Former presidential yacht to be restored at Maine shipyard

BELFAST, Maine (AP) — A Maine shipyard is preparing for a painstaking stem-to-stern restoration of a floating piece of presidential history. French & Webb was tapped for the restoration by the current owner of the Sequoia, a 1925 motor yacht that served eight presidents before being sold by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Todd French tells the Bangor Daily News that preparation has been going on behind the scenes. Physical work is expected to begin in the spring. The Sequoia went through a couple of owners before going up for sale following the stock market crash of 1929. President Herbert Hoover encouraged the Navy to buy the vessel, and began using it as a presidential yacht.