The iconic owner and personality behind Howard Custom Boats is going to be deeply missed—rest in peace Gene Willen.

https://www.speedonthewater.com/howa...en-remembered/

Very sorry to hear that, my deepest sympathies to the family.

Thank you very much for writing the article and letting us know. What an incredible run he had. I am a big fan of the 255VTX his son designed and was considering a new purchase. I was fortunate enough to talk with Gene about that boat and some of the supply and inflation issues he was dealing with. He really did love to talk about boats and gave me the whole story about the 255VTX and some others. It took him a while to get back with me, but when he did you could tell he had anticipated and planned for a lengthy discussion with me, a complete stranger. I really enjoyed talking with him and regret I didn't get a chance to meet him. HIs boat's put up some incredible numbers and the 255VTX is a freak of physics with it's ability to surf at 13mph and run 65mph on a stock 6.2 merc motor. Well done sir, RIP, and godspeed.

Thank You Jason for a special tribute article to Gene and His Family. Exquisitely written and well-received all over the boating sites.

Feeling really 'blue' about these incredibly tragic news.


Around 1990 and I had seen an ad in Powerboat Magazine with Gene behind the helm flying his first built Howard 23 Offshore. This wasn't a Crusader built one and Howard Custom Boats was Cal Kustom

at its very best and I had to check it out. I drove up from Newport to the City of Irwindale. From the distance, the shop and adjoining businesses looked like they were located at the bottom of an open strip mine!

I was immediately met by Gene. Having no appointment and in my mid-20s only, I wasn't sure what to expect. All I knew I had to see the boat and make a purchase happen. Gene showed me around for more

than an hour and he was so friendly, laughed a lot and I felt so fortunate to be there. He didn't have a 23 Offshore there, but I admired the quality work that the other boats on display exuded in abundance.

Gene told me he was about to lay up a white 23 Offshore, but that it was a couple of months away. He said I had to see it in person. We exchanged contact info and I remember him apologizing for only having

his old liquor distributing business card. The white boat didn't get built for quite some time and I learned in the meantime that buying even a small performance boat with the assistance of a banking institution was

a lot trickier than putting 25% down on a comparably priced luxury car. I didn't see a 23 Offshore 'till Gene invited me to the boat show more than a year later. The boat looked like a miniature Maltese Magnum

27 Sport, and I was crazy in love. I told Gene about the banks I had approached and he laughed it off like I had already bought 2 boats from him and couldn't afford to buy a third. Now that's a boating guy!

Gene was a tour de force and I will miss him. Finally ended up buying one of the 12 made Howard 23 Offshore in 2006 and that was unquestionably based on my many pleasurable experiences meeting Gene

during all those years. Had it for a brief time only due to being a four-boat owner at that time, and sold it to a dear buddy of mine who liked it a lot, but sadly wasn't in love with it.

Gene's son Mike is one heck of a talented, innovative boat designer, now with decades of successful sales records to show for it. His remarkable 255VXT, as mentioned above in this thread, is so impressive

that it will most likely be my next Howard Custom Boat.


R.I.P. Gene, and may Mike & Pam continue The Family Boat Building Legacy for many many decades to come.

The ultimate watersport activity boat, that doubles as a safe high-speed demon.