Huckins’ Shirt Letter

In 1940 the Navy was fed up with its fledgling PT program, since the boats were pounding themselves to pieces. When Frank Huckins offered to build it a proper boat, the Navy offered to "loan" him the engines. Huckins began design and construction simultaneously, but was not satisfied with his 72-foot PT's fi rst sea trial. Huckins solved the problem with an oak "belly band" chine. In the Navy's competition — dubbed the "Plywood