Rick Casali

32 posts

Women Who Build and Race Boats

Traditionally, the boating industry has been dominated by men . . . This article will focus on a few women who have been pioneers in boat building and racing in the Thousand Islands.

Ice Boats of the Thousand Islands

The frozen St. Lawrence River has been a means for safely transiting from island to island in winter . . .The ice also gave birth to iceboats as a means to safely cross the frozen body of water.

“Miss Scarlett” - a 1929 52-Foot Motor Yacht from the Roaring 20’s

For two years, I have wanted to write an article for my column on the 52-foot motor yacht "Miss Scarlett". Thanks to owner Rob Reddick, my bucket list wish came true last fall.

"SS Delphine" – A 257-foot Steam Yacht

History of the "SS Delphine" built in 1921 for Horace Dodge Sr. co-founder of the Dodge Brothers Automobile Company.

1953 Chris Craft 28 Express “Muskie”

In the Thousand Islands, boats and boating families are fiercely connected. One such wooden classic is a 1953 Chris Craft 28 Express named “Muskie”.

"La Duchesse"

The Antique Boat Museum (ABM) in Clayton, NY, has many interesting and varied vessels in their extensive collection. Perhaps the most unusual, and the largest, is "La Duchesse" . .

Vaino Anderson – River Boatman and Boatbuilder

One of my fondest memories of an island resident is Vaino Anderson. Captain Anderson lived on Grindstone Island from 1945 until his passing in 1970 . . .

"Night Rider" - 1910 Leyare 28-Foot Number Boat

What is Number 18?? It is hull number 18 of the 20 boats built from 1910 to 1911 in Ogdensburg, NY. "Night Rider" was the 18th of the so-called Number Boats . . .

Antique Boat Expert and Cheerleader for our River – Peter Mellon

Peter Mellon was the go-to expert on antique and classic boats going back to the late 1990’s, when he founded Antique Boat America and Canada, which lists and brokers these vessels.

"OL BOY" – 1938 Chris Craft 25 Sportsman

Joe Cardamone was a serious fisherman from Utica who owned a 21-foot utility. He fished out of Dingman Point, and wanted a slightly larger boat for the St. Lawrence River . . .

"Riptide IV - 1948 Chris Craft 25 Utility

In the post-WW II era, Chris Craft began to make their boat designs more elegant and, to my eye, classier. Riptide IV, owned by Jane and Kevin Heffron, is one of the nicest examples of this post-war shift at Chris Craft.

FIASCO was held on Wellesley Island

The regatta is known as FIASCO, which is the acronym for Famous International Annual Skiffing Competitive Occurrence.

Queen Elizabeth II & HMY "Britannia"

Lynn McElfresh and Rick Casali's past articles are remembered. Also, Robert and John Street share a lovely movie of the Queen's passage through the Thousand Islands.

Lynn E. McElfresh