History on Display
by: Larry Asam
The 2025 Vintage Boat Week and the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) International Boat Show, was a wonderful gathering of old boats. Participants came to Clayton, NY,'s Antique Boat Museum (ABM) from far and wide – 134 boats in total. There were several guided cruises through the American and Canadian islands. Those adventures kept everyone's attention and their cameras focused. It would take a book to properly document this event. The intent here is to give a glimpse into the world of antique and classic boats and maybe trigger some curiosity about future boat shows. Included here are five basic categories: Historic: Up to 1918; Antique 1919 – 1942; Classic 1943 – 1975; Non-Wood; and Contemporary, a wooden boat built within the last 25 years.
R: Predawn light at the ABM (Antique Boat Museum); M: A bit of light touches the bow of this Gar Wood; L: Heavy dew on this Chris Craft Riviera.
Poking around the Museum's bay before sun rise, one gets a sense of the beauty waiting to come alive.
L: Magnificent, a 1941 27' Chris Craft; R: The ABM docks, as the day starts to shine.
Pardon Me is enormous but beautifully proportioned. She is 48 feet long with a WW II era V12 1,500 HP engine that can burn up to 100 Gallons of aviation grade fuel an hour. Designed by John Hacker and built in Alexandria Bay, NY by Hutchinson's Boat Works. Her original owner was Charles Lyon who enjoyed his fast boats while he summered on Oak Island in Chippewa Bay, part of the Thousand Islands.
L: Pardon Me with three “normal size” runabouts next to her; R: Pardon Me, captured in 2022, running alongside of the Algoma Harvester, a 740 foot laker.
On the first day of Vintage Boat Week, ABM (Antique Boat Museum) boats lead a one hour shake down cruise through the Murray / Wellesley Island Narrows past Thousand Island Park and up behind Rock Island. All the boats seemed to perform well. Captain Bruce Watkins organized the cruises into three groups, fast, medium and slow, making for a steady flow as they made their way around the loop.
L: Mona Lee a 1990 replica of a 24' Chris Craft passing in front of the Minna Anthony Nature Center; R: Karen Ann, a 19' 1954 Century Resorter as she exits the Narrows.
Coming up behind Rock Island on the way back to Clayton.
L: The ABM's Zipper leads the way; M: Blue Moon a 1965 17' Chris Craft Corsair; R: Spindrift, a 46' 1929 Elco.
On day two there was an extended cruise down the Picton / Grindstone channel and up into the Canadian Lake Fleet and Admiralty Islands. It was a perfect day for all the boats to get some exercise.
The fast runabouts blasted along with smiling passengers trying to hold their cell phone cameras steady.
The people on the slower boats had an easier time taking pictures and a little more time to enjoy the scenery.
L: Steamer, a contemporary 27 footer built by the Hacker Boat Company in Queensbury, NY near Lake George; M: Johnnie Walker Red, a 1940 25' Chris Craft Red and White; R: Baby Grand, a 1954 28' Semi Enclosed Chris Craft Cruiser.
After photographing the initial parade of boats, the next stop was in the Lake Fleet. By this time the faster boats were on their return from the Admiralty group.
Here they come!
Top L: A parade of vintage boats approaching in the Lake Fleet Islands; Top R: Diamante, a 1967 Riva Ariston. Diamante means a stone resembling a diamond. The definition should read – A Riva resembling a diamond; Bottom L: Diamante's bow illustrates the unique way that Riva's slice the water. Bottom R: Miss B Haven, is a replica of the 1924 and '25 Gold Cup winner Baby Bootlegger.
There they go...
L: Fjord Dronning, a 1992 33' Hacker; M: Wine Time, a 22' 1938 Chris Craft; R: ABM's Gar Wood, Teal.
Day 3 had everyone back in their boats heading around Wellesley Island. Faster boats went directly to Boldt Castle while the slower boats went down the Canadian side to explore the “Lost Channel”, a narrow passage through a labyrinth of islands. With the advent of GPS and Navionics, navigating these waters has become easier but the challenge is to focus ahead and not to stare at a screen.
