A Huckins came into our life

     It should have been liberating. It should have been a sense of freedom. It should have been a month of having care free living....but it wasn't.  It was a sense  not of loss, but of something missing.   Surely it wasn't the labour and toil. No, that in a way was the drudgery that fueled something more ethereal.... It was the dream....It was the fantasy...It was the wish that we could not just dream our dream...we could live it!  It was the feeling that we could continue, at least for a few more years, the adventure....BUT....we needed another boat!
     Hours of searching the internet, and several visits to view possible boats that would meet our criteria of smaller, less suites and bathrooms to clean, accessible engine room to work in, and classic style were fruitless, until I stumbled into the Huckins boat yard in Jacksonville, Fl. I was there to view a Hatteras yacht in a nearby yard and as we walked through the Huckins boat yard I saw an absolutely beautiful freshly painted yacht sitting up on jack stands.  Timeless classic lines with a robust running gear.
"Man, this boat looks like it can take some water!" I exclaimed to the salesman.
"These boats are all custom made for their owners. They got started during the war.  Mr. Huckins designed the unique hull used in PT boats. They are sturdy and kept lightweight for fast and economical cruising." he replied.
     Thus began my research and review of the Huckins line.  It quickly became apparent to me that these boats (unlike the Hinckley's known to me from living in Maine) had maintained their heritage; had not become a production boat. ( the Hinckley's are built 24 hours a day all year long and although you can alter some features per your request....they basically all look the same!)  Not so with the Huckins! They build one boat at a time with direct and constant input from the owner. No two Huckins are alike except for their time proven "quadraconic hull".
     Searching the internet and the Huckins website, I found the Nena 11.  A 1985 50 ft Huckins that had new Cummins diesel motors and  Northern Lights generator installed in 2002 and now had only 380 hours on them.   The average recreational boater puts about 100 to 150 hours a year on a boat, so even with average use this boat should have had about 1500 hours of use.  The motors weren't really even broken in yet!  It had two state rooms with their adjoining showers and head and a private owners head, an engine room that was accessible, and per my promise to Beth, was smaller than Doc's Holiday...by 1 foot!  Hee! Hee! Hee!
    To top it off, the Huckins manufacturer have maintained a following and nurtured a family image that they honestly and truly support. Cindy Purcell (Huckins granddaughter ) and her husband Buddy Purcell even took the time a couple of years ago to tour the country and visit all the Huckins yachts that they could access.  They have all the original blueprints of their boats and records of all the upgrades that they have done to their boats.  They encourage owners to call them with any concerns or questions and give freely of their expertise and advise.  They even took supplies to help some of the do-it-yourself owners continue their maintenance of their boats. ...they want all of their boats to function well, be up to date with new designs and look good. Needless to say Huckins has a committed owners group.
     I hired a surveyor who was formerly a yard manager at Huckins. He was not only knowledgeable about the production of these boats but new the Nena 11 personally.  This boat was commissioned by a retired Naval officer who in 1985 asked Huckins to power the boat with outboard motors. Unheard of in that day and age!  Huckins with their can do attitude consulted with the top outboard manufacturer at the time (OMC) and after several redesigns produced this 50 foot motor yacht powered with four outboard OMC motors. I have been told that "the admirals boat" was a head turner all along the intercostal and cruised (with Buddy Purcell) to the Bahamas and Caribbean.
     We can hardly wait to meet Buddy and Cindy to get a recap of that trip and further history on the Nena 11 (which of course you know I am going to change the name to Doc's Holiday 11)
     Currently Beth has teamed up with our good friends Terry and Cathy Lee Winchester from Beaumont, Texas to take the boat up to the Huckins yard in Jacksonville, Florida. They left Punta Gorda two days ago and as of last night had not even made it to Lake Okeechobee!  It appears that the boat is running just fine but the celebrations (read uninhibited partying!) is slowing them down! Terry says they aren't going to be able to get there by their expected time of 8:30 Monday morning...in fact they might just swing by Bimini (in the Bahamas ) to refuel! Damn I have got to retire!!! You can follow their progress by clicking on spot at the top of the blog.  I will probably have to wait for Beth to get back to have pictures of the boat uploaded to the blog but you might try to google 1985 50 ft Huckins for sale...I think there are still pictures up on the internet.
     In the meantime,  I'm going to sit on the upper deck, stare at the "Guff" of Mexico,  listen to the waves and Pout!
   
