The SEA TABBY was designed by John Trumpy and built in Camden, NJ by the famed wooden yacht builders, whose achievements are legendary, including the presidential yacht SEQUOIA. There are not many vessels from this era that have been lovingly maintained in their original condition. Yet even with the best of care and having just a few owners in its sixty-five year history, SEA TABBY was showing signs of her age. In 1999 the present owners (since 1982), embarked on an ambitious restoration. In August 2003, the SEA TABBY was relaunched after four years and thousands of man hours in totally rebuilding the hull, replacing most exterior trim, replacing all systems, and installing modern conveniences for cruising, including stabilizers and central air/heat throughout. see specifications

Now the SEA TABBY is once again cruising from New England to Florida, as she has done almost every year since she was launched. She is turning heads everywhere she goes, giving a thrill to those who see her and recognize her as a treasure from yachting's elegant past.

Sea Tabby, hull # 235, was built in 1938 by the Mathis boat building company in Gloucester City, New Jersey and was designed by John Trumpy Jr. who took over the business and eventually moved the operations to Annapolis, Maryland and as the "Trumpy Boat Building Co." continued to build the finest wooden boats until 1972.

The "Sea Tabby" was originally built as "Helma" for Bruce Dodson a well known yachtsman. She lay idle during the war until in 1945 Charles Karagheusian, a prominent carpet manufacturer bought her and renamed her "Sea Tabby", his third boat of that name. Under "Mr. K's" ownership she was lovingly maintained and sailed year round with a captain and crew. In fact, toward the end of his life he spent most of his time aboard rather than live in his Fifth Avenue apartment and spent his year aboard between Florida and Nantucket until his death in 1977. The present owners knew the boat from being docked in an adjacent berth in Nantucket and after its disappearance after Mr. K's death searched for a boat like it until they were fortunate enough to acquire it in 1982.

In 1938 when "Sea Tabby" was launched, John Trumpy combined his considerable expertise in yacht design with the finest of materials and craftsmanship to produce an outstanding example of what is now considered a classic yacht. "Sea Tabby" came from the designer and builder of many of the most famous and luxurious yachts produced in the first half of the 20th century including the presidential yacht "Sequoia". She was built for coastal cruising from Maine to Florida and has made the round trip more than 45 times. The "Sea Tabby" is an elegant reminder of the gracious golden era of yachting.

"Sea Tabby" has been beautifully maintained in her original condition and only modified to improve safety and navigational considerations without altering the essential character of the yacht. Today when cruising she is a "head turner" a beautiful reminder of a by-gone era. However, this yacht has the modern comfort conveniences of central air/reverse cycle heat, stabilizers and a well equipped galley. With modern GM diesels, stabilizers, and displacement hull she cruises economically at ten knots. Modern electronics included radar, GPS, chart plotter, depth sounder, and radio.