The Antique Boat Museum is thrilled to share the winners of the 61st Annual Antique Boat Show & Auction, held in Clayton, New York! This year’s event celebrated 150 years of Lyman Boats, drawing antique and classic boat enthusiasts from across the region. Congratulations to all the award recipients for their dedication to preserving and celebrating our recreational boating heritage.
Mark your calendars now — next year’s show will be July 31 – August 2, 2026, as we celebrate 100 years of Century Boats!
🏅 Best of Show Awards
- Blair Cook Memorial Small Craft of the Year – Preserved: Endeavor – James & Jean Clearwater (1914 Morris Canoe & Boat Co.)
- Best of Show – Preserved Power: Lasting Impression – Rob Garratano (1967 George Wolcott)
- Best of Show – Restored Power: Scruffy – Joe Rosenfeld (1939 Chris Craft)
🚤 Marque Awards
- Outstanding Chris Craft: LOON – James Hartman (1955 Chris Craft)
- Outstanding Lyman: Jedzie Boat – Stephen Wolak (1954 Lyman)
- Outstanding Century: Sea Deuce – Nick Arnone (1959 Century)
- Joe Turcotte Memorial Gar Wood Award: Carrie Jo Belle – Tim & Carrie Barber
⚓ Specialty Awards
- Tish Cook Bottom Inspection Award: Algonquin – Bo & Kathy Muller (1934 Hutchinson)
- Stewardship Award: Missy 3 – Pat & Mary Ann McCollum (1955 Chris Craft)
- Craftsmanship Award: Enchantress – James & Jean Clearwater (1916 Hugh John Anderson)
- Jr. Craftsmanship Award: Golden Girl – Alex Brockway (1976 Century)
- Allan R. & Elizabeth H. Youngs Memorial Award: Remember Wenn – David Wenn (1937 Lyman)
- John Clark Inboard Engine of the Year: Michael Cregg (1941 Hutchinson)
- Fred Thomas Antique Boater of the Year: Wendy Fetridge
- ABM Staff Choice: Bad Girl from Maine – Spencer J. Ludington (1973 Lyman)
- People’s Choice: Free Bird – Brian Bettinger (1967 Lyman)
- Robert Cox Founders Award: Serenity – Randy Fletcher & Heidi Szonn (1967 Lyman)
- Walter G. Kincaid Memorial Award: Lady Gibraltar – Patrick Keefe (1932 Gidley Boat Company Ltd.)
- Jim Lewis Memorial Award for Most Unique Vessel: Vagabond – Sam Wilson (1909 Consolidated)
- Walter J. Sigenthaler Memorial Award: Anita – John & Kim Kadimik (1965 Chris Craft)
- Howard I. Chapelle Award: Too Cute – Ric & Wendy Fetridge (1935 Penn Yan)
🚤 Boat Category Winners
- Preserved Antique Rowboat: Too Cute – Ric & Wendy Fetridge (1935 Penn Yan)
- Preserved Historic Paddling Canoe: Endeavor – James & Jean Clearwater (1914 Morris Canoe & Boat Co.)
