Elco Yachts built this 53’ Motor Yacht to serve as the flagship at the 1939 New York Boats Show. She was purchased during the show by restaurant owner Howard Johnson, who named her “DOHO”. Mr. Johnson had her delivered to Miami for the winter. Life Magazine was aboard for the trip and she was featured in a long article detailing the voyage. Mr. Johnson traded her in after losing a race. During WW II, she served as a patrol boat on the Great Lakes. In the early 1950’s, she was purchased by mobster Moe Dalitz, who first kept her in Detroit, and later moved her to Lake Mead, where she was his getaway and also served as a hospitality boat for his new hotel, the Desert Inn Resort. Later she was owned by Wilbur Clark, the owner of the Thunderbird Casino. She was moved to San Diego and then to Los Angeles. During the early ‘80’s, she was featured in 53 episodes of the TV show “Riptide”. After the shows end, she fell into disrepair in San Pedro, CA, where her present owners saw her and fell in love. They undertook an extensive five-year restoration while cruising the waters of Southern California. They moved her to Port Orchard WA in 2010 and undertook a second restoration. She is a multi-awarding winning vessel, including Peoples Choice at the Bell Harbor Wooden Boat Festival and Best Power and Mayor’s Choice at the Olympia Wooden Boat Festival, as well as Best of Show at Keels and Wheels at the Des Moines (WA) Waterland Festival.
