NEWSLETTER
Clayton, NY — The Antique Boat Museum's 61st Annual Antique Boat Show and Auction is taking place this weekend from August 1–3, 2025, at the Museum’s campus in Clayton, New York. This beloved summer tradition—the oldest antique boat show in North America—returns with a spotlight on 150 years of Lyman Boatworks, celebrating the enduring craftsmanship and innovation of one of America’s most iconic boatbuilders.
Founded in 1875 in Cleveland, Ohio, Lyman Boatworks became known for its lapstrake (“clinker-built”) construction and reliable performance on rough waters. This year’s show pays tribute to that legacy with featured boats, forums, and expert commentary from Tom Koroknay, affectionately known as Doc Lyman, a nationally recognized Lyman historian and restorer.
Featured Forums with Doc Lyman – Saturday, August 2
Tony & Jim Lewis Boardroom, 2nd Floor, Haxall Building
11:00 AM | The History of Lyman Boat Works
12:00 PM | Tooling & Mass Production Techniques of Lyman Boats
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn directly from the authority on Lyman Boats, whose family connection and technical knowledge offer rare insight into the company's design and production legacy.
Full Event Schedule
Friday, August 1
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Boat Show & Marketplace open to the public
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Lou Smith Library open (Haxall Building, 2nd Floor)
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Ride the River boat rides (every 30 min — tickets at Boat Ride Booth)
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Walk-through tours aboard La Duchesse
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Row a Skiff! at the Skiff Livery
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Children’s Crafts & Games (ABM Tent)
- 1:00 – 5:00 PM | Bronze Casting Demo with Master Boatwright Adam Stanisz (El Noble Stone Building)
- 1:00 PM | Forum: Driven by Design: A Historical Look at Scripps Motors with Mark Hill (Robert O. Cox Theatre)
- 1:00 – 4:00 PM | Don Doebler Collections Storage Facility open (1031 East Line Road, Clayton)
- 4:00 PM | Forum: Judging Procedures with Chief Judge Todd Rissberger (Robert O. Cox Theatre)
Saturday, August 2
- 8:00 AM | Row for Donuts at the Skiff Livery
- 8:00 AM | Judges Meeting (Homer L. Dodge Ed. Center, Haxall Building, 2nd Floor)
- 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Youth Judging*
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Ride the River boat rides
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Walk-through tours aboard La Duchesse
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Row a Skiff! at the Skiff Livery
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Lou Smith Library open
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Bronze Casting Demo with Adam Stanisz
- 11:00 AM | Paddle Painting Workshop with John Miller III (ABM Tent | $25 public / $20 members)
- 11:00 AM | Forum: The History of Lyman Boat Works with Doc Lyman
- 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Friends of the Museum Luncheon (Gaffney Porch)
- 12:00 PM | Forum: Tooling & Mass Production Techniques of Lyman Boats with Doc Lyman
- 1:00 PM | Antique Boat Auction (Auction Lot)
- 1:00 – 4:00 PM | Don Doebler Collections Storage Facility open
Sunday, August 3
- 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Boat Show & Marketplace open
- 10:00 AM | Brunch ($25 – ABM Tent)
- 10:30 – 11:30 AM | Awards Ceremony (ABM Tent — brunch ticket not required)
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Walk-through tours aboard La Duchesse
- 12:00 PM | Boat Show Finale Parade along the Clayton waterfront
The show concludes at the end of the parade; the Museum remains open until 5:00 PM.
Admission Rates
- Museum Members: Free
- Adults: $15 (Fri/Sat), $14 (Sun)
- Youth (7–17): $10 (Fri/Sat), $8 (Sun)
- Children (6 & under): Free
- Military (with ID): Free
- Military Spouse: $10/day
- Military Youth: $5/day
- Adult 3-Day Pass: $30
- Youth 3-Day Pass: $20
- Adult 2-Day Pass: $25
- Youth 2-Day Pass: $15
Whether you’re a longtime wooden boat enthusiast or a first-time visitor, the 61st Annual Antique Boat Show and Auction promises a weekend full of discovery, history, and riverside charm. For updates and tickets, visit www.abm.org. Schedule subject to change.
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