1,000 Islands Steamboat Meet Report 2025

[Kelly Anderson]

Last week, the 2025 steamboat meet at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY was held and was a success as usual. The weather was generally good, though windier than any of us liked, though the last day when we were pulling our boats it was mill pond smooth, Murphey being in full effect.

The steam launches in attendance were:
Aurora Borealis
Iona
Iron Butterfly
Pemigewasset
Phoenix
Qualcheu
Stoked
Vividus

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Ann Weaver cools her heels on Iona's stern during the Museum's "Family Day".

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Clem Legates' Phoenix passing a sailboat on the way to Alexandria Bay.

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Newcomer (hopefully) to steamboating Jeremy Turino takes a turn at Vividus' helm.

[Kelly Anderson]

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The fleet is lined up at one at the museum's docks.

The Museum has an onsite restoration shop (and a larger one under construction), that was fully staffed on this day.

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Iron Butterfly is seen here passing Qualcheu (or vice-versa).

[Kelly Anderson]

Here are some of the Museum's operating motor boats, ready to go, as a laker passes in the background. The pollen (or ash from Canadian forest fires) was pretty thick some days.

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Here is the information on this exhibit:
GERALDINE
Boat Type: Steam Launch Builder: Unknown
Date Built: 1885
Current Engine: 1886 Sisson triple-expansion steam engine
Length: 29'
Donor: Louis L. and
Annette H. Allen
Accession No.: 1998.005
Beam: 7.25'
Geraldine is the only known steam launch in North America where hull and engine are both certifiably over 100 years old. Like many other small steam launches of the time, she served her local communities on Lake Winnipesaukee as a mail boat. Her triple-expansion engine was rare for a boat of Geraldine's size.
Hull Design: Displacement
Method of Power: Steam
Material: White pine, white oak & mahogany

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Here is Geraldine's engine. (I already offered to help in any restoration to operation...)

[Kelly Anderson]

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One night, we even had a small display of Northern lights. Very cool!

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Here is Steve Weaver's Iona underway. She is a real work of art.

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Here we see Vividus and Pemigewasset leaving Heart Island across from Alexandrea Bay. That is the powerhouse for the island in the background.

[Kelly Anderson]

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My boat Vividus with a bone in her teeth.