OWNERS PERSPECTIVE
AN OPEN LETTER, TO MY FELLOW MARINERS
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.
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WOMBAT: JOSE'S VISION MADE A REALITY
The morning we left to shoot this video the weather was not cooperating. The sophisticated radar screen was showing storm after storm. The owner of WOMBAT, Jose, is a very experienced Captain and he maneuvered the yacht through the squalls with ease and soon we were cruising at 35 mph toward clear skies, with dark blanket over Miami behind us. The fishing gear and outriggers were out and everyone was ready to yell, "fish on". As we all watched for bird action suddenly the mahi-mahi started hitting the deck like hot cakes. It was as amazing adventure, but please, watch this video and see for yourself.
Watch the Video
FREEDOM FIRST: PART ONE
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.
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FREEDOM FIRST: PART TWO
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.
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JUST WANDERING BY: PART ONE
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.
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JUST WANDERING BY: PART TWO
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...
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THE RIVER HOUSE: PART ONE
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.
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THE RIVER HOUSE: PART TWO
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."
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THE LIFE OF LAMANI LIN: PART ONE
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.
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THE LIFE OF LAMANI LIN: PART TWO
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.
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SEEING DOUBLE IN CHICAGO
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.
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GREAT LAKE, GREAT YACHT
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.
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LOVE FOUND ON FREMONT
Upon our arrival in Chicago, Jeff Sharfstein, a true lover of classic boats, graciously invited Buddy and me aboard his 1962 56-foot Huckins, Fremont. Happy to oblige, we joined Jeff for a Huckins rendezvous that sunny morning, touring the salt-free waters of Lake Michigan.
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FIVE-STAR TRIBUTE TO A GOOD FRIEND
In the spring of 2012, Buddy and I visited with Huckins owner and friend John Scully in Vero Beach, where John's Atlantic 44 (Five Stars, named for his five children) was docked behind his home. Though Buddy and I had boarded Five Stars many times, John took the opportunity to give us a tour and point out the boat's immaculate condition.
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SHOWING INTEGRITY
Bill Higgins is the kind of man who knows what he wants. Right down to the very last detail, in fact. After years spent in the aeronautics industry, designing custom aircraft interiors for clients including royal families and heads of state, Bill is eminently qualified to lay out his vision of the perfect motor yacht.
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