Top L: Flat Top, This 28' Chris Craft that was donated to the ABM by country music star Alan Jackson; top R: Made in the Shade a 1948 22' Chris Craft Custom Sedan; Bottom L: River Rat, a 1934 15' Lyman owned by Gene Porter, a former ACBS President; Bottom R: The Ark a 26 foot 1915 launch, she has often won best preserved in previous boat shows. Key to her longevity is that she has been stored, year round, in the same boathouse on Grenell Island since 1925. The humidity in a boathouse seems to be the ideal environment.
Coming back up River the medium speed convoy swung by Boldt Castle and the Boldt Yacht House. The tall doors made the structure accessible to George Boldt's steam yacht.
L: Approaching Boldt Castle; R: The fleet near the Boldt Yacht House.
On the final leg of the trip up the American side we passed by the picturesque Rock Island Lighthouse.
L: That Girl, a Chris Craft Gull Wing passing the Rock Island Lighthouse; R: Also passing Rock Island is Vixen, a reproduction of the famous 1926 Comet.
Back at the ABM docks on Friday and Saturday, the boats were all there with their owners. It is great fun talking with them and getting a sense of what is involved to restore and care for these old boats.
Bjorn Bakken has meticulously restored this 1955 Italian made Riva Ariston. Riva's are legendary not only for their smooth ride and Italian style but also for the James Bond movies that they have been in and the stars that have owned them. Getting past all of that, Bjorn explained how the boat slices the water. The deepest part of the bottom is the V shape just behind the windshield where these boats tend to cut through the waves. Then there is the Riva attention to detail. The hull was made from full length mahogany planks, adding to its strength and beauty. The deck seams that are normally filled with caulk on a Riva are filled with inlaid wood. The extreme care in building these boats is evident. Bjorn carries that level of quality into his restorations with his exquisite craftsmanship.
Top L: Saga a 1955 21' Riva Ariston; Top R: Saga's accurately restored interior; Bottom L: Saga's decks restored to Riva standards with inlaid wood to fill the deck seams; Bottom R: Saga during her restoration. Photo: Courtesy of Bjorn Bakken
Nick Arnone has a beautiful 1959 Century Coronodo. This boat looks to be very original but it is actually highly customized. She has a power roof that can be activated remotely, power seats for added comfort, stereo system, and heat for the cooler days. As a youngster Nick convinced his grandfather to buy this boat and he has had it ever since. I'm sure his grandfather would be proud...
Top L: Sea Deuce a 1959 Century Coronado; Top R: An interior shot showing Sea Deuce's hard top; Bottom L: Sea Deuce's “garage door” open showing here electronics; Bottom R: Sea Deuce's “garage door” closed hiding the 21st century additions.
Joe McMahons' Hacker Craft is a mostly original boat. A few years back she got a new double planked bottom with a thin layer of 3M 5200 in between the planks. She is kept on Lake George and is enjoyed on a regular basis. When we think of John Hacker designs, we tend to think of boats like Joe's or Pardon Me but he also built some very practical boats like the 23 foot Hacker Craft Express an “Over Niter”.
R: Gem a 1928 26 foot Hacker Craft; L: Water Dancer a fully restored 1956 23' Hacker Craft an “Over Niter”.
Gar Wood is not commonly remembered for his invention of hydraulic lifts used in dump trucks - but when it comes to race boats that is another story. He won five consecutive Gold Cup races from 1917 to 1921. He went on to build highly prized gentlemen racers and performance pleasure crafts. Among them was the Baby Gar designed for speed yet great for family and friends to enjoy.
Jim Grundy decided to have two Gar Woods with the identical 33 foot hulls restored simultaneously. It was a huge 7 year undertaking. The difference between the two was that the gray military boat, Sentinel, was used in WW II as a Patrol / Target Boat boat. She towed targets for aircraft pilots to practice their aim. The other hull, Temptress, was designed as a performance pleasure craft. Both are spectacular!
L: Jim Grundy's Sentinel a 1942 33' Gar Wood with a V12 500 hp Kermath engine; R: Jim Grundy in Temptress a 1942 33 foot Gar Wood also with a V12 500 hp Kermath engine. These two engines may be the only remaining V12 Kermath engines.
