Antique Boat America founder Peter Mellon passes away at 62

Peter Mellon, founder of Antique Boat America and a past contributor to Hagerty’s classic boat content, died unexpectedly on August 28. He was 62.

Antique Boat America, the classic boat brokerage that Mellon started in 2002, confirmed its founder’s death on Facebook: “Peter has been a voice for the hobby, and his passion was unmatched. Our family at Antique Boat America is grieving and we miss him dearly.”

Kennen Choiniere, Hagerty Marine’s program manager, echoed those sentiments. “Peter was a passionate advocate for the classic boating community. He’ll be missed by all who had the pleasure to meet him.”

New York’s Watertown Daily Times reported (via nnn360.com) that Mellon suffered a heart attack.

A Canadian citizen with a residence on Tennis Island in Alexandria, New York, Mellon served as the auctioneer at the annual Antique Boat Show and Auction at the Antique Boat Museum in nearby Clayton, New York. Antique Boat America is also located in Clayton; its corporate offices are in Ottawa, Ontario.

Mellon served as a member of the Antique Boat Museum International Advisory Council and has been a longtime “friend of the museum,” along with his wife, Helene.

“I believe one of Peter’s most important legacies will be his success in getting old wooden boats back into circulation via his marketing skills and knowledge,” Rebecca Hopfinger, executive director of the Antique Boat Museum, tells the Watertown Daily Times. “Connecting people with the right boat, whether it was a first-time buyer or someone simply adding to an already impressive collection, was a very special knack he possessed.”

Antique Boat America says partner and Vice President of Operations Mark Krzyzanowski, who has been with the brokerage for 17 years, will continue to handle its day-to-day operations.