the mahogany paneling is beautifully matched, the bright white overhead is detailed with traditional mahogany battens, and a blue carpet softens the sole. Large opening windows, finished with custom treatments, flood the space with natural light and invite a cooling breeze. Facing forward you can continue either to port or starboard: originally, the starboard‑side cabin just ahead of the master served as a full head; it currently houses a Jabsco marine toilet and a Raritan ice maker and can be readily returned to a complete head with shower. This compartment features an opening portlight and a mahogany sole, and from here—or from the galley—the engine is accessed via removable midline panels.

Continuing forward along starboard and up three steps, you enter the convertible main saloon/helm/second stateroom, an exquisite, mahogany‑paneled space. To port is a built‑in secretary with storage beneath. A nod to ACF’s heritage in railcars and buses as well as shipbuilding, concealed Pullman berths are cleverly integrated on both sides of the saloon/helm; invisible within the book‑matched paneling until deployed, they rest on individual bronze legs and each includes a compact Pullman‑style clothing bar above—an irresistibly authentic touch. At the aft end, additional built‑in storage supports a flat‑screen TV atop a drawer cabinet.

The helm occupies the forward end of this bright, airy room. Large opening windows to port and starboard, plus three oversized panes across the bow, deliver superb natural light and cross‑ventilation; all but the forward windows wear custom treatments. A starboard pilothouse door opens to the walk‑around side decks for effortless access to the foredeck and aft deck. LIBERTE’s decks are white, with teak treads positioned at the boarding gates. From the bow looking aft, your eye is drawn to a hand‑carved golden scrollwork that spans the pilothouse above the forward windows. A new Lewmar windlass with remote controls at the helm stands ready for effortless anchoring. A large opening deck hatch ventilates the forward head compartment below. Crowning the pilothouse is a “tender” displayed like sculpture, cradled in mahogany just aft of the “smokestack,” which houses the air‑horn compressor and carries elegant blue‑and‑gold trim. A hinged mast allows LIBERTE to slip beneath low bridges—yes, she is Great Loop capable. A large stainless‑steel searchlight is hand‑controlled from the helm. The davit is of unknown status and is not to be considered operational. The foredeck’s low, sleek profile is framed by stainless‑steel handrails and accented by beautiful chrome dorades on both port and starboard sides of the cabin top.

Reentering through the starboard door, you’re met by a lovely mahogany helm with neatly arrayed electronics and controls. The mahogany‑spoke wheel and classic binnacle are works of art in their own right, and all engine instrumentation and electronics fall easily to hand when commanding LIBERTE. Bow thruster controls and the windlass remote are at your fingertips, and the searchlight’s hand control resides in the deckhead on the starboard side of the helm. The lower section of the forward center window opens, while the wiper serves the upper half. Sightlines are excellent, aided by windows spanning the aft end of the saloon. The overhead remains crisp white with mahogany battens; the sole is carpeted in blue. Four free‑standing canvas‑and‑wood captain’s chairs welcome guests, while the helmsman enjoys a tall, movable mahogany captain’s seat. A brass ventilation register set into the cabin sole adds a gleaming period flourish—now purely decorative.

This space originally doubled as the family dining area, and there is ample room to add a stowable or fixed dining table if desired. Access to the generator flats—home to the upgraded Northern Lights generator, the air‑conditioning compressor, the hot‑water heater, and allied systems—is via hatches in the saloon sole.

Forward and to starboard of the helm, three steps lead down to a large private forward head, bright white with a teak sole, manual head, basin, and a shower stall area with a teak seat; screened opening portlights ensure excellent ventilation. Climb back up and move aft along the port side to reach the amidships galley, where expanses of marble countertop catch the light, with storage thoughtfully arranged above and below. Beneath the inboard marble counter, removable panels provide straightforward engine access. The galley is comprehensively equipped with a deep stainless‑steel sink, a full‑size stainless‑steel 110 V refrigerator, a Princess three‑burner electric stove with oven and a custom wooden cutting board integrated into the stove‑top cover, a stainless‑steel microwave, built‑in open shelving above the sink, dedicated glass storage, abundant lockers, a mahogany cabin sole, a bright white overhead with mahogany battens, and large windows with custom treatments, with easy flow either to the main saloon/helm or straight out to the aft deck.

