Uncover the stories of Fino's most famous boats.
These are some shots of Tom's Fino. Tom owned this boat from 1980 till 1984. He can't wait to get another Fino (and I am sure he will). This boat is somewhere in Maryland. If you see it around, shoot us an email, please. And don't forget to take pictures!!
PLEASE CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE, THANKS.
Fino
Donel Lybarger was from Ohio and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was a sport from the old school. I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2003 when I acquired a 1962 Chris Craft Roamer that he owned for over 40 years. I wish I had known he had a Fino; I would have gotten that instead. Mr. Lybarger left us for that big marina in the sky in 2010.
I only discovered he did, in fact, own this Fino when Bill Stephenson (of the famed "Bill's Fino") sent me an 8 X 10 black and white photo of a white Fino (the first picture shown here). Beautiful shot of a running Fino in all her glory.
Well, I took a magnifying glass and was able to make out the FL registration numbers and had them run on the state system just for fun, and lo and behold, they came back registered to a Donel Lybarger of Isle of Venice, Ft. Lauderdale. So I did some Google searching and some white page searching and found his son's phone number. That would be Donel Lybarger Jr. of Chagrin Valley, Ohio. Donel Jr. asked me to mail him a photo so he could show it to his mother, and these pictures are what all that produced.
And I want to say a special thank you to Donel JR.
THANKS A LOT, DONEL!!
This is the modern version of the classic Fino. Modern materials and an upgraded bottom design. For more information, contact Yadvich direct.
PLEASE CLICK PICTURES TO EXPAND
Yadvish Fino 30 at Sea
Paul Dean bought this Fino new. He lived at the Jockey Club and kept it there in the water. Butch Stockes confirmed that he knew Paul, and he remembered him as a nice guy and a lover of all that is Fino. There is a picture here that shows two Finos in the water at a dock. It is believed that the one in the back is Bobby's own Fino.
These pictures were supplied by Paul's son. Paul Jr. had good memories of that boat. It was light blue and may be the one that is in a restoration shop in Detroit.
Earl Smalley, co-owner of the Miami Dolphins (during the year of their perfect season) and a boater and seeker of solitude, bought the Fino at the 1971 Miami International Boat Show. It was all white with an orange boot and interior. I'm thinking the Miami Dolphins had something to do with his choice of colors!! Earl was a Miami legend, land developer, and avid boater.
These photos were sent to Butch Stokes by Michael Smalley, Earl's son. Michael has fond memories of riding in this Fino out to the family house in Stiltsville.
Below are some of those shared memories. The location of these pictures (except the one with young Michael on the transom fishing) was shot on Miami's Little River canal behind Dave Craig's Skyway Marine. The first picture was shot behind the Jockey Club. On this site there are several pictures of Fino boats behind the Jockey Club. That was a hot spot for the social back in the 1970s and 1980s (even today).
This boat was then sold to Donell Lybarger and renamed "Super Spook." It was then sold to Craig Tafoya and renamed "Soot Face." It is now owned by Dan Wood and named "BRAVO"
These pictures of Bobby's boat called Finally were sent to us by Fred Darwick of Miami, Florida. This boat is believed to be the last Fino built (hence the name Finale), and we think that it went to Monaco, Italy, and was used by Bobby as his personal boat.
Lenny has owned his Fino for over 25 years. It is a fine example. The white gel coat is original. The boat runs great, and he says it turns heads wherever he goes. Of course, it turns heads; it's a Fino!!
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