Boat collector John Allen intends to return with last year's Best of Show winner Rusticator, as well as two additional boats. (John Allen Photograph) Since acquiring Rusticator, the 30-foot, 1923 Fay and Bowen Golden Arrow runabout that took home the top prize at last year's Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show, boat collector John Allen has been dipping this vessel into familiar waters. The launch's itinerary over the last five years has included returning to the place of its birth, the Finger Lakes in New York, where it won best in show, as well as being a yearly participant at boat shows in Minnesota, Canada, and Michigan. In 2010, Rusticator returns to Hessel's premier event as the feature boat, a distinction earned with last year's victory.

Rusticator was an inspiring find for Mr. Allen. The boat stayed with one family for 84 years and its original engine, a 50-horsepower LNS- 4, which was removed in the 1930s, was available for restoration. Mr. Allen said it was remarkable in that the engine survived the scrap metal drives of World War II.

The original buyer, J. Howard Wilson, was an internationallyrenowned archeologist, whom Mr. Allen feels would appreciate the restoration efforts that have been undertaken.

The boat's first voyage came in June 1923 when it was shipped by rail from Geneva, New York, on Seneca Lake to Rockland, Maine, then taken by water to Nautilus Island near Castine, Maine. It went straight to the boathouse, where it would be used by Mr. Wilson for more than eight decades.

Rusticator was sold at the 2007 Clayton Auction, but a day after the sale, the new owner had buyer's remorse, and Mr. Allen was able to purchase the boat through Peter Mellon of Antique Boats of America.

“When Peter sent me the pictures, I immediately recognized it as a rare Fay and Bowen Golden Arrow,” he said.

As a history major who was fascinated by the 1910s and 1920s, Mr. Allen knew the boat was a one-of-akind find. Nevertheless, he got more than he expected.

“The purchase and providence was enhanced when I received the original documentation of the purchase agreement, as well as the build sheet, shipping instructions, marketing catalog, and other original Fay and Bowen material,” Mr. Allen said.

Immediately after purchasing Rusticator, Mr. Allen sent it to Clayton, New York, where the crew at Wooden Boat Specialties began restoration of the boat. Drakes Engines in Rochester, New York, restored the original engine.

The work was finished in time for the boat to return to its point of origin at the Finger Lakes, where it was entered in the July 2009 Skaneateles Antique and Classic Boat Show and won best of show.

Additional accolades include taking home Antique Boat of the Year Preserved (with a 100 point performance) at the Clayton Antique Boat Museum Show in New York, Best of Show at Hessel, Best of Show at the Minnesota Maritime Museum Show, and International Antique Boat of the Year, Restored, at the ACBS International Show in Gravenhust, Canada, an honor that came after taking the top prize at Hessel.

“The ACBS purists love it because it has its original bottom, sides, hardware, gauges, engine, and documents,” Mr. Allen said. “They all recognize it as a rare boat of unprecedented preservation.”

The drive to find and restore boats from the era he finds most interesting is classified by Mr. Allen as the “brown boat addiction.”

“I collect wood boats because of the pleasure I derive from the preservation efforts, the public's appreciation of them, and the lifestyle enhancement they provide during glorious northwoods summers,” he said. “I am most drawn to pre-World War II boats. I find the boats from the Golden Age of boating, the 1910s and 1920s, resonate the most with me.

Most of his 15 boats come from those years.

Mr. Allen's initial introduction to the show at the Les Cheneaux Islands was when as a guest of Bill and Nanette Winn in 2004. He entered Chief Mackinac at his first show in the area, a boat which was restored locally by Dan and Tom Mertaugh. The unique atmosphere of the area and its showcase event will keep him coming back for years to come, he said.

“We continue to return and bring our newest restorations,” he said, “because the show is unique and distinctive on so many levels. From the history of the setting to the quality of the boats to the gracious and friendly people, it's something special. There is the opportunity to visit with and learn from some of the most knowledgeable antique boat patrons in the country (Tom Flood, Jim Mertaugh, Steve Nordius), and it has the most amazing show conclusion, when 80% of the displayed boats fire up the engines and go home by water. It is a special show with uncommonly special people.”

Rusticator won't be the only boat Mr. Allen is bringing to the show.

“We will be returning from the August 1 Clayton Antique Boat Museum Show with two recently finished restorations,” he said.

On display will be a 1926, 33- foot Baby Gar powered by a World War I V-12 Liberty Aircraft engine and a 1926, 21-foot Tampa Baby Racer powered by a Scripps Gold Cup F. The latter is the only known Tampa Baby Racer to exist.

In addition to displaying boats from his collection, Mr. Allen enjoys seeing the wide assortment of antique boats at the Les Cheneaux Antique Wooden Boat Show.

“I've never seen an antique boat I couldn't appreciate,” Mr. Allen said. “I most appreciate boats that are historically perfect because I understand the time and expense involved to get or keep them there.”

Mr. Allen's collection is far from complete, as he still has a dream boat in mind.

“My dream boat would be a rear seat Gold Cup Racer, powered by a V-12 age-appropriate engine with open copper stacks,” he said.

What's in a name?

Rusticator derives its name from a group of wealthy summer vacationers who visited northeastern Maine to enjoy the trappings of “rustic life.” The press mockingly called these socialites “rusticators,” since they did not separate themselves from luxuries such as cooks, maids, butlers, and nannies during their rustic experience.