elpetal - norman w woolworth - 1949 to 1957 & maris embiricos - 1957 to 1983
The last civilian vessel to undergo conversion at the Iron Works took on the characteristics of a marathon project before she was finally delivered to her owner on the first day of 1950. Built in Kiel, Germany, as the yacht Reveler, she had been sold to American owners in 1933 and to the Navy during World War II. Renamed Beaumont, she served as a gunboat in Alaskan and Pacific waters before being turned over to the Maritime Commission for disposal at the end of the war. She was then purchased by the Elpetal Corporation of New York, whose president, Norman W. Woolworth, was the son of the Mrs F.W. Woolworth who had the Iron Works build the fishing launch Freddie back in 1932.
The Beaumont, renamed one more time as Elpetal, arrived at the Iron Works in the fall of 1947, ostensibly to "winter" at the shipyard on the Kennebec. She stayed for over two years as work commenced, first under "S-orders" (a job order specifiying a single task) and, after 21 months, under a formal contract replete with specifications. Reconversion went ahead in fits and starts as BIW workmen dug into the yacht and as Woolworth excercised the owners prerogative of frequently changing his mind. It was not the most economical way to proceed.
The Navy had, of course, ripped out her original accomodations and decor and chopped off her handsome transom stern. These had to be replaced, but before the job was finished she was almost completely rebuilt inside and out. When she was finally turned over to the Elpetal Corporation the total bill had reached $871,371.64 although the Iron Works costs were even higher. With the departure of Elpetal, the curtain rang down for the final time on the Bath shipyard's association with yachts.




The yacht Elpetal, owned by the American millionaire Mr Norman Woolworth attracted considerable attention at the South Wall Dublin, and throughout the afternoon and evening there was continuous stream of people down the docks to see the vessel.
A luxury yacht, the Elpetal is magnificently appointed. Built in Germany about 20 years ago, it was attached to the US Navy during the war and carried mails between Pacific and Alaskan ports.
On board are Mr and Mrs Woolworth, their daughter and a party of six friends. The boat, which has a colour scheme of royal blue and white, flew a small Tricolour from the main mast with the Stars and Stripes hanging over the end.
The Irish Independent - Thursday July 20th 1950
LUXURY YACHT ELPETAL
Probably by far the largest and most luxuriously appointed private yacht to cruise the South Pacific since World War II, Mr Norman B. Woolworth's twin screw 1,08-ton, 13 knot motor yacht Eleptal, made a quick run through Polynesia in April-May.
Elpetal was commanded by Captain Edward Fluhr, a former US Navy commander, who saw service in the Fiji area, and elsewhere during the late war. He had a crew of 37, including three deck officers, four engineers. The vessel left Miami on April 15th for Panama. Calls were made in the Marquesas, Papeete, Rarotonga, Nukualofa, Suva, Apia, thence to Honolulu, Los Angeles and home to the Atlantic.
Mr Woolworth - owner of the chain stores - and his wife were accompanied by Miss Pamela Woolworth and six other guests. They included Mr and Mrs John J Garland. Mr Garland is the United States member of the International Olympic Committee, and a well know sporting figure.
Elpetal not only is equipped with every possible aid to navigation, but is efficiently maintained - paintwork, varnish and metalwork are absolutely faultless. The standard of comfort and accomodation accords with the highest standards. The engine-room, equally faultless, seemed almost too spotless to enter.
The vessel, naturally, caused considerable interest during her brief calls (one or two days) at Islands ports.
The yavcht was built in Germany in 1930; used by the US Navy as a weather ship in the North Pacific during the late war; and was afterwards almost entirely reconstructed.
Home port is Wilmington Delaware.
June 1953 - Pacific Islands Monthly