Additional information

CONSTRUCTION: ACF’s shipbuilders earned their reputation crafting exceptionally strong, safe, seakindly boats—whether for U.S. Navy minesweeping duty or for a fortunate few private owners—and set out with LIBERTE to deliver a roomy, comfortable family cruiser ready for real sea adventures. Her pedigree is evident in the original build specifications recorded by ACF: a 4" White Oak stem; a 4" Yellow Pine keel; a 6" White Oak shaft log; a 1 3/4" Mexican Mahogany stern panel; 3 1/2" Hackmatack stern knees; White Oak floor timbers from 1 3/8" to 1 3/4" in the engine compartment; 2" Oregon Pine engine stringers; Oregon Fir shelves measuring 2 1/4" x 2 3/4"; White Oak frames on 10 1/2" centers; 1 3/8" Oregon Fir planking fastened in bronze; a 1 1/8" Mexican Mahogany superstructure; White Oak deck beams 1 3/8" x 1 1/4"; a deckhouse roof of Oregon Pine, 1 1/4" x 2", tongue‑and‑groove; a White Pine deck, 7/8" x 2"; and mouldings in Mexican Mahogany, with a protected propeller completing the underbody.

To secure longevity in the late 1990s, LIBERTE underwent an exacting two‑year dry‑out followed by a comprehensive C‑FLEX application. The C‑FLEX material system—bonded to the prepared hull with an elastomeric adhesive—creates a strong yet flexible interface between the wooden structure and the exterior fiberglass, then is laminated with additional reinforcements to the desired strength. It is a proven method for preserving the life and character of vintage wooden boats. In essence, LIBERTE now carries a fiberglassed bottom that safeguards hull integrity for future custodians.

UPGRADES: LIBERTE has benefited from a rare continuity of care: the same devoted custodian and the same project manager—who also owned the shipyard performing her refits—have shepherded her since 1993. The result is a uniquely thorough, intelligently executed modernization of a classic yacht. Notable upgrades include: a C‑Flexed hull; a new fiberglassed stuffing box with traditional packing; a new 120 hp Ford Lehman engine; new fuel tanks; approximately 85% new electrical wiring; a Northern Lights 8 kW generator; all new plumbing; new fuel lines; new engine exhaust with new Vernalift mufflers; a new bow thruster; custom upholstery inside and out; custom foam mattresses for all berths; newer batteries with a new battery charger; new water pumps; marble galley counters; newer air conditioning; a hinged mast for easy bridge clearance; two Jabsco heads; cameras; Garmin GPS; upgraded galley appliances including 110 V refrigeration and microwave; a newer Raritan ice maker; a new Lewmar windlass with remote; upgraded electrical distribution with 30 amp shore service; upgraded plumbing and fuel‑filter systems; enhanced sound insulation and lighting; serviced opening windows; an upgraded windshield wiper; an upper‑deck smokestack housing the air‑compressor for the three‑horn system; and a canvas‑covered deck that has been protected and repainted.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Her electrical suite centers on a newer Northern Lights 8 kW generator, with all batteries replaced in the past year, including two new start batteries, two new house batteries, and a dedicated windlass/bow‑thruster battery. Shore power is 30 amp service available from both sides of the yacht. Approximately 85% of the wiring and panels have been renewed. The helm features full engine instrumentation and genset remote panels. Newer triple air horns, a newer air compressor, and newer bilge pumps round out the system upgrades.

MECHANICAL: Propulsion is by a 120 hp Ford Lehman diesel mated to a Velvet Drive transmission, supported by an 8 kW Northern Lights generator and a Pro Tournament 360 battery charger. Fuel is polished through Racor filters, with newer fuel lines and filters. Additional mechanical enhancements include newer sound insulation, newer plumbing and water lines, a new fresh‑water pump and water filter, newer air conditioning, a hot‑water heater, a 1 1/4" shaft, a Raritan ice maker, and a newer swim platform with steps up to the cockpit. Spares aboard include a spare anchor, spare prop, spare lines, spare power cords, and mechanical spares. LIBERTE received her annual bottom inspection and fresh bottom paint in March 2024, and her mechanical and electrical services are completed annually. She is turnkey and ready to write the next chapter for a new custodian and family—an authentic piece of Americana history brought lovingly up to modern standards.

Disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.