What is Trinity Yachts?
Trinity Yachts is an American custom superyacht builder founded in 1988 on the Gulf Coast. The company developed from the commercial and military shipbuilding expertise associated with Halter Marine and became known for building large aluminum and steel motor yachts for private owners and luxury-charter programs. Trinity specialized in custom and semi-custom superyachts rather than smaller recreational boats or high-volume production yachts.
Most Trinity yachts are tri-deck motor yachts, raised-pilothouse yachts, semi-displacement superyachts, or full-displacement cruising yachts. The brand is particularly associated with American craftsmanship, in-house naval architecture, substantial interior volume, relatively shallow-draft aluminum hulls, and layouts developed around an owner’s specific cruising and entertaining requirements.
Is Trinity Yachts still building new yachts?
The original Trinity Yachts operation is no longer actively producing new superyachts. Harvey Gulf International Marine acquired Trinity Yachts and Gulf Coast Shipyard in 2015 as part of a broader investment in commercial and offshore shipbuilding. New yacht production ended in 2016 as the shipyard’s focus shifted toward commercial marine projects.
The 58.83-meter motor yacht Imagine was delivered in 2016 and is generally regarded as the final completed yacht from Trinity’s active production period. Two partially completed Trinity 167 hulls remained after production ended and were later offered as projects, but their existence did not represent the return of Trinity as an active new-yacht builder. Buyers searching for a Trinity Yacht today will primarily find pre-owned yachts, extensively refitted yachts, and occasionally an unfinished or separately completed project.
Where were Trinity Yachts built?
Trinity Yachts were built on the United States Gulf Coast at facilities associated with New Orleans, Louisiana, and Gulfport, Mississippi. The company’s New Orleans operation grew out of a commercial and military shipbuilding tradition that gave Trinity access to experienced welders, naval architects, marine engineers, electricians, and other heavy-shipbuilding specialists.
Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to the New Orleans shipyard in 2005, prompting Trinity to expand operations at a former Halter Marine facility in Gulfport. The company continued constructing large custom yachts after the hurricane and eventually became one of the most prominent American superyacht builders of its era. This Gulf Coast heritage remains an important part of the brand’s identity and appeal in the pre-owned yacht market.
What types and sizes of yachts did Trinity build?
Trinity built custom motor yachts and superyachts generally ranging from approximately 115 feet to 243 feet. Its fleet includes raised-pilothouse yachts, two-deck performance yachts, tri-deck motor yachts, semi-displacement yachts, full-displacement yachts, charter yachts, and long-range cruising vessels. Most well-known Trinity yachts fall between approximately 140 and 200 feet.
Smaller Trinity yachts frequently used aluminum construction and semi-displacement hulls to deliver higher cruising speeds and relatively shallow drafts. Larger projects could use steel hulls with aluminum superstructures to provide greater displacement, fuel capacity, interior volume, and long-range capability. Trinity also promoted Victory Lane and Global Explorer concepts, although most completed vessels were extensively customized and are better identified by their individual names than by standardized model designations.
What is the difference between an aluminum Trinity Yacht and a steel Trinity Yacht?
An aluminum Trinity Yacht is generally lighter than a comparable steel vessel and can be designed for higher cruising speeds, faster acceleration, and a shallower draft. Many of Trinity’s aluminum semi-displacement yachts cruise in the mid-teens and can reach approximately 20 knots or more. The 36.7-meter aluminum Finish Line, for example, was designed with a draft of approximately 5 feet, 6 inches and a top speed of about 23 knots.
A steel-hulled Trinity is typically designed around displacement cruising, greater volume, heavier construction, and extended range. The 73.76-meter Cocoa Bean uses a steel hull with an aluminum superstructure and has a published range of approximately 6,000 nautical miles at 13 knots. The right construction material depends on whether the owner prioritizes speed and shallow-water access or range, volume, and long-distance passagemaking.
The condition of the metal is critical on any pre-owned Trinity. Buyers should arrange specialized inspections for corrosion, coatings, welds, tanks, dissimilar-metal isolation, underwater machinery, and areas hidden behind interior finishes.
How customizable is a Trinity Yacht?
Trinity Yachts were highly customizable. An owner could begin with an existing hull platform, modify a previous Trinity concept, bring an outside design team to the project, or work with Trinity’s in-house naval architects and engineers. Guest accommodations, crew circulation, interior styling, deck arrangements, propulsion, tenders, water toys, technical systems, and entertainment areas could all be developed around the owner’s preferences.
Trinity collaborated with designers such as Evan K. Marshall, Patrick Knowles, Carol Williamson, Sylvie Charest, and Joanne Lockhart. As a result, two Trinity yachts of a similar length may have very different cabin arrangements, gross tonnage, interior finishes, cruising speeds, crew requirements, and charter capabilities.
