Our Story
A Lifetime on the Water, and a Tradition Worth Bringing Back
Benford Yacht Hat® is rooted in a lifelong connection to the water.
Jeanie Benford Jordan comes from a family deeply immersed in the boating world. From infancy, she and her brother — yacht designer Jay R. Benford — were taken cruising on the family sailboat on Lake Ontario in Rochester, New York. Their parents, Jim and Margaret Benford, shared a 61-year marriage filled with life on the water, from racing snipes as a young couple to family sailing adventures.
After retiring, they fulfilled a dream of traveling the Intracoastal Waterway from New York to Florida, eventually settling in St. Petersburg. There, they spent nearly 30 years cruising Florida and the Bahamas.
Jeanie’s family legacy also includes her uncle, Harry Benford, an internationally recognized naval architect and marine engineer, who was named Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan.
Since 1962, Jeanie’s brother Jay has been known for designing distinctive custom boats — from cruising sailboats and liveaboards to tugboats and freighter yachts — each reflecting a unique blend of function and character.
In 1995, Jeanie met and later married Ray Jordan, a former Navy Seabee and Vietnam veteran, as well as an avid sailor. Together, they began a lifetime of adventure — living aboard and sailing a 54-foot ketch throughout the Bahamas, then spending 13 years traveling across all 50 states and much of Canada as full-time RVers.
Over the past 50 years, Ray wore and appreciated Lancaster hats — and was deeply disappointed when the Lancaster Hat Company closed in 2011.
Bringing back this classic design is a proud accomplishment for our family.
Today, from their home in Inverness, Florida, Jeanie and Ray continue to enjoy life on the water — and are honored to share a product inspired by tradition, craftsmanship, and a true love of boating.
Jeanie Benford Jordan comes from a family deeply immersed in the boating world. From infancy, she and her brother — yacht designer Jay R. Benford — were taken cruising on the family sailboat on Lake Ontario in Rochester, New York. Their parents, Jim and Margaret Benford, shared a 61-year marriage filled with life on the water, from racing snipes as a young couple to family sailing adventures.
After retiring, they fulfilled a dream of traveling the Intracoastal Waterway from New York to Florida, eventually settling in St. Petersburg. There, they spent nearly 30 years cruising Florida and the Bahamas.
Jeanie’s family legacy also includes her uncle, Harry Benford, an internationally recognized naval architect and marine engineer, who was named Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan.
Since 1962, Jeanie’s brother Jay has been known for designing distinctive custom boats — from cruising sailboats and liveaboards to tugboats and freighter yachts — each reflecting a unique blend of function and character.
In 1995, Jeanie met and later married Ray Jordan, a former Navy Seabee and Vietnam veteran, as well as an avid sailor. Together, they began a lifetime of adventure — living aboard and sailing a 54-foot ketch throughout the Bahamas, then spending 13 years traveling across all 50 states and much of Canada as full-time RVers.
Over the past 50 years, Ray wore and appreciated Lancaster hats — and was deeply disappointed when the Lancaster Hat Company closed in 2011.
Bringing back this classic design is a proud accomplishment for our family.
Today, from their home in Inverness, Florida, Jeanie and Ray continue to enjoy life on the water — and are honored to share a product inspired by tradition, craftsmanship, and a true love of boating.
Jeanie Benford Jordan and Ray Jordan
at Wooden Boat Festival in Mystic, CT
at Wooden Boat Festival in Mystic, CT