With the boom that followed World War I, America saw the emergence of a new generation of wealthy elite.  This sudden affluence manifested itself into every aspect of American culture; the design of homes, automobiles, and even clothing was created with an eye towards luxurious, sophisticated details. The wealthy lived the good life, and yachting was a favored pastime of every proper gentleman.  It was for this discerning American aristocracy that, under the original company of Mathis Yacht Building Company, John Trumpy, Sr., designed his opulently styled motor yachts.  With the success of his designs, he would eventually buy the company and turn it into Trumpy and Sons Motor Yachts. Trumpy's clientele demanded vessels with spacious, comfortable interiors that also employed the highest level of performance and most advanced technology.  These yachts had to accommodate the discerning client and his guests in luxurious fashion, as well as a complete wait staff and sizeable crew.  In fact, it was a 1925 Mathis Trumpy, the 104-ft Sequoia, that was purchased by the U.S. government during prohibition and converted into the Presidential Yacht in 1933.  With state-of-the-art electronic and power systems, clean, classic architectural lines, and elegant finishes, Trumpy vessels quickly became the standard to which yachting was held.

The Mauretania, originally named the Marylin, was built by Trumpy & Sons for Colonel Frederick Pope and launched in 1947.  With similar lines to the Sequoia, she is an 80 foot flush deck houseboat that, upon her debut, was the epitome of luxury, style, and speed.  The November 1947 issue of Yachting Magazine featured a full-page spread of her gracious interiors and impressive technology.  The article describes her pilot house as having complete navigational aides, “...including an automatic steerer, ship-to-shore telephone and direction finder.”  Her main salon was heralded as “...unusually light and airy”, while the owner’s cabin was noted as “...large for a boat of her size.”

In her early years, the Marylin changed hands and homeports several times.  She left the east coast in 1979, crossed through the Panama Canal, and settled in Southern California.  Here, she was renamed Mauretania, in honor of the RMS Mauretania, a famed Blue Riband-winning Cunard ocean liner of the early 20th century.  Under the watchful management of her current owners, and the expertise of Wilmington Iron Works, she is maintained meticulously to ensure that every historical detail remains intact and accurate.  In the process, many of the original equipment vendors have been located and sourced. Simultaneously, she has been upgraded with a bounty of behind-the-scenes modern conveniences and safety features and is continuously inspected and maintained to the highest U.S. Coast Guard standards and regulations.  From her rich mahogany interiors, to her cutting edge galley, to the trademark Trumpy scroll that decorates her bow, the Mauretania was, and still is today, a once-in-a-lifetime yachting experience.