1930 Classic ACF 47' Motor Yacht

To have the ability of owning a very unique part of AMERICAN MARITIME HISTORY puts one into an elite class of very fortunate yacht owners. There are so few classic American built yachts from the early 1900's that are still plying the waters of the world. Yes, there are some that exist in Maritime museums such as the Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Museum and other maritime museums located around the world.NOWthe opportunity to become a member of this exclusive club has arrived.

The 1930 47' ACF LIBERTE presents the opportunity to become a member of this very exclusive and prestigious international club. She was built in an era where yachts of this pedigree were only available to the extremely wealthy.

AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY (ACF) was incorporated in New Jersey in 1899. In 1901 the ACF company purchased a train car manufacturing company that also owned a shipyard, called Jackson and Sharp based in Wilmington, Delaware They continued to produce rail cars for export until 1920. From 1918 until 1945 the Wilmington plant also built minesweepers for the US government, schooners, barges, steam powered passenger and freight vessels as well as a limited production of private yachts. They had their own lumberyard that converted raw logs into wood products for a variety of uses from planking to frames, and ornamentation. Even the sawdust was used for powering the shipyard and car building facilities machinery.

In 1929 a Boston Massachusets buisness tycoon by the name of Griswald J. Hayward ordered his custom built ACF 47' cabin cruiser, HELEN. In 1932 her name was changed to MAXINE when Max Bear purchased her from the Hayward family. During 1943 MAXINE was purchased by Julius Sylvack. Julius Sylvack then sold her to the Morton's officers and cadets club represented by John L. Morton in 1944 and her new name was MORTON. For 5 years she was used by the cadets etc and was then sold to William Nobles, Jr. in late 1949. Once again, she was renamed JOYCE and remained as such until 1962. It is believed that between 1962 and 1973 she was renamed to LIBERTE and was then sold in 1993 to her current owner/custodian. Under his custodialship she has enjoyed extensive rebuilding and maintenance . She enjoyed the benefit of having C-Flex applied to her very solidly constructed mahogany hull yeilding a solid fiberglass bottom that is now imperious to the common ravagers of wooden hulls. LIBERTE is the holder of numerous awards over the past 30 years as she became an integral part of the classic boat show circuit throughout the Southern States.

One could describe her as a total head turner, a show queen, an elegant cruiser remeniscent of the Gatsby era, or a truly one of a kind yacht. All true. But the most important description of LIBERTE is that she is possible one of the last remaining ACF 47' CRUISERS known to exist and therefore is truly an example of AMERICAN MARITIME HISTORY worthy of being in a private museum. 

Her current custodian has made the extremely difficult decision to put LIBERTE on the market due to his age related health concerns. She is available for inspection inside her boat house in Madisonville, La. Courtesy showings as well as video walk thrus are also available. There is a photo album with over 450 photos and videos also available upoin request.

LIBERTE is ready for a new custodian and to continue providing many future years of aristocratic cruising.