Cindy Purcell

Former Owner & Current Ambassador

Huckins Yachts former owner and current ambassador, Cindy Purcell was born with yachting heritage in her bones. As the granddaughter of company founder Frank Pembroke Huckins and daughter of former Huckins President Kenneth Archibald, Cindy grew up immersed in the traditions, craftsmanship, and culture that define one of the oldest family-owned yacht builders in the United States.
Cindy began accompanying her father to the boatyard at just two years old and soon joined him on nearly every sea trial departing the yard. By the age of ten, she became a boat owner herself—a 12-foot ski boat built by her father. When she wasn’t on the water, Cindy could be found studying the company’s meticulous attention to detail, and the formula behind Huckins’ premier custom yachts. From an early age, she learned the names of employees, owners, and service clients alike, absorbing the boatyard culture while playing and learning side by side with the team.
After marrying her husband, Buddy Purcell, Cindy spent a brief period in Alaska before the couple returned to their hometown of Jacksonville. In 1970, Cindy began working in the Huckins stockroom, while Buddy joined the paint department. Over the years, both worked across multiple departments within the boatyard, earning deep, hands-on knowledge of every aspect of the operation before advancing into management roles.
Together, Cindy and Buddy led Huckins through decades of continuity and growth, overseeing all facets of new construction and service while faithfully carrying forward the company’s legacy. While no longer involved in day-to-day operations, Cindy remains actively engaged in the business and its long-term vision. She is proud to say that Huckins continues to operate as an extended family—of dedicated employees and loyal yacht owners—bound together by tradition, craftsmanship, and shared passion.