The “Must Sell” Aristocrat
1966 Huckins Linwood 58 - $149,000
You can spot a Huckins from a mile away. It doesn’t look like a jellybean production boat, and it doesn’t look like a slow trawler. It looks like it’s doing 30 knots while tied to the dock.
That’s because the man who designed it, Frank Huckins, didn’t care about cup holders or maximizing interior volume. He cared about one thing: the Quadraconic Hull. It’s the same hull form he licensed to the US Navy for the PT boats in WWII. While other yachts were plowing through the water, Huckins were planing on top of it.
This 1966 Linwood 58, named “ELUSIVE,” is the “Grand Dame” of that era. She is sitting in Jacksonville, and the seller has made the situation crystal clear: “Bring all offers, she must be sold.”
The Vibe
This is Palm Beach in the 1960s. It’s linen suits, dry martinis, and Hemingway. Stepping into the salon isn’t like entering a boat; it’s like walking into a mid-century study. You have a massive L-shaped settee, a wet bar with an icemaker (obviously), and a helm station that looks like the cockpit of a vintage bomber.
Unlike a trawler, which is a slow apartment, this is a gentleman’s express cruiser. Powered by twin Detroit Diesel 8V71Ns pushing Huckins V-Drives, she cruises at a respectable 17 knots. She was designed to leave the dock in Miami at breakfast and be in Bimini for lunch, without spilling your drink.
The Reality (The “Wood” Discussion)
Buying a Huckins requires a specific mindset.
The Hull: It is not traditional plank-on-frame wood (which leaks). It is double-planked Philippine mahogany, sheathed in 20oz fiberglass cloth and epoxy. It is incredibly strong and lighter than fiberglass, but it requires a surveyor who actually understands cold-molded construction.
The History: This isn’t a neglected barn find. She has been with the same owner for 35 years, kept under cover at the actual Huckins yard, and treated to two major refits.
The Layout: She sleeps 8 across three staterooms, including a master suite aft with twin berths—a classic layout that prioritizes sleep over squeezing in a queen bed.
The Verdict
The list price is $149,000, but the “must be sold” flag is waving. You are buying a vessel that would cost $3M to build today. You aren’t buying it for the resale value; you’re buying it because you want to be the coolest person in the anchorage.