That individuality is attractive, but it also complicates the purchase of a pre-owned Trinity. Buyers should review the original build specification, general arrangement plans, change orders, refit records, class documentation, equipment lists, and stability information for the specific yacht rather than relying on specifications from a sistership.
What are the most popular Trinity Yacht models and platforms?
Trinity was a custom builder, so it did not maintain a conventional model lineup in the same way as a series-production yacht manufacturer. Its yachts are commonly described by their length or platform, including the Trinity 150, 157, 161, 164, 167, 180, and 190. The Trinity 167 tri-deck became one of the builder’s most recognizable platforms and was described by SuperYacht Times as one of Trinity’s most popular models.
Well-known individual Trinity yachts include:
-Carpe Diem
-Unbridled
-Skyfall
-Bacarella
-Miss Christine
-Impromptu
-Aspen Alternative
-Mine Games
-Finish Line
-Cocoa Bean
-Imagine
-No Bad Ideas
-Elis Et Mar
-Aquasition
-Wheels
The approximately 150- to 167-foot aluminum tri-deck yachts are especially prominent in the brokerage market because they combine accommodations for approximately 10 to 12 guests, large exterior decks, crew quarters, good charter potential, and cruising speeds commonly ranging from the mid-teens to approximately 20 knots.
What is the largest yacht ever built by Trinity Yachts?
The largest completed Trinity Yacht is the 73.76-meter, or approximately 242-foot, Cocoa Bean. The yacht was originally launched under the project name New Horizon and was delivered in 2014. Trinity developed both the yacht’s naval architecture and exterior design, while Evan K. Marshall designed the interior.
Cocoa Bean has a steel hull, aluminum superstructure, six guest cabins, accommodations for up to 12 guests, and quarters for approximately 16 crew. Her published specifications include a 1,590-gross-ton interior, 13-knot cruising speed, 15-knot maximum speed, and an estimated 6,000-nautical-mile range. Amenities include an elevator, gym, deck Jacuzzi, extensive exterior gathering areas, and substantial long-range cruising systems.
The yacht illustrates how Trinity evolved from building fast aluminum yachts into constructing very large, globally capable displacement superyachts.
Are Trinity Yachts considered high-quality yachts?
Trinity is generally regarded as one of the leading American custom-superyacht builders from its period of operation. Its reputation was built on substantial metal construction, in-house naval architecture, commercial shipbuilding expertise, customized interiors, large machinery spaces, and yachts engineered for demanding private or charter use. Many Trinity yachts were constructed to American Bureau of Shipping standards and configured to meet MCA or other commercial-yacht requirements.
The 2016 Trinity-built Imagine, for example, was delivered with ABS commercial-yachting classification and compliance with the Large Commercial Yacht Code. Its construction incorporated extensive sound insulation, carefully organized machinery spaces, commercial-grade systems, and substantial structural engineering.
However, the quality of a used Trinity depends on its maintenance and refit history. These yachts are now between approximately 10 and 35 years old, and even a well-built yacht can require significant investment in paint, machinery, generators, stabilizers, HVAC, teak, electronics, piping, tanks, interior finishes, and class-related work. The builder’s reputation should never replace a comprehensive survey.
How do Trinity Yachts compare with Westport, Christensen, Delta, Burger, Feadship, and Benetti?
Trinity competed in the custom and semi-custom superyacht market with American builders such as Westport, Christensen, Delta Marine, Burger, Derecktor, and Palmer Johnson. Larger Trinity yachts could also be considered alongside European yachts from Benetti, Heesen, Feadship, Oceanco, and other international superyacht yards.
Compared with Westport, Trinity offered greater customization but less model-to-model standardization. Westport generally concentrates on proven series platforms, while Trinity frequently created individualized layouts and engineering packages. Christensen is closely comparable in size and American market positioning, although Christensen is particularly associated with composite construction, while Trinity specialized in aluminum and steel. Delta and Burger also emphasize custom American construction but have different design traditions, materials, and production histories. Brokerage comparisons frequently place Trinity alongside Christensen, Delta, Feadship, and Westport yachts of similar length and age.
Trinity’s strongest differentiators are its American Gulf Coast construction, spacious tri-deck layouts, shallow-draft aluminum platforms, relatively high cruising speeds, and extensive customization. A buyer should compare individual yachts according to gross tonnage, range, draft, speed, class status, refit history, machinery, crew requirements, and total ownership cost rather than choosing solely by builder name.
How do Trinity Yacht owners use their yachts?
Trinity owners use their yachts for private family travel, corporate entertaining, luxury charter, seasonal cruising, diving, fishing, watersports, and extended international voyages. Many yachts are especially well suited to Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean because their aluminum hulls can combine relatively shallow drafts with cruising speeds of approximately 14 to 20 knots.
Larger displacement Trinity yachts can travel between the Caribbean, United States, Mediterranean, and other international cruising regions. Depending on the yacht, onboard amenities may include multiple dining areas, skylounges, gyms, spas, beach clubs, elevators, offices, cinemas, bars, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, personal watercraft, diving equipment, and large tenders.
