50th Annual Antique Boat Show Part II – Kent O. Smith Jr Does It One More TIme!

Ah, “Baby Bootlegger”… the gentleman at the helm is the caretaker, not just of Bootlegger, but the Mittler collection boats and cars. He maintains them, shows them, runs them. How’s that for a job? But if you prefer to own her, she’s available…rumors flew around the show that an offer of $2M was turned down.

“Maggie Marin” is a glitzy Peter Breen racer with a distinctive style.

“Gadfly” is part of the museum’s in water fleet, and happy to be back in the water after a new bottom from the Tumblehome Boat Shop.

The old school launch “Curlew” was built locally in the Thousand Islands.

“Suds” is a 2006 Jersey Speed Skiff re-creation powered by a 300hp Chevy V8.

This big Chris Craft Sea Skiff looks like it will handle choppy water well.

This is not a nice little Gar Wood Speedster – it’s actually a very nice Fitzgerald & Lee Speedster!

“Dolphin” is a 65’ Consolidated that was completed and shipped to Canada just after the stock market crash in 1929. It couldn’t be delivered because the man who ordered it went bankrupt, but another local family saw the boat, fell in love with it and purchased it. “Dolphin” has remained in the same family ever since and has never had a restoration.

The “Pardon Me” pulls out of the boathouse for the parade. Peter Kreissle, sitting on the rear deck, oversaw parts of the restoration.

A Lyman stops to shoot a photo of the “Pardon Me” as boats depart for the parade.

Boats jockey for position at the beginning of the parade. Water traffic was heavy, not just with mahogany, but hundreds of spectator boats, a huge yacht, and of course, the occasional freight passing through.

The queue of boats as they approach the Mary Street dock and the museum.

Closing in on the seawall lined with spectators.

Spectators cheer, wave and photograph boats as they pass by.

Each boat is announced as it passes along the seawall.

Apres-parade…finally, some boats at speed. Despite being a displacement hull, this Number Boat gets up and goes.

This Lyman wasn’t part of the show, but in the Thousand Islands, you see many local wooden boats out on the river.

Freighters and tankers are a common sight on the St. Lawrence River.

To give you a perspective, the lifeboat on the davits is about the size of the Hacker runabout passing the freighter.

“Baby Gar IX” passing Calumet Island.

The Dance…part of the Gar Wood Gang and only known as “Uncle Wes,” he does this signature dance…is it because he’s riding in a woody? Does it have something to do with what’s in the red solo cups they have onboard? No one knows for sure, it’s not something that can be explained…only experienced!

What happens at the end of the show day, when the exhibitors go off for dinner and cocktails and bed? The boats rest quietly at the docks…and with many thanks to Michael Folsom, Director of Marketing and Communication for the museum, I was granted after hours access to document what that looks like.

These are long exposures, 13 to 30 seconds…in that time, the boats move a little, the floating docks move a little, so tack sharp images are not the result…instead, more of a dreamscape look…

ABM ride boat “Teal” under the stars.

Peaceful calm waters around the boathouse.

Rest well, Bootlegger…

Reflections of mahogany on the glassy water.

Wild Rose” slumbers at the dock.