JUSTICE

JUSTICE is one of the largest and swiftest examples of the celebrated American Commuter Yachts. Originally commissioned by Jeremiah Milbank and named JEM, she quickly transported him between Greenwich, CT, and his office in Manhattan, during the 1930s. Though designed primarily for day trips, JUSTICE boasts two well-appointed cabins for overnights and extended cruises, a fully equipped galley, and crew accommodations.
For the past 19 years, her current owner, the yachts sixth, has used JUSTICE out of Montauk, NY, and South Florida, maintaining her beautifully. A remarkable sight as she effortlessly reaches speeds up to 30 knots, JUSTICE represents a truly unique and rare offering in the world of yachting.

Key Features
• Incredibly unique and rare offering
• Impressive speed capabilities to 32kts
• Beautifully maintained and updated

While a Commuter yacht was generally considered a day boat, JUSTICE does possess well-appointed accommodations for four in the owner’s party plus crew quarters forward for two.
The pilothouse incorporates comfortable seating aft of the helm station.  Immediately aft of this is the mid-deck dining area, with a beautifully varnished table and bench seating for six. Last is the aft cockpit with a full beam settee and inlaid teak coffee table flanked by two chairs. Access to the owner’s cabin with ensuite head and separate stall shower is through a canvas and Eisenglass enclosed open air lounge.
Forward of the pilothouse, down a short companionway is the elegantly appointed saloon finished in English Pumpkin Pine paneling. Period chairs, a sofa, two end tables, and a bar area all complement this area. A day head is located to the port side adjacent to a hidden entertainment center. Down two steps aft from the saloon is the guest stateroom with a full to queen size custom berth to port and a head with shower to starboard. The engine room access is immediately aft.
A full width galley, down three steps, is forward of the main salon. Ventilation is provided by portlights and deck opening hatches, while a dorade box on deck provides stovetop exhaust. Centerline, a door forward leads into the crew cabin with two berths, a dinette, hanging lockers, and a head with shower. Separate foredeck access from the crew cabin is via a mahogany ladder.
The foredeck area has two fixed teak chaise lounge chairs and a bow cockpit with settee and adjustable mahogany and glass windshield to protect from spray and wind.

• Stainless countertops with integrated wash basins
• Waring 500x commercial convection oven (2013)
• Fisher Paykel 4 – burner propane cooktop (2013)
• Galley vent fan system (2012)
• Fully rebuilt refrigeration system (2023)
• Freezer in galley sole
• Fresh water drinking water filter
• Generous storage
• U-Line ice maker at helm

• Direct access to wheelhouse, guest cabin, day head and galley
• Beautiful Pumpkin Pine interior
• 5 x Roll down windows
• 2 x Forward opening windows
• Starboard forward window opens to provide foredeck access
• Chelsea ships bell clock
• Chelsea barometer
• Navy blue carpet (2024)
• 3 x Dining chairs
• Sofa loveseat
• Easy chair
• Card table with leaves
• 2 x Side tables
• Samsung TV
• Direct TV

• Twin berths to port and starboard with drawer storage below
• 4 x Small circular hull portlights
• 2 x Larger circular portlights
• 4 x Large opening windows
• 5 x Wall sconces
• 2 x Reading lights
• Chest of drawers
• Hanging locker
• Vanity
• Intercom

• Porcelain wash basin
• Vanity
• Spruce sole
• Raritan freshwater flush head
• Opening port
• Stall shower

While JUSTICE was originally built with one cabin aft, this second small guest cabin was added in later years when modern engine technology allowed for less dedicated mechanical space.  This cabin sits in what used to be the forward part of the engine room.

• Full size double berth with drawer storage under
• Opening port
• 2 x Wall sconces
• Mirror and small vanity
• Integrated drawer storage
• Intercom

• Raratan fresh water flush head
• Porcelain sink
• Mirror
• Opening window
• Integrated handheld shower with shower curtain

The hull is built of 5/8” mahogany (outer planking) and 3/8” white cedar (inner planking) on 75 oak frames fastened with copper and brass. The bottom planking was entirely replaced to original specifications by Samples Shipyard in Boothbay Harbor, Maine in 1988. Since then, a number of planks have again been replaced as well as her transom. A full bottom refastening and new through hulls were done in 2010. 

