[clstevens]

Anyone out there currently restoring a classic Huckins? Work on my 1946 Offshore 48 is stalled at the moment (see http://mvperihelion.blogspot.com for details) but I would be very interested in hearing stories from people working on similar projects.

- Chris

[Seafarer]

I don't know of anyone doing the work on the west coast, but on the east, there's the Huckins yard themselves and Olsen Marine up on Cape Cod. A small yard in North Caroilna, Blake Boatworks rebuilt Bubbles as Cherokee over the course of a few years, maybe your best bet is to find a small hungry yard?

There used to be a 56' Sportsman named Subito in Oregon. She was rebuilt somewhere in the Portland area after a near-sinking in the Gulf of Mexico and an overland transport. Maybe you could contact Huckins and find out what yard did that work for the old owner?

[rhodemon]

I'm currently restoring a Sportsman 40 and have pretty much finished up a Sportsman 34. Both boats have been repowered with new diesels, and have been rewired and replumbed. I took the 34 down to bare wood and glassed all of the external surfaces with 9oz cloth using West System epoxy and Awlgriped them using the roller and brush technique. The 40 required less work as it was in better condition. But I continue to work on it, upgrading the systems and making the boat more liveable and useable while retaining its orignal looks.

It sounds pretty simple, but I have a lot of labor into both boats. However, where else is someone going to find a vintage boat that has great looks, built properly and with pride, performs as well, if not better than a modern boat, and still has the orignal manufacturer in business?

Huckins was far ahead of its time in both building techniques and safety systems and applied a lot of what they learned to the pleasure boats that evolved from their WWII PT boats. Techniques like strong, light weight construction, laminated keels, colded molded hulls and efficient hull designs are buzz words today, but they have been used by Huckins forever.

As I write this, I'm looking out my window at the Newport Boat Show, and what I see is a sea of white fiberglass that has been molded into the weirdest nonfunction shapes imaginable, with windows that look like bent chili peppers and that have hulls that are so overweight and inefficient that even the largest trim tabs and latest computer operated drive systems can't make them run right.

For my money, I'll take a Huckins with a nicely shaped design that is actually functional, combined with a hull that is easily driven (no trim tabs necessary), and performs with grace and agility. And they still build them using the same hull design!

[clstevens]

I'm planning something similar for my Offshore 48. But it's been in progress for nearly nine years now and still a lot to do! So far the decks and superstructure have been almost completely replaced, the hull has been reframed and the interior is gutted. Here are some photos



http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Elfia0uUgi...-h/2005_02.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Elfia0uUgi...h/DSC00277.JPG


Take a look at the blog link in my original post for more photos of the work - might be interesting.

[halibrand]

Does anyone know what ever happened to the Huckins yacht "Deep Stuff"? She was built in 1976/1977 and was about 82 feet or so. The yacht spent summers in Watch Hill, RI and winters in Delray Beach, FL.

I spent some time on this boat as a child and I am just curious if it still exists.

[Seafarer]

Originally Posted by halibrand

Does anyone know what ever happened to the Huckins yacht "Deep Stuff"? She was built in 1976/1977 and was about 82 feet or so. The yacht spent summers in Watch Hill, RI and winters in Delray Beach, FL.

I spent some time on this boat as a child and I am just curious if it still exists.

That was the last in a series of 6 Huckins yachts named Deep Stuff built by the same family family, and the first Airex-cored hull built by the yard. As of ten years ago it was named Solid Gold II according to their history book The Living Legacy.

Also according to the book, she's 76' and has a build date in 1977.

[Dxplites]

I work with the guy that did the restrore on the Sibito. He also takes care of a 1971 60' Fairform Flyer. Great boat by the way. San Juans to pPortland in one day.

[Seafarer]

Originally Posted by Dxplites

I work with the guy that did the restrore on the Sibito. He also takes care of a 1971 60' Fairform Flyer. Great boat by the way. San Juans to pPortland in one day.

Subito is a great looking Huckins, and very nicely restored. Whoever picked her up, even at the offering price, got a screaming deal. That boat was a bargain! I hope her new owner cares for her as well as the last one.

I imagine being such a light boat in the bow, she was not just fast but easy riding and economical as well.

[Dxplites]

A couple of years ago the Sibito was completly repainted. I also upgraded the Chartplotter and Radar.
I know that she cruises about 26 knots and burns about 1 gal a mile at full speed.
About 3 years ago she made the trip from California to Alaska and to Portland for the painting and upgrade. I think the owner said 7000+ NM all told.

Dave

[Seafarer]

Originally Posted by Dxplites

A couple of years ago the Sibito was completly repainted. I also upgraded the Chartplotter and Radar.
I know that she cruises about 26 knots and burns about 1 gal a mile at full speed.
About 3 years ago she made the trip from California to Alaska and to Portland for the painting and upgrade. I think the owner said 7000+ NM all told.

Dave

From what I understand, she's now down in southern California, and getting fitted out for sportfishing.

[Avery]

Originally Posted by halibrand

Does anyone know what ever happened to the Huckins yacht "Deep Stuff"? She was built in 1976/1977 and was about 82 feet or so. The yacht spent summers in Watch Hill, RI and winters in Delray Beach, FL.

I spent some time on this boat as a child and I am just curious if it still exists.

I grew up in Watch Hill. The boat to which you refer was the last 'Stuff the Sayer family had built by Huckins. Other vessels were called 'Nuff Stuff and Lil' Stuff, and there were other 'Stuffs too. This last Deep Stuff was about the 6th one from the Huckins yard. She was the subject of a total refit, and an article in Yachting Magazine detailed the work with quite a few images in about 1992. After that, I never heard another word. The late Harriet Sayer, who later in life married Earl Ninow, spent years on Deep Stuff, and on the golf course with my mother. I had many a Roy Rogers on both the 56' and later the 82' Deep Stuff in Watch Hill.

[maldwin]

I was told she ended up on the West coast, and may have gone down hill, but that was a few years ago.
Best,
Maldwin