The Keuka Maid could be navigating the Keuka Lake by this summer, according to the tour boat’s owner Jeremy Fields.
Fields told the Urban Town Board Wednesday he expects state inspectors to look at the disassembled boat’s pontoons in the near future.
If the pontoons are safe, Fields will be looking at rebuilding the boat in smaller version and adding touches in keep with the historic area.
“Gangplanks, paddlewheels, smoke stacks,” Town Supervisor John Webster said. “Cosmetic improvements, if the boat is deemed safe by the state.”
Fields will meet with the board in March to update them on the boat’s safety and hammer out a possible deal to sail from the town dock.
Fields does have access to Canandaigua Lake, but traffic near his restaurant is not as heavy as Hammondsport could provide, Webster said.
The question is, whether the town wants the boat back, and whether Fields and Urbana can work out a leasing agreement, Webster said.
Webster said the Town’s legal battles with the Maid’s former owner Robert Pfuntner during the past few years has given the boat a negative air.
However, the Town board also believes a tour boat is important to the south end of the lake, Webster said.
“Now, whether that’s the Keuka Maid is something we’ll have to see about,” Webster said. “But now we only have the Esperanza Rose, and she’s at the north end. We really need something here. I think the vast majority of the people would like her to come back, sure.”
In addition, Town officials also feel the town dock should be open to other boats, such as the volunteer fire department, according to Webster.
Currently, the pontoons are the only thing left of the boat on the Urbana shore. Fields has until mid-February to truck the pontoons to his shop in Canandaigua. He also intends to level and reseed the Keuka Lake area, Webster said.
The Keuka Maid could be navigating the Keuka Lake by this summer, according to the tour boat’s owner Jeremy Fields.
Fields told the Urban Town Board Wednesday he expects state inspectors to look at the disassembled boat’s pontoons in the near future.
If the pontoons are safe, Fields will be looking at rebuilding the boat in smaller version and adding touches in keep with the historic area.
“Gangplanks, paddlewheels, smoke stacks,” Town Supervisor John Webster said. “Cosmetic improvements, if the boat is deemed safe by the state.”
Fields will meet with the board in March to update them on the boat’s safety and hammer out a possible deal to sail from the town dock.
Fields does have access to Canandaigua Lake, but traffic near his restaurant is not as heavy as Hammondsport could provide, Webster said.
The question is, whether the town wants the boat back, and whether Fields and Urbana can work out a leasing agreement, Webster said.
Webster said the Town’s legal battles with the Maid’s former owner Robert Pfuntner during the past few years has given the boat a negative air.
However, the Town board also believes a tour boat is important to the south end of the lake, Webster said.
“Now, whether that’s the Keuka Maid is something we’ll have to see about,” Webster said. “But now we only have the Esperanza Rose, and she’s at the north end. We really need something here. I think the vast majority of the people would like her to come back, sure.”
In addition, Town officials also feel the town dock should be open to other boats, such as the volunteer fire department, according to Webster.
Currently, the pontoons are the only thing left of the boat on the Urbana shore. Fields has until mid-February to truck the pontoons to his shop in Canandaigua. He also intends to level and reseed the Keuka Lake area, Webster said.