                                                                                 

A New Adventure Begins

     Time passes quickly. 

     Since returning to Port St. Joe, Fl Beth  has remodeled a beach town house which has direct access to the "Guff" (the way locals pronounce it!) of Mexico,  and I began updates and preparation for my plan to take Docs Holiday to the Bahamas, when I retire (again!)  However, like the best laid plans of mice and men, the gods thwarted our plans and our lives changed suddenly when our boat broker called to say" we have an offer on the boat!"

     "What!" I exclaimed,  " The contract to sell the boat expired months ago.  Were going to the Bahamas.  She's not for sale."

"It's a pretty good offer." he responded. "You might want to take a look at it."

     It was a reasonable offer and considering that Beth and I had been talking about downsizing to a two state room boat that would be easier to maintain with two less bedrooms bathrooms and showers to keep clean, we tentatively accepted the offer. 

     After 15 years of living, traveling and pouring our time and money into keeping Doc's Holiday up to date and well maintained, Beth and I agreed, we were not going to pass along the care of our boat to someone who was likely to abuse her.  I know "Money is money! Just take your money and run!" but a boat that you have loved and cared for is more like a partner than an inanimate object. At times you get frustrated because they won't behave the way you think they should ; you cajole them trying to get them to perform the way you think they should; and yes, at times curse them because they didn't, but you love and care for them just the same!

     No we weren't going to hand our baby over to just anybody!

     Dustin Kidd, is a handsome young man with an endearing personality who won our hearts when he was touring the boat and exuberantly proclaimed., "This is way better than the pictures! I couldn't figure exactly how it was laid out, but I love it!" It turned out that he had been viewing and fantasizing about being able to own a motor yacht like this for over two years! 

     "I didn't think I would ever be able to afford it but I desperately needed a change in my life and this is it!" he exclaimed. When pressed about this comment he solemnly told us that  he had just sold his 44 foot Hatteras because he needed a change.  He bought his Hatteras and spent several years with his girlfriend enjoying many good times traveling around Louisville, Kentucky.  When they parted company he became somewhat morose and after a couple of years decided to break out and move on with his life.  This boat would be the start of a new adventure for him and his best friend....his dog.

     As we sat in the lounge, sharing a cold beer.  He looked over at me and said, "Where is the good stereo." I responded, "Oh, this stereo is good. See we have large speakers built into the cabinet and the bar.  We have surround sound."

     "No" he smiled,  "I mean the stereo where you can hear the saliva dripping from the french horns."

      My mouth fell agape. "How do you know about that!" I sputtered.  "That was a comment made to me by my now deceased best friend,  Jay Hinson.  Fighting to keep my eyes from tearing up, I softly repeated, "How do you know about that!"

      Dustin smiled and said, " I read it in your book. I have read your book cover to cover and truly hope that I can have the same thrilling adventures on Doc's Holiday that you have had."

     Deal sealed. The boat is now being lived on and cared for by Dustin in Louisville, Kentucky.

     We have kept in touch with Dustin, who kindly sent us text messages and pictures of his journey back to Kentucky and an invite to come and spend time with him on the boat during the Kentucky derby. Thanks Dustin. We may take you up on that.  

     As we watched Dustin and his crew (including his Mother) navigate the boat out by the Panama City fuel dock,  I turned around to see Beth standing behind me with tears in her eyes. I held her hand as we walked silently back down the dock .