Huckins Yacht Corp. Sold

Back in 1928, when Frank Pembroke Huckins launched his first yacht and the company that bears his name, the process of creating something extraordinary was a labor of love. Ninety-six years later, we can assure you that the emotion runs in the family.

Huckins owner Cindy Purcell (granddaughter of Frank Huckins) and husband Buddy Purcell share the founder's vision and operate one of the oldest family-owned boat builders in the United States. Both began employment at Huckins in 1970 — Cindy in the stock room and Buddy starting off as a painter. Working hard and immersing themselves in Huckins philosophy and tradition, each was instilled with generations of know-how.

The guidance of Kenneth Archibald, Cindy's father and then-president of Huckins, and George Pillsbury, vice-president and manager at the time, would later prove invaluable as Cindy and Buddy transitioned Huckins into the ultra-modern era of lightweight, fuel-efficient materials without sacrificing one ounce of the legendary elegance. Until now, the couple oversaw all facets of the manufacturing process and are proud to say that Huckins remains an extended family of employees and yacht owners.

Reprint of a letter sent to boating industry friends earlier this week —

Dear Valued Supporters and Customers,

We are writing to share important news about Huckins Yacht Corporation. After more than fifty years at the helm, we have decided to pass the torch and transition our family business to new ownership. We're pleased to announce that we've found an excellent fit in Andy Tyska.

Andy brings a wealth of experience to Huckins, with a degree in Naval Architecture from the University of Michigan and 27 years of experience operating boat yards. He currently owns and operates boat yards in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine under Bristol Marine, specializing in service, refits, and new construction. What impressed us most about Andy is his deep appreciation for the Huckins brand and our commitment to quality. We're confident that his expertise will help Huckins continue to thrive while honoring our heritage.

We want to emphasize that our dedicated team, the backbone of Huckins, will remain in place. Sara Gielow, our General Manager, will continue to lead the day-to-day operations. Sara's years of commitment to Huckins, her extensive knowledge of our brand, our boats and our team's capabilities have been instrumental in meeting and exceeding customer expectations.

Equally important, PJ Rogers, our Service Manager, will continue to play a critical role in working directly with customers to provide the exceptional service Huckins is known for. PJ has been with Huckins for over 20 years and is proud to fill the role that his father Paul once did. This family legacy, combined with PJ's expertise and dedication, ensures that our commitment to quality service remains stronger than ever.

The rest of our skilled staff will also continue in their roles, maintaining the high standards of craftsmanship and service that define Huckins. We'll be staying on as outside advisors to help guide the transition and preserve the Huckins legacy.

We're grateful for your support over the years and are excited for you to be part of this new chapter with Andy at the helm, Sara guiding our operations, and PJ ensuring top-notch service. We believe this transition will position Huckins for continued success in the years to come.

Stay tuned for more details about this transition, which we'll be sharing with the broader boating community in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued trust and support,

Cindy and Buddy Purcell

From the Huckins Website —

One at a Time. One of a Kind.

For over 96 years, this has been the philosophy behind Huckins yachts and the one-of-a-kind people who buy them. Since Frank Pembroke Huckins produced one of the world's first planing hulls in 1928, our company has held fast to his vision — creating yachts that are not simply uncommon, but positively unique.

You can see it in every Huckins on the water today. The world-class design and craftsmanship. The innumerable opportunities for individual expression. The classic lines, belying a level of performance attainable only with ultra-modern materials and engineering. This is what goes into our yachts. This is what should go into yours.

Navigate to our Contact page and let's get your one-of-a-kind vision cranked up.

Technology

When you see one of our yachts on the water, heads will invariably turn and jaws inevitably drop. The classic beauty instantly announces itself as a Huckins, and in that sense nothing has changed since 1928. But over the course of an equally evolutionary and revolutionary company history, certain things have changed, and for the better.

In 1975, Huckins unveiled a radical transformation from traditional cold-molded mahogany to fiberglass composite core construction (initially AIREX^® and today Corecell^™). Largely inspired by growing demand, the transition also presented a number of engineering advantages: significant weight reduction, for instance, allowing for a higher horsepower-to-weight ratio. That means more speed and fuel-efficiency on top of the exceptional strength and seaworthiness these space-age materials provide.

Today, Huckins yachts are among the lightest, strongest and fuel-stingiest afloat, displacing thousands of pounds less than similarly-built competitive boats. Coupled with our legendary Quadraconic® hull, this weight-conscious design produces the Huckins-signature performance so admired by experienced yachters.

Learn more about the Huckins Legend...