• Bottom refastened (2010)
• Through hulls replaced (2010)
• Purple heart worm shoe replaced (2022)
• New cast bronze deck stanchions to replace originals made of iron (2011)
• New teak decks (2007)
• Nautical Structures davit
• 2 x Steamer chairs on bow
• Sunning pad on saloon roof
• 2 x Monel 2 ¾” one piece shafts
• 2 x Ellis 28/29 x 46” pitch props
• Maxwell windlass
• Stainless Bruce anchor
• Owner absent/owner meal light
• New foredeck lifelines (2024)
• New mahogany propane deck box on bow (2024)

• 2 x IVECO C13 825hp diesel engines (2009) (Port:2610hrs / Starboard:2608 hrs. 6/2024)
• 2 x ZF 2:1 transmissions (2009)
• New main engine starting motors (2023)
• Replaced all main engine fuel injectors (2023)
• Replaced main engine serpentine belts (2023)
• Heat exchanger service (2023)
• New main engine wiring harnesses (2024)
• Racor dual fuel filters for main engines
• 17kW Westerbeke generator (2009) (1025 hrs. 6/2024)
• Racor single fuel filter for generator
• Reverso oil change system
• Fireboy engine room extinguishing system
• Engine room exhaust fans
• Zinc Saver II galvanic isolator
• Mach 5 freshwater pump
• Arid series 4 bilge system
• 120/240 Volt AC distribution panel
• 50 Amp shore power inlets located both port and starboard in engine room
• 2 x 50 Amp shore power cords
• 24 Volt DC distribution panel
• 4 x 12 Volt AGM house batteries (2023)
• 4 x 12 Volt AGM engine starting batteries in series to produce 24 volts (2023)
• 1 x 12 Volt AGM generator starting batteries (2023)
• Xantrex link 2000 Inverter charger
• Charles 120/20 amp charger
• 2 x 24 Volt DC main engine alternators
• 1 x 12 Volt DC generator alternator
• Salon and mid-cabin 16,000 BTU air conditioning with two air handlers (2020)
• Aft cabin 16,000 BTU air conditioning
• Galley and crew quarters 12,000 BTU air conditioning with two air handlers (2015)
• Stainless 40 gallon hot water heater (2021)

• Simrad radar / chart plotter (2013)
• Simrad GPS (2013)
• Simrad depth sounder (2013)
• Icom IC-M422 VHF with Commandmic II (2013)
• Horizon depth sounder
• KVH sat TV
• Glendenning electronic engine controls with trolling valves
• FPT engine control gauges
• Compass
• Appropriate navigation lighting

• 2 x Over under single bunks
• Small 2-person dinette
• Samsung TV
• 2 x Overhead storage lockers
• 2 x Hanging lockers
• 4 x Opening ports
• Large overhead slide hatch with crew access ladder

JUSTICE (built as JEM) is one of the largest of the express commuter yachts and was built originally for the personal use of Jeremiah Milbank in 1930 for travel between his home in Greenwich, CT and the NYYC docks in lower Manhattan. She was designed by the respected marine architect John H. Wells of New York and built by Consolidated Shipbuilding in Morris Heights, NY. Her original cost in 1930 was $82,000.

The vessel was built on white oak frames with inner planking of ½” white Cedar and outer planking of 5/8” Honduran mahogany. The decks, now teak, replaced the original virgin white pine. The yacht has an overall length of 75’ 6”, a 13’ beam and a draft of 4’. All her fastenings are copper and brass.

Originally powered by two 500hp Winton gasoline engines, JUSTICE underwent several upgrades over the years. In 1947, she transitioned to a pair of Gray Marine diesels, followed by General Motors 6110’s in 1952. In 1998, 800hp Caterpillar diesels were installed, later replaced in 2009 by her current 825hp IVECO engines.

During World War II, JEM served as US Navy Patrol Boat Q67, earning three brass chevrons on her cabin side. Her exceptional speed made her adept at patrolling for submarines.

JEM has hosted numerous dignitaries through her 94 year history. In the Summer of 1930, JEM was at the disposal of President Hoover, a friend of Mr. Milbank, then financial secretary of the Republican Party. Archie Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt spent a number of weekends aboard JEM.  Following her service in World War II, General and Mrs. Douglas MacArthur were frequent passengers.  Through the postwar era until 1998 the yacht had only one Captain, Ray Thombs, who fastidiously maintained JEM in her original beauty.

JUSTICE has had an eventful history transitioning from a commuter yacht to a cruising vessel under six owners since 1930. The Milbank estate sold JEM in 1972 to George Lauder, who renamed her JESSICA. In 1985, Ted Valpey Jr. of New Hampshire became the owner until 1997 when she was sold and acquired by Arthur J. Halleran Jr., who reverted to the name JEM. José “Pepe” Fanjul purchased her in 2003, renaming her AZUCAR before her latest ownership change in 2005.

JUSTICE is a premier example of American yachting pedigree. Rare and distinctive, she embodies the essence of a true gentleman’s yacht in every aspect.