For bargain hunters in the know, General Services auctions are a source of endless treasure. General Services departments are government agencies responsible for unloading no-longer-needed government assets of all kinds… from office furniture to old lighthouses. Offered in online auctions, there are deals to be had on government surplus.
The most recent bargain being offered by the Maryland Department of General Services is the Mary Lynn, a 1962 Trumpy yacht belonging to the Maryland Port Authority. Bids begin at $50,000, and you have until Nov. 4, 2025 to put yours in.
The 66-foot-long Mary Lynn is not just emblematic of the Port Authority’s history, but of Chesapeake Bay wooden boatbuilding history. The yacht was built in Annapolis by John Trumpy & Sons at the boatyard that is now on the site of 222 Severn Ave. in Eastport. (The upscale Chart House restaurant sits on former Trumpy property).
The Trumpy family bought the Annapolis Yacht Yard in 1948 to build stunning mahogany and bronze-detailed wooden yachts that were synonymous with luxury. They were known as the Rolls-Royce of motor yachts. The famous presidential yacht Sequoia was built by Trumpy & Sons. The DuPont, Chrysler, and Guggenheim families all owned Trumpys, along with celebrities like Howard Hughes and John Wayne. The Trumpys built handcrafted vessels at the Eastport yard until they ceased operations in 1973.
The Mary Lynn, hull number 288049, was built in Annapolis in 1962 and acquired by the Maryland Port Authority in 1987. She is powered by twin Detroit Diesels (still running) and an Onan Marine Genset generator. The wood-hulled vessel is 65.9 feet in total length with a 16-foot beam, draws 7.9 feet, and carries a gross tonnage of 65 tons.
The Mary Lynn includes three guest berths, two heads with showers, and a separate crew berth, captain’s berth and crew head and shower in the vessel. She was used to host clients and potential clients of the Maryland Port Administration from the late 1980s until now.
The state has made the decision to let Mary Lynn go. She’s being sold “as is, where is”, with tours at an undisclosed location limited to 20 minutes aboard the vessel. No sea trials are being offered and a liability waiver must be signed. The “as-is” status means safety equipment may be lacking. According to the online auction page at govdeals.com, there are no life rings or strobes and the fire suppression system needs to be inspected.
To be seaworthy, the Maryland Department of General Services listing states that Mary Lynn‘s shaft alignment must be corrected to allow shafts and propellers to be reinstalled, noting that propellers are available at the repair yard. As seen in the 106 photos posted on the auction page, a number of cosmetic updates would also need to be made to bring the Trumpy to her former glory.
Here are a few glimpses at the Mary Lynn:
The listing notes that some repairs and upgrades have been made since the Mary Lynn‘s most recent survey in 2022. Chines, planking, and structural supports have been replaced, the hull paint stripped, re-caulked and sealed, the main shaft bearings replaced and reinforced, some minor keel rot was addressed, one head was replaced, and seawater intakes repaired.
The auction is still awaiting the opening bid of $50,000. Bidding must go in increments of $1,000 and is open until the afternoon of Nov. 4, 2025. To schedule a site visit, reach out to Robert Groves, [email protected].
