Yacht Walkthrough: 81 Burger 1967 [Classic Yacht Highlight]

Yacht broker Patrick Hopkins gives a personal tour of this 81′ Burger 1967 classic yacht.

Welcome aboard JEANNE MARY, an 81-foot Burger built in 1967. My name is Patrick Hopkins.

Today we have the privilege of embarking on something special, something that took nearly 97 years to bring to Fruition. Through tireless commitment and centuries of experience to date, the Burger Boat Company has shifted the yachting paradigm. Burger has worked with notable designers and naval architects; among them Jack Hargrave, Raymond Hunt and Donald O’Keeffe. Their designs provide us with classic lines that withstand the test of time. If you have spent any time following the yachting industry, when you see JEANNE MARY you’ll automatically know exactly what era she’s from and from whose minds she was birthed.

The usual knocks you’ll hear on older boat are that “She’s smokey,” “Her paint is worn,” or that “her decks are soft”. When you step aboard JEANNE MARY you’ll find none of these to be true. With a set of new John Deere diesels not only she’s quiet but she is fuel-efficient. We will get into those details later. Her hull sides, top sides and deck have all been painted giving a fresh look to her ageless lines. Today we are going to cruise on Lake Champlain in Burlington Vermont and take a step back in time while discovering what our owner has done to fill this classic vessel with modern touches .

We start today’s walkthrough in the cockpit. The owner has added a propane grill, making what used to be storage into an outdoor kitchen. The L-shaped seating area is a great place for a morning cup of coffee. Stepping up from the cockpit we enter the upper salon or as the owner refers to it, the sunroom. Here you can lounge around, read a book, have a drink at the bar, or just enjoy being on board one of America’s most well-known builders – Classic Yachts.

Moving forward through either the port or starboard doors brings us to the side decks. All the way forward on the bow you’ll find heavy-duty ground tackle. JEANNE MARY has two galvanized anchors, both housed against stainless plates on either side of the bow.

Our next stop is the pilot house. Here in the pilothouse you have the ladder to access the bridge, a sofa for any guests who want to join in on the action, and of course, your helm station. Here at the helm we have twin displays with noble tech navigation systems complete with 3D charts and radar. We also have twin engine and throttle controls, as well as new gauges for the 6.8 liter John Deere, 330 horsepower engines installed in 2017.

Next, follow me down into the lower salon. Stepping down into the lower salon we arrive in what feels like a private suite with incredible water views. Aft and to port we have a mahogany bar outfitted with granite countertops, a china cabinet, stemware, and bottle storage. This bar conveniently conceals a washer and dryer. There’s a TV that hides away in a granite top mahogany cabinet facing that L-shaped seating area that is finished nicely with an Eliot workstation.

Continuing forward on the starboard side brings us to the galley. Down here you will find the full amenities of any modern day home. On the port side there is a double basin sink, a full-size refrigerator and freezer, a microwave, a four burner cooktop, and a dishwasher. To starboard is an oven and a trash compactor. Immediately forward of the galley is the crew space which has over/under bunks, a shower stall, and an ensuite.

There are three cabins on board which we will take a look at now. We’re going to jump around a little bit, starting with the master. This full beam master suite features a centerline queen berth and is replete with storage on both sides. There are two rectangular windows on either side which led a natural light, while adding to our exterior aesthetic. Prior to leaving the master there is an ensuite to port. There are two guest cabins which are nearly identical, each with twin berths and an overhead Pullman bunk. The starboard guest cabin has an ensuite with a shower.

Our next stop on the JEANNE MARY is the flybridge. There is a captain’s chair at the helm, flanked by two co-pilots’ chairs. If relaxing under the bimini isn’t your thing, there’s a generous open-air seating area just after the radar mast. Continuing even further aft is the boat deck which has the Novurania Tender that is brought on board by hydraulic crane.

Finally, let’s talk about her performance. One of her strongest selling points are her essentially brand new John Deere 6.8 liter diesels. They’re as quiet as they are efficient. A light cruise of 6-knots boast an efficiency of 3-gallons per hour while those who would like more speed, can expect a 12-knot cruise accompanied by a burn rate of 14-gallons per hour. Another major engine room upgrade are her two generators; one 15 kW and the other 16 kW which is brand new. In the yachting world it’s nearly impossible to weather the storms of evolving style and a fluctuating economy. However, when someone cracks the code and carves out their niche, that’s when we start to appreciate the craftsmanship and skill that was there all along.

On behalf of Denison Yachting and myself Patrick Hopkins, I want to thank you for coming along this walkthrough today. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, and leave a comment below.