Maryland Auctions Yacht on EBay
Maryland’s state yacht was sold in an Internet auction for less than its appraisal price, but a spokesman for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. says he’s satisfied.
After 10 days up for bid on EBay, the 112-foot custom motor vessel Maryland Independence sold for $275,100 on Sunday.
The yacht was built as a patrol boat for the Canadian navy during World War II. The state bought the yacht in 1986 for $636,000 plus the trade-in of a smaller yacht. It was mainly used to take corporate executives cruising on the Chesapeake Bay to attract companies to Maryland.
It had been appraised at between $295,000 and $375,000.
The sale fulfills a campaign promise made by Ehrlich, who said it was a symbol of luxury that was inappropriate during a budget crisis.
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