A Trinity Yacht can function as both a private residence and a self-contained luxury resort. Current brokerage examples such as Carpe Diem, Miss Christine, and Elis Et Mar feature accommodations for approximately 11 or 12 guests, expansive sundecks, formal dining areas, gyms or fitness equipment, water-access platforms, and substantial crew support.
Do Trinity Yachts require a professional crew, and can they be chartered?
Nearly every Trinity Yacht requires a professional crew. Even the smaller vessels exceed approximately 115 feet and contain commercial-scale propulsion, electrical, hydraulic, navigation, climate-control, safety, hotel, and tender systems. A typical Trinity may carry a captain, engineer, deck crew, chef, chief steward or stewardess, and several additional interior and exterior crew members.
Crew numbers vary according to the yacht’s length, accommodations, flag, classification, insurance requirements, and service expectations. A 50-meter Trinity may accommodate approximately nine to 12 crew, while the 74-meter Cocoa Bean can carry approximately 16. The 58.83-meter Imagine was designed for as many as 14 guests and 14 crew.
Many Trinity yachts were built or subsequently upgraded for luxury charter. However, charter eligibility must be confirmed for the individual yacht. The buyer should review class status, commercial registration, lifesaving equipment, crew certification, insurance, flag requirements, passenger limits, and compliance with the applicable large-yacht code before assuming that a private yacht can legally enter charter service.
How much does a pre-owned Trinity Yacht cost?
The price of a used Trinity Yacht varies dramatically according to size, age, condition, refit history, class status, location, equipment, and whether the vessel is complete and operational. As of August 2026, public Trinity listings ranged from older or project-level yachts in the low single-digit millions to extensively refitted 50- to 60-meter yachts priced above $30 million. These are asking prices rather than verified selling prices.
Recent examples include:
-The 58.2-meter Carpe Diem, asking $32.5 million following significant 2024 and 2026 refit work
-The 57-meter Elis Et Mar, asking $19.95 million
-The 47.8-meter Miss Christine, asking $16.9 million after a substantial refit and completion of her ABS 20-year survey
Purchase price represents only part of the financial commitment. A Trinity owner must budget for professional crew, dockage, fuel, insurance, class surveys, flag compliance, routine maintenance, paint, haulouts, generators, tenders, communications systems, spare parts, and periodic major refits. A lower-priced yacht with deferred maintenance can ultimately cost more than a more expensive yacht with current class, recently serviced machinery, and a documented refit history.
What awards and recognition have Trinity Yachts received?
The 36.7-meter Trinity Yacht Finish Line won the 2014 World Superyacht Award for Semi-Displacement or Planing Two-Deck Motor Yachts, including raised-pilothouse designs. The judges recognized its performance, owner-specific customization, deck and interior arrangement, construction quality, engineering, and exterior styling.
In 2021, the extensively refitted 58.2-meter Trinity Unbridled won the Master Cabin category at the International Yacht & Aviation Awards. That honor recognized the yacht’s interior and owner-suite design following its refit rather than a newly launched Trinity model.
Because Trinity stopped producing new yachts in 2016, recent recognition is more likely to involve refits, brokerage activity, and the continued market prominence of individual vessels than new-model design awards. The active sale and repeated refitting of yachts such as Carpe Diem, Miss Christine, Elis Et Mar, and No Bad Ideas demonstrate the continued demand for well-maintained Trinity yachts.
Why should I buy a pre-owned Trinity Yacht through Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales?
A Trinity purchase is a complex superyacht transaction that requires much more than negotiating the asking price. A Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales broker can help identify suitable Trinity yachts, compare their specifications and refit histories, analyze current market positioning, arrange showings, coordinate sea trials, and represent the buyer during negotiations.
The due-diligence process may involve:
-Reviewing original build specifications and general arrangement plans
-Examining class, flag, registration, and commercial-yacht records
-Evaluating past charter and ownership history
-Arranging aluminum or steel hull surveys
-Inspecting coatings, corrosion, plating, welds, tanks, and underwater machinery
-Conducting engine, transmission, generator, and fluid-analysis inspections
-Testing stabilizers, thrusters, hydraulics, HVAC, electrical, navigation, and hotel systems
-Reviewing major refits and upcoming class-survey obligations
-Evaluating crew accommodations and operating requirements
-Coordinating maritime attorneys, documentation agents, insurers, lenders, captains, surveyors, and tax or importation professionals
-Negotiating survey findings and managing closing, registration, delivery, and service planning
Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales has more than 50 years of company experience and nine offices across Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Florida. Its brokers understand Great Lakes ownership while also working with yachts and clients in coastal and international markets. That experience can help a buyer determine whether a specific Trinity Yacht’s condition, equipment, class status, operating budget, and asking price are appropriate for the intended ownership program.
