Leonard W has a legacy. No surprise, as her owner was know for his antics and obsession with speed. The Leonard W was reportedly the last boat built in Will Frost's South Portland shop in 1944, built for Gus Alley, who owned Leonard W for the duration of her fishing life. He fished her everyday, year round, in all weather.

Gus Alley's need for speed provided Leonard W with several engines and systems through out her life, all concocted and tweaked out to the limit. There are stories that Gus Alley used to put Leonard in the corner and outrun Coast Guard vessels regularly. Leonard W has a colorful history with the Maine Lobster Boat Races; initially being disqualified for using lifting (spray) rails (back when lifting rails were unheard of) and the inability for other Lobster boats to compete with her speed. Legend has it that Gus Alley would head up to Jonesboro for the Maine Lobster Boat Races, compete, and then return, same day, back to his hail port in Kittery.

Along with his speed fetish, Gus Alley was known to be a prankster. Alley installed two four barrel carburetors on the V-8 engine, with a line from the wheel house to one of the carburetors. Running at full bunny with only one carburetor open, Alley would insist that his passenger pull the line, opening the second carburetor and throwing the unsuspecting passenger into the back of the cockpit.

Rumery's would love to collect your stories about the Leonard W and add them to the list, please contact us.

*The information on this page was collected from members of Gus Ally's family as well as descendants of Will Frost.