Going, Going… Gone

By Denis Hartmett, ACBS Rudder Staff

A strange crop was growing west of Minneapolis this fall –Hackers and Higgins, Gar Woods and Rivas were sprouting up among the endless cornfields. History was about to be made in this most unlikely of places. Todd Warner had stunned the boating world with his announcement: he was selling his entire collection of boats in an unprecedented one-day, everything-must-be-sold, no-reserve auction.

It was the harvest of a lifetime, For over forty years, Warner and his company, Mahogany Bay, have been major players in the world of vintage wooden boats. As a broker , restorer, historian, and enthusiast he has affected the lives of countless members of ACBS. His decision to sell would be a unique event that arouse the interest of hobbyists and collectors across the country. By the hundredds they made their way to the little town of Winsted.