DeVos' $40 million yacht vandalized at Huron dock

Authored by toledoblade.com and submitted by mtg4l
image for DeVos' $40 million yacht vandalized at Huron dock

HURON, Ohio — A boat owned by the family of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was vandalized over the weekend while moored at a Huron dock, according to the Huron Police Department.

The Seaquest was moored at the Huron Boat Basin, 330 Main St., according to a police report. The captain of the 163-foot yacht, worth a reported $40 million, called police at about 6 a.m. Sunday, telling them that he and the crew realized at sunrise that someone had untied Seaquest from the dock, setting it adrift.

RELATED: Betsy DeVos visits Toledo | DeVos meets with teachers, students at Van Wert City Schools

The crew eventually got control of the yacht, but not before it struck the dock, causing an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 in damage from large scratches and scrapes, according to the police report.

Officers were searching for surveillance video that may show who untied the yacht.

Betsy DeVos was born into wealth, and also married into wealth. She's the daughter of Edgar Prince, whose Prince Corporation was incredibly successful. Her brother is Eric Prince, notorious for his ownership of controversial private military contractors.

She married Richard DeVos, Jr., whose father started the Amway corporation, a multi-level marketing company. They are consistently ranked some of the richest people in the world.

EDITORIAL: Betsy DeVos' (mostly) good visit to Toledo

The Seaquest, according to a number of profiles in national publications, is one of 10 boats owned by the family. It is registered to RDV International Marine LTD., according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection database.

That company is at the same location as RDV Corporation, the company that manages the DeVos family's wealth.

According to superyachtfan.com, the SeaQuest can accommodate 12 guests and 12 crew members.

Ms. DeVos was in northwest Ohio earlier this month to tour the Penta Career Center as well as the Lucas County Correctional Treatment program. Her selection and tenure as secretary of Education has been harshly criticized by public school advocates, as she’s been a major funder of the ”school choice” movement.

It’s unclear why the yacht was in Huron. A message left with an RDV Corporation representative was not returned. A message left with officials from the City of Huron, which owns Huron Boat Basin, was also not returned.

Shadrach_Jones on July 26th, 2018 at 12:32 UTC »

Why didn't my 1990 Honda Accord make the news when it was vandalized?

HavockBlade on July 26th, 2018 at 11:56 UTC »

you know i had go look just so i could see what forty million dollars of yacht looked like

Decapitated_Saint on July 26th, 2018 at 11:31 UTC »

I like that random vandals can just untie a $40 million yacht from its moorings.