Join Cindy and her husband, Buddy, as they travel near and far to visit every single Huckins yacht still in existence today. During their momentous journey, they'll offer owners thorough inspections and advice on keeping their high performance yachts in top condition, while upholding the Huckins standard. They'll probably even make time to share a few mariner's tales along the way.
It was late August in the Windy City and Buddy and I were preparing to unite with a lively group of Chicagoans who had enthusiastically contacted us, having heard about our cross-country travels in search of Huckins yachts still making waves. What made this trip all the more exciting was the opportunity to forge friendships with Huckins owners we had never previously met.
One day Ray Teborek called me at the office after he and his captain, Willie Lynch, visited our website and saw that Buddy and I were meeting and greeting Huckins owners around the country. Ray asked whether we would be interested in coming to Chicago — noting that along with his own two boats, two other Huckins yachts were located in the same marina. He assured us that he would happily arrange meetings with the other owners as well, and there our story begins.
Lamani Lin's interior was totally redesigned to include a saloon-length galley to port and a leather settee to starboard. Originally the saloon contained a small galley to port and forward of that was a chart desk and storage unit and to starboard a small dinette and settee. Joe and Linda wanted a more updated, spacious saloon, similar to the one they had seen on another 44' Huckins, Blake Matherly's Wanderer.
Sanibel Island, Florida, a beautiful sunny island known for its soft sandy beaches scattered with an abundance of flawless seashells, was the next stop on our journey. Sanibel Island is undisputedly a one-of-a-kind destination, and it only seems appropriate that a one-of-a-kind Huckins calls this place home.
Wow! John and his family must have been very busy sanding and painting, because Kyma looked years younger when we returned for a second visit. Buddy was truly impressed with John’s work and admitted that he was pleasantly surprised by the progress he had made. “I have been working hard just about every weekend,” John said. “I’m trying to get it summer-ready and want to ensure that every crack is repaired.”
We were excited to finally see Kyma once again, not only to assess her condition as a true vintage Huckins, but also to share what we knew about her past voyages with her most recent owners. When we arrived, I told John and his family that his Huckins was a boat custom-built during my father’s tenure and showed them the photos, drawings and article that we had compiled for our visit. We enjoyed a lively discussion about what might have transpired aboard Kyma during her trip across the Central American seaway before delving into our assessment of the yacht’s current state.
We find that most Huckins owners are passionate and vocal about their love for our boats. Blake is no exception. “The thing that I always say about this boat is that it’s incredible,” says Blake. “When people get on this boat they’re just amazed. And when I take them for a ride, they are especially amazed.” We hear this type of praise from almost every Huckins owner. That’s because the way they handle is unlike any other boat. As if further substantiating this very claim, Blake shared the following story:
After saying our goodbyes to the Ruppman's and the Freedom, Buddy and I were off to Fort Myers, FL to visit good friend and Huckins enthusiast, Blake Matherly. We arrived to big smiles and hugs, spending only a short time catching up before Blake began regaling us with all the reasons he loves his boat, the Wanderer. As he invited us aboard, he took great pleasure in pointing out some of the finer points that endeared him to this Huckins model from the moment he laid eyes on it. The three of us—Blake, my husband, Buddy, and I—settled for a moment in the saloon as he explained why he and his wife favored his Huckins over other boats.
Buddy's "inspection" of the Ruppmans yacht was short lived, in part because the yacht is just a few years old, and also because the Ruppmans have done an excellent job at maintaining its original state. Other than a minor freezer mend that Charles Ruppman had already repaired, the boat looked and ran like it was still brand new. Trust me, Buddy is a tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy, and if he found any problems, the Ruppmans would have definitely heard about it. I thought to myself, my grandfather would have really loved this boat. The Freedom has a special connection to my grandfather and me because it is home to the very last steering wheel that he handcrafted—a little known fact the Ruppmans were surprised to hear.
With thousands of journeys behind us, the one that begins today takes us on a special voyage to re-establish the Huckins legacy, by visiting each and every Huckins yacht that is still afloat. After a six-hour drive, my husband Buddy and I arrived at the Pelican Isle Yacht Club, Bonita Springs, FL, nestled in a quiet inlet on the Gulf of Mexico. We walked down the docks to meet with Charles and Lena Ruppman aboard their 2009 Huckins, Freedom, Hull #457. I was hoping Buddy would keep his candid remarks to a minimum—after all, this was just our first visit.
As one of the last family owned yacht builders in the US, I, like my father and grandfather before me, have dedicated my life to Huckins Yacht Company, founded in 1928. This online journal was created as a place for me to share my dedication with you and many other passionate mariners. Today I'm setting out on a journey to visit each and every Huckins yacht that exists today. With a total of 457 Huckins hulls launched I'm hoping to find that at least half are alive and still enjoying the seas. Quite the task you may think, but one that I am eager to embark on.