Boat includes photos of Bud Finkl personally driving this boat. The second sister boat, “Pub Decisions” is in Oklahoma while the third boats whereabouts are unknown. Boat measures at 18' with a beam of 5', the boat has always been garage kept and never used in salt. The previous owner acquired directly from the Finkl's family. After Bud's death, the family kept the boat in their collection for another 13 years. Bud Finkl showed this boat from NY to Florida and the family said it was only used in fresh water, which is evident by it's excellent condition. Titled a “1918 Packard,” it was completed in 1993. built more than 2000 mahogany runabouts between 1939 and WWII.”īud Finkl wanted an all wood racer of his youth resulting in this specially commissioned boat with a “2 person seated pilot area in the rear with a forward 2 passenger seat just forward of the midships.” Per “For Bud Finkl, the president and CEO of Packard Boats, classic "gentlemen's runabouts" are something he remembers from his childhood not only because his family had several, but because his father's General Marine Corp. The Packard Boat Company President, Bud Finkl was a retired engineer, boat racer and a 3rd generation steel worker and his family originally made parts for the Packard Automobile and Boat engines. Packard Boat Company of Sarasota, Florida designed and custom built retro-styled powerboats from 1988 to 2002 in very limited numbers and were known for their very high quality and great handling based off of 1920's-30's designs. Wood is Honduras mahogany and coated with epoxy sealer with 12-14 coats of varnish and has a beautiful, deep finish. Boat is capable of speeds of 40-45 mph and uses hydraulic steering for easy controls. The transmission is said to be have been built by the Chevrolet Corvette racing team and was told the running gear was $30,000 the time. This boat is powered by a Chevrolet V6 by specially built by Flagship Marine Engines in Punta Gorda, Florida. Of the three boats built, this was the president's own personal boat that he kept from new until his passing. The three boats were personally ordered by Bud Finkl, president of the Packard Boat Company and are based off of lengthened plans of the Hacker Speedster 16'. One of only three “Gentleman's Racers” commissioned by the Packard Boat Company to be hand built by upstate NY boat builder John Ford as well as Gary Scherb of Old Time Boats in Florida.