Gus Lombardi, 9, Syracuse, poses for a portrait in his 1976 Chris Craft ski boat named Gus’ Minion on Saturday during the 55th annual Antique Boat Show at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton. Sydney Schaefer/Watertown Daily Times
CLAYTON — Nine-year-old Gus Lombardi sat proud in his yellow 1976 Chris Craft Saturday, showcasing it alongside dozens of antique boats rocking in the slips at the Antique Boat Museum for its annual show.
His 17.5-foot long ski boat named Gus’ Minion, derived from the cartoon creature from the movies “Despicable Me” and “Minions,” glowed in the sun that shone over the museum campus and the Chris Crafts, Gar Woods, Lymans and other antique watercraft rocking in the museum slips. Its bold yellow hull delighted the young boater from Syracuse because it stood out among the other boats at the show, he said, and its name helped garner interest from other children like him.
John Lombardi, his father, has taken Gus on boat rides across Skaneateles Lake, Oneida Lake, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River since he was an infant, and bequeathed him the Chris Craft runabout that became Gus’ Minion a few years ago.
“This was one of the first fiberglass boats,” Gus said. “You can go skiing on it. There’s an added platform so you could go swimming on it.”
Gus has attended four Antique Boat Shows at the museum, and his father has ventured to several more over the years.
“It’s nice to get the younger generations involved,” Mr. Lombardi said. “A lot of young kids get distracted by too many other things.”
Mr. Lombardi showcased a dark blue, 1969 Chris Craft. Growing up, Mr. Lombardi said Chris Crafts were “the coolest” boats, and he jumped on the opportunity to purchase one in 2001. It went through practically a complete restoration, he said.
The Syracuse boater said he enjoyed conversing with fellow boaters about the passion they shared during the event, although Gus was attracted to another aspect of the show.
“I just like the experience of looking at all of the different boats,” he said.
