2025 Vintage Boat Week – Celebrating 50!

Thank you to all the ACBS members that made the trip to Clayton, NY, for Vintage Boat Week 2025! We had a wonderful time with all of you, and are looking forward to Boating the Blue with you next year in Port Huron, MI. 

Digital Program

 

Join us for 2025 Vintage Boat Week on the extraordinary St. Lawrence River, hosted by ACBS International at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY. Featuring VBW Cruises, ACBS Annual Meeting and the International Boat Show. Most events are for ACBS members and require pre-registration, but the International Boat Show is open to the public on Friday and Saturday. 

September 15 – 21, 2025

Monday, September 15 

9:00AM – Registration starts at ACBS International Headquarters (422 James Street, Clayton,NY 13624 …on the Corner of James and Mary St.). Once you check-in, head down the street to launch your boat and dock at the Antique Boat Museum(ABM). Spend the day touring Museum’s wonderful exhibits.

2:30PM Captain’s meeting in ABM Yacht House (Required for all Captains going on the Cruise)

3:00-4:00PM Shake Down Cruise. (Pre-registration Required)

5:30-8:00PM Traditional 1000 Islands Shore Dinner at the ABM Riverside Tent, prepared by the Clayton Fishing Guides Association. Wood Boat Brewery will be onsite with their “Sipper” Boat Bar, selling locally made beer and wine. (Tickets Required)

 

Tuesday, September 16   – “Up River” Cruise Day

9:15AM Captain’s Meeting in ABM Riverside Tent

10:00AM – Boats depart the ABM to head around Grindstone Island and weave in and out of the islands past Gananoque,Ontario. (Pre-registration Required)

12:00PM Lunch prepared by The Clipper Inn and drinks provided by Wood Boat Brewery. (Tickets Required)

1:30PM Captain’s Meeting in ABM Riverside Tent

2:00PM, Reload the boats and head back out for another cruise around the “Up River” Islands – there are so many homes, boathouses, and wildlife to see, be sure to have your camera ready. 

Dinner on your own.                    

 

Wednesday, September 17 – “Down River” Cruise Day

9:15AM Captain’s Meeting in ABM Riverside Tent

10:00AM – Boats depart the ABM heading Down River, “Fast boats” will go directly down the channel to Alexandria Bay and tour Boldt Castle. “Slow boats” will cruise around the backside of Wellesley Island and through the Canadian Islands approaching Alexandria Bay and Boldt Castle from the other direction. Both tours will do a complete loop around Wellesley, just in reverse directions.  Box lunches will be provided in the morning.  

6:00-8:00PM Evening Reception at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel. (Tickets Required)

 

Thursday, September 18

8:30-10:00AM – ACBS Chapter Round Table – 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, Conference Room

9:00AM – Registration and Boat Launching Continues at ACBS and ABM. Get your boat into your slip for the Show.

10:30AM-2:00PM – ACBS International Annual Board Meeting – 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, Conference Room (Lunch provided at 12:00PM, ticket required for lunch only.)

Explore the 1000 Islands –  Self guided tours of the Islands by boat or car…be sure to know where you are going if you head out by boat!

Suggested destinations: Tibbett’s Point Lighthouse, Rock Island Lighthouse, Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, Minna Anthony Nature Center, 1000 Islands Arts Center, Frederic Remington Art Museum, any of the US or Canadian downtowns for a little shopping!

12:00-5:00PM – Boat Judging Begins – ACBS Judging teams will start judging some boats on Thursday…they will make arrangements with boat owners. 

Dinner on your own.

 

Friday, September 19

10:00AM-5:00PM – ACBS International Boat Show – The Antique Boat Museum – Open FREE to the Public

10:00AM-5:00PM – Boat Judging Continues, ALL Show Boats must remain at the dock during the show hours. (Only ABM Ride Boats are permitted to give public rides)

12:00PM – Lunch provided by Embellished and drinks by Wood Boat Brewery. – ABM’s Riverfront Tent  (Tickets Required)   

Afternoon – visit ABM Doebler Storage Facility to see the rest of the Museum Collection – Shuttle Bus will be running.

2:00-4:00PM – Symposium – ABM 2nd Floor Education Room – Join Jane Larson of the Glacier Lakes Chapter for “Honey, I’ve Got This!”—a dynamic, women-only boating empowerment seminar designed to build confidence, skills, and community among classic boating enthusiasts. 

6:00-9:00PM ACBS Annual Dinner – 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in the Waterfront Tent – Spend a wonderful evening with all your ACBS Friends. We’ll cap the night with fireworks over the St. Lawrence in honor of ACBS’s 50th Anniversary. (Tickets Required)

 

Saturday, September 20

10:00AM-5:00PM  – ACBS International Boat Show – The Antique Boat Museum – Open FREE to the Public

10:00AM-5:00PM – ALL Show Boats must remain at the dock during the show hours. (Only ABM Ride Boats are permitted to give public rides)

11:00AM – Boat Show Class Awards Presentation –  ABM’s Danforth Porch

12:00PM – Lunch by Dinosaur BBQ and drinks by Wood Boat Brewery – ABM’s Riverfront Tent (Tickets Required)

Afternoon – visit ABM Doebler Storage Facility to see the rest of the Museum Collection – Shuttle Bus will be running. 

1:00PM – Symposium  – Presentation by Mark Hill on Scripts Engine Restoration – ABM Theater

2:00PM – Symposium – Presentation by curator Caitlin Playle highlighting the ABM collection – ABM Theater

5:00-7:00 PM –  Evening Reception – ABM Boat Shop Ribbon Cutting and the Best-In-Show Awards Presentation from the Danforth Porch (Tickets Required)

 

Sunday, September 21

9:00AM – Boat Loading & Departure

 

 

The 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel is our host hotel for Vintage Boat Week 2025. The Harbor Hotel is a luxurious retreat and AAA Four Diamond property nestled on the scenic shores of the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, New York. ACBS blocked the entire hotel for the International Show. Currently there is a waiting list for rooms. Contact the hotel at: 315-686-1100. 

Additional lodging accommodations can be found throughout Clayton, Cape Vincent, Alexandria Bay, and Watertown, NY. 

Visit the Clayton Chamber of Commerce website: https://www.1000islands-clayton.com/

Visit the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce website: https://visitalexbay.org/

There are also a number of short-term rental options in the towns and on the islands, so check rentals available on your preferred short-term rental website.

 

Thank you to all our 2025 ACBS Vintage Boat Week Sponsors