Keuka Lake has long been known for its excellent lake trout population. In the days before outboard motors, fishermen sought out small, sleek fishing boats which were easy to row and could safely handle the occasional turbulent waters of the lake. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, several boat builders arrayed around Keuka operated small boat shops which turned out wooden rowboats in response to this demand. These boats were usually framed with white oak, and carvel planked (plank boards butted together to form smooth inner and outer surface) with red cedar or cypress. The designs varied according to the ingenuity and preference of the builder. Few builders affixed any identification (nameplates, etc.) to their boats, and consequently it is frequently difficult to determine the origin of surviving examples.

The boat shown here incorporates many of the features attributed to Ben Reno, a prolific builder of rowboats who maintained a shop in Keuka Village during the early decades of the 20th century. However, some construction techniques differ slightly from those of known Reno rowboats, so the builder has not yet been determined. The boat was stored is a barn above Keuka Lake for 30 years until donation to the Museum in 2011.