- Preserved Classic Outboard Boat: Family Treasure – Daniel Tobey (1959 Lyman)
- Preserved Classic Cruiser: Free Bird – Brian Bettinger (1967 Lyman Cruiser)
- Preserved Classic Racer: Lasting Impression – Rob Garratano (1967 George Wolcott)
- Preserved Antique Utility: Grandpére – Michael Cregg (1941 Hutchinson)
- Preserved Antique Runabout: Running Wild – Don Texter (1923 Hacker)
- Preserved Classic Utility: My First Woody – Alex Brockway (1967 Century)
- Preserved Classic Runabout: Summer Breeze – Harry Gedicke (1958 Chris Craft)
- Restored Classic Outboard Boat: – Peter Candlish (1962 Lyman)
- Restored Antique Launch: Lady Gibraltar – Patrick Keefe (1932 Gidley Boat Company)
- Restored Antique Utility: Scruffy – Joe Rosenfeld (1939 Chris Craft)
- Restored Classic Utility: Last One – Dix Wolcott (1970 Lyman)
- Best Contemporary Runabout: Island Girl – David Essig (2025 Gar Wood)
- Best Contemporary Outboard Boat: Tender – Nate Sublett (2024 Lyman)
- Best Non-Wood Inboard Boat: Golden Girl – Alex Brockway (1976 Century)
⚙ Motor Awards
- Best Outboard Display: Jeffrey Walshe – 1938 & 1946 Montgomery Ward, Sea King
- Outboard Motor Craftsmanship: Liam Smith – 1965 John Deere & Wheel Horse
- Restored Classic Aluminum Outboard (20+ Hp): Daniel Tobey – 1958 Evinrude
- Restored Antique Aluminum Outboard (< 20 Hp): Fran Secor – 1940 Johnson
- Restored Antique Brass Outboard (< 20 Hp): Jeffrey Walshe – 1937 Evinrude
- Preserved Classic Aluminum Outboard (< 20 Hp): Stephen Fox – 1951 Martin Motors
- Unmounted Inboard: Syd Marsden – Historic Wonder
🧒 Hagerty Youth Judge Awards
- 1st Place: Golden Girl – Alex Brockway (1976 Century)
- 2nd Place: Tender – Nate Sublett (2024 Lyman)
- 3rd Place: Heaven on a Sunday – Ray McDowell (1963 Century)
2025 Digital Program
Auction
The 2026 Boat Show Auction will take place at 1 pm on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Donate an Item for Auction
If you have a boat, engine, or other related boating object you are interested in donating for museum benefit, please contact Caitlin Playle, Curator and Collections Manager, at 315.686.4104 ext. 231 or caitlinplayle@abm.org.
Consigning an Item for Auction
If you have a boat, engine, or other related boating object you are interested in consigning to the 2026 auction, please contact Caitlin Playle, Curator and Collections Manager, at 315.686.4104 ext. 231 or caitlinplayle@abm.org.
Bidder Registration
Bidder registration is closed.
TERMS OF SALE
Auction Rules & Terms of sale:
If pick up/delivery of a boat/item by a third party is required, it is the owner’s responsibility and expense to arrange that delivery and to notify ABM as to who will be picking up the boat/item and when.
No proxy bids (one person bidding on behalf of someone else), and no third-party payments allowed; only the owner can complete the registration/titling/payment.
No absentee bidding. At this time ABM does not have the staffing capacity or infrastructure to manage absentee bidding.
Each item for sale is sold AS-IS, WHERE-IS. All sales are final. NO REFUNDS. Items in this auction are from various consignors or ABM deaccessions and/or boats for sale. Some have been pre-used and may contain defects. We have made every attempt to describe each item as accurately as possible. We are not responsible for errors or omissions in the descriptions. Before bidding, you should take appropriate steps to verify the accuracy of the listed item descriptions. You should also take appropriate steps to inspect or validate the condition of listed items prior to bidding on them. We will answer questions to the best of our ability and provide additional information if available for an item upon request during the pre-bidding and preview period.
A 15% Buyer’s Premium is applied to all purchases. The buyer is responsible for sales tax in their own state or jurisdiction at the time of DMV registration. Payment must be made in U.S. dollars. Payment options include cash, check or credit card. All credit card payments will have a 3% surcharge added. Complete payment is required after the conclusion of the auction. The Museum reserves the right to hold items or titles to items until funds clear. All winning bidders must arrange to remove items from the auction location at time of payment.
Payment must be made at the conclusion of the auction. Items that are not paid for and picked up or shipped/hauled within 3 days after auction will be deemed abandoned and those lots will be offered to the underbidder(s). Third-party shipping/hauling is available; buyers are responsible for coordinating payment and delivery arrangements with the shipper/hauler.