White Knuckles is a contemporary Gar Wood Speedster built in 2006 by Gar Wood Custom Boats with a 430 HP Mercruiser engine. Owner Randy Fletcher has given many rides that remind passengers of amusement park thrills!
L: White Knuckles, a Gar wood Speedster R: White Knuckles, Gar Wood always had a teddy bear onboard for good luck!
And - what about Chris Craft – perhaps the most recognized name in recreational boating. And there was no shortage of them on display at this show. Chris Craft became a large innovative company. They controlled the quality of the wood used for building the boats and marinized their own engines. The wood was stored in shelters at different humidity levels to be used either above or below the water line as required. Their engines became famous and were used by many other boat builders including Riva in some models. They experimented with all kinds of boats from race boats, that included a brief but successful partnership with Gar Wood, to kit boats for the DIY folks and everything in between.
Examples of how Chris Craft did it all with performance and style! Top L: Wine Time, near Smuggler's cove; Top R: Miss Conduct, a 1957 30' Chris Craft Constellation; Bottom L: RenaBelle a 1942 26' Semi Enclosed Cruiser; Bottom R: Red Cedar a 1947 22' Chris Craft Sportsman.
Then there are those who say – “I can do this.” Miss Moonshine and Vixen are shining examples.
Kevin Fitzke who is a very experienced wood worker and has restored many wooden boats at Fitzke Boatworks, decided to design and build a gentleman's racer. The resulting (4000 screws later) Miss Moonshine speaks for her self.
Top R: Miss Moonshine a contemporary gentleman's racer; Top R: Miss Moonshine with Kevin Fitzke doing a final clean up for the show; Bottom L: Miss Moonshine fires up; Bottom R: 53 Miss Moonshine nearing completion. Photo: Courtesy of Kevin Fitzke.
Bo and Kathy Muller operated Muller Boatworks in Sunapee, NH. They restored many rare antique boats for several serious collectors. Vixen was their Covid project. "She is a reproduction of Comet/Fox, built in 1926 by Roy Stanley in Cape Vincent, NY. Originally powered by a 300 hp Hispano Suiza engine, Comet raced on the St. Lawrence River through the 1920’s. She was later sold to Winnifred Fox, and renamed, and continued racing on the River and Cranberry Lake. Now in the permanent collection at The Antique Boat Museum, the original unrestored hull has been stabilized and documented, and design plans are available to the public." Vixen is a masterpiece!
L: Vixen's Hull takes shape. [Photo courtesy Kathy and Bo Muller]; R: Vixen near Georgina Island and Flat Top in the background.
With these boats for inspiration watch for up coming boat shows and make plans to attend. Or better yet enter your own old boat. There are shows for all types – from everyday user boats to rare museum specimens. It's all part of a rich history and you will meet plenty of enthusiasts who share your obsession.
To see many more photos from this and other shows visit the 1000 Islands ACBS website, News page.
By Larry Asam (all photos ©2025 Larry Asam)
Larry Asam has lived in and around Stowe, VT since 1974, and then spent several winters at Snowbird, UT, continuing to teach skiing. In the 1990s he started photographing Vermont weddings. Soon couples from around New England discovered his ability to catch the excitement and beauty of their wedding in photographs. By 1997, wedding photography became his full-time occupation, and this continued for almost 15 years. Now his photography is mainly focused on nature, old boats and the people he encounters.
Visit www.RiverGloss.com to see a selection of recent work. Since 2014, Larry and his wife Kym have been part of the Grenell Island community; he is also the current VP for the Thousand Islands chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society.
Be sure to see Larry's other TI Life articles here . His ability to capture Thousand Islands in photographs is much appreciated.
Editor's Note: How lucky are we to have Larry Asam living in the Thousand Islands? Lucky indeed! Larry has captured so many wonderful photographs for our readers in his 13 articles. The last two will make everyone smile if they like those boats. I will remind readers, again, in mid February when we all want a boat fix.
Larry Asam
