08/22/2026
Sad to hear about Mark Mason's passing today. Mark was a legend in the antique boating industry, a true gentleman, historian and a passionate collector, racer, and restoration expert of the highest caliber antique boats and engines.
I met Mark a dozen years ago at an auction and bought a Baby Bootlegger model from him. We had lunch a few days later and he asked me if I had a few hours. I asked if we were going to look at boats, and he said " no, we're going to go run a few boats". We drove over to his "tree house" in Gilford which sits above his multi unit boat house just inside the harbor.
He lowered a 30' Gentleman's Racer into the water, he handed me goggles and ear plugs, and I would soon find out why. We cleared the harbor and he put the boat into neutral, it was an overcast day with a light mist. He motioned me to switch seats, I sat down and proceeded to push the throttle (a stainless steel foot pedal). He pointed to the speedometer and made a waving motion to "push it", a moment later and 30 feet of Honduran Mahogany excellence was traveling at 80mph across Lake Winnepesaukee with no other boats in sight. That was a special moment for me, a lifelong boater.
Years later I called Mark to talk about building a boat bar for my house. He introduced to me to Gary Michaels, another antique boat legend in Milton, NH. That introduction had a cascading effect, Chris Craft Boat Bar, New Bridge Marina, and several antique boat "projects". You never know where a chance encounter or introduction may lead! I'm thankful that I met Mark and the path it opened for me personally into the antique boat world.
There is an African proverb that states "When an Elder dies, a Library burns down"
Marks knowledge, passion, craftsmanship and friendship is irreplaceable, may he rest in peace.
After acquiring the George Crouch designed 36 foot SISTER SYN(in 1969), Mason developed a deep appreciation for Crouch’s designs. This led Mark to begin searching for any of the surviving Crouch boats and specifically the legendary IMPSHI, a 28 foot Gold Cup boat, hence a smaller & more manageable...