Buyer waives any claims for liability against either ABM or the donor/consigner of the property, and neither ABM nor the donor/consigner is responsible for any personal injuries or damages to the property that may result from the utilization of the property sold.
Bidders who abandon lots may receive a “bad bidder” rating that may affect their ability to bid in future auctions.
Pick up/Shipping: Boats/items must be removed from ABM’s grounds ASAP starting Sunday, August 3rd or NO LATER THAN 10 AM MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2025 unless special arrangements have been made with ABM. Vehicles are not permitted on campus for the removal of boats until 9 AM SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2025. Any necessary movement and securing of items is at the sole risk and responsibility of the owner. The owner must present the item’s Bill of Sale when the item is removed.Boats/items left at ABM after 10am Monday, August 4th, WILL BE MOVED AND STORED AT THE PURCHASER’S EXPENSE for a fee of $50 a day. If pick up/delivery of a boat/item by a third party is required, it is the owner’s responsibility and expense to arrange that delivery and to notify ABM as to who will be picking up the boat/item and when.
Boat, Motor and Amphicar Regsitration – 2025 Registration is closed
2025 registration is closed.
Helpful Reminders for the Event:
- Boat Safety: Beginning in 2025, under Brianna’s Law, New York State requires all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, to have a Boating Safety Certificate. ABM has partnered with the USCGA to offer classes held virtually and in-person over the next few months. For more information please visit, NYS Boater Safety Info. (If you hold a captain license, you do NOT need to obtain a Boating Safety Certificate.)
- Bring adequate lines and fenders. The River’s weather can be unpredictable, and your boat’s safety is your responsibility.
- Security: Once the day’s events are completed and the evening gates are secured, no one will be allowed on the museum grounds. Our facility is not set up for overnight lodging. In the case of severe weather, the professional guard service will allow only the owner access to the registered boats.
- For Sale Signs: Personal “For Sale” signs on boats are not allowed, but a communal board in the Haxall Building will be available for listings.
- Smoking Policy: Smoking is strictly prohibited on museum grounds, including docks and buildings.
- Pets: Only service dogs are permitted on-site.
Marketplace Vendor Registration – 2025 Registration is closed
To register to a Marketplace Vendor for the 2025 Boat Show, please click here.
Parking, Shuttle, and Visitor Docking
Parking is available at Lions Field, and any available village street parking. We ask you to be considerate of our neighbors when parking on the street and not block driveways and sidewalks. The ABM Community Parking Lot located at Riverside Dr and Jane St behind Watertown Savings Bank is open to current Friends of the Museum only from Thursday, August 1 through Sunday, August 4. Limited handicap parking is available in front of the Museum.
A FREE shuttle runs during Boat Show between ABM, Frink Park on Riverside Dr., the Lions Field parking lot (Webb St.), and the Don Doebler Collections Storage Facility (when open). The shuttle hours are 8:30am-5:30pm on Friday and Saturday and 8:30-1pm on Sunday.
Visiting the Show by boat? Visitor docking is not available at ABM’s docks during the Show. Limited docking is available at the Clayton Harbor Municipal Marina and the Village Docks. Learn more about the Municipal Marina here and the Village docks here. Both Village docks (Rotary Park Dock and Mary Street Dock) are available for visitors to dock at in 2024. All boaters must purchase Admission to the Show before proceeding into the Show unless they are only visiting the Marketplace which is free.
Please note: The Antique Boat Museum reserves the right to use editorial discretion in the materials used for the Digital Programs. Not all of the materials submitted may be used. Any video footage submitted will be edited for best display in the Digital Program.
Past Boat Show Digital Programs
2024 Digital Program
2023 Digital Program
2022 Digital Program
2021 Digital Program
Click the cover image to view the program.
Boat Show Video by Cal Lewellyn of Franklin Hill Media
Posters of Previous Boat Shows:
Many of our past posters are available for purchase in the Museum Store in-person or online here.
