The history of Trinity Yachts reads like the quintessential American success story, complete with its share of adversity overcome to achieve shining success. From its military beginnings as Halter Marine in the historic Higgins Industries shipyard, to its current incarnation as one of the largest builders of luxury yachts in the world with two fully functioning shipyards in separate states, Trinity Yachts has always stayed true to its core commitment to create the highest quality custom superyachts available. Its rise to prominence rests in no small part upon the shoulders of founding partner John Dane III, a Star Cross sailor who competed in the Beijing Olympics.
The New Orleans shipyard where Trinity got its start has a long history as a commercial and defense shipyard. Halter Marine was continuing that tradition when John Dane began working for them in the 1970s. When Trinity Industries, comprised of Halter Marine, Equitable (the Higgins shipyard) and Moss Point Marina, started looking for new markets in 1988, John Dane and marketing genius Billy Smith stepped up to the challenge. They formed the Trinity Yachts division, setting their sights on the yachting industry, and bringing to bear a rigorous attention to detail and ability to customize that had been honed by years of meeting exacting military standards.
The division joined forces in 1995 with Victory Lane Enterprises, owned by Felix Sabates, Jr. Two years later, the company introduced ‘Noble House,’ an entirely new design for a tri-deck megayacht, to acclaim at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. In 2000, Dane, Smith, and Sabates acquired Trinity Yachts and the company began to take off, finding their niche by focusing on producing custom designed yachts. The company was gaining a reputation as a world-class custom megayacht designer when disaster struck in 2005 in the form of Hurricane Katrina.
The 100 mile an hour winds and 20-foot storm surge of Katrina cut a swath of destruction that destroyed the company’s manufacturing equipment and demolished power and phone lines. Two almost-completed ships and the hulls under construction made it through unscathed, but the company’s workforce was devastated and many were left homeless. Dane and Smith threw themselves into creating a solution, securing a new worksite within the week in Gulfport, Mississippi. They obtained over a hundred large mobile homes, set them up on the new site and gathered their scattered employees, eventually housing about 500 people on-site.
Even the overwhelming power of a hurricane was unable to kill the momentum of Trinity Yachts, who finished their two vessels in time to unveil them at the 2005 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. One of the yachts, the 161-foot ‘Zoom Zoom Zoom,’ even won a “Best in Show” award. The following July, the New Orleans site reopened, leaving Trinity Yachts with two fully equipped yards. Trinity Yachts now employs more than 1000 employees at their two sites, performing around 80 per cent of its construction in-house while enlisting artisans and master interior design firms from around the globe to contribute their expertise. Customers have the freedom to present an outside design, modify existing designs to meet their needs, or work with Trinity’s talented in-house architects and designers to custom-create a yacht. Trinity has firmly established itself as one of the elite builders of custom super yachts in the world, emphasizing European quality with steel and aluminum constructions.
Are you ready to experience all the luxury that a Trinity Yacht has to offer? Atlantic Yacht and Ship is delighted to offer ‘Watercolours,’ a lovingly maintained Trinity Yachts 115′ raised pilothouse motor yacht seeking her new owner. Extensively refit with quality interiors and electronics, she was repowered in 2006 with twin Caterpillar diesel 3412 engines that let her cruise at 15 knots. This Trinity yacht Watercolours has received loving maintenance and constant improvement of all mechanical systems as well as cosmetic improvements. All her refits were performed directly by Trinity Yachts’ master craftsmen and engineers to ensure the best possible result, and her owner is motivated to sell! For more information on this and other preowned superyachts for sale, contact us today!
Atlantic Yacht and Ship has been an integral leader in the yacht and ship brokerage industry since 1959, serving the yachting community for 55 years. Whether you are seeking beautiful yachts for sale or are looking to sell your vessel, Atlantic Yacht & Ship‘s experienced brokers will represent your interests in every step of the deal. Contact Atlantic Yacht & Ship today at 954.921.1500 for more information.