The "Keuka" Project

 Despite cold temperatures, and more snow on the ground than we'd hope for (not to mention a still completely frozen Skaneateles Lake), the days are getting longer, I think I saw a robin, so Spring start-up needs to begin soon.  But first, we have a exciting project going on at the Boat Barn in Borodino!

The "Keuka" was the fourth Lockmaster Canal Boat that the Mid-Lakes built.  She was built in 1989, spent five years in our fleet before being sold, along with her sisters, "Skaneateles", "Otisco" and "Owasco" to Collar City Charters in Troy, New York.  Since that time she had plied the waters of the Hudson River, Champlain Canal and Eastern Erie Canal, changing hands a few times, but for the most part has operated continuously for all these years, most recently going by the name "Nicole Claudine".  Last Summer, we heard that she had once again gone up for sale, and we jumped at the opportunity to have her and two of her sisters back in the Mid-Lakes Lockmaster fleet.

As luck would have it, Patrick McCarthy, one of the amazing boat builders who was with us back in the 1980s for the design and building of the original Lockmaster fleet, had some time in his busy schedule to come on board for the "Keuka" project.  Work started last week, and we can't wait to brag about our progress on this new blog.  Stay tuned!

Welcome Aboard

Welcome to Mid-Lakes Navigation's new blog, Running Lights. Anyone who has followed Mid-Lakes throughout our 46 year history on Skaneateles Lake and the Erie Canal, may remember the newspaper format brochure that we snail mailed to our loyal customers each winter with the next season's schedule, news about the boats, the business, the Wiles clan, and the latest happenings on the lake and the canal.  We gave up the printed version of Running Lights several years ago, moving to a more nuts & bolts printed brochure (that fit much better on a brochure rack).

Now, ten or so years later, interaction with customers is happening a great deal through the internet and social media, we are continuing to embrace technology and bringing back a new and improved (we hope) version of the old Running Lights. If you are curious about the excitement, interests and oddities encountered in operating the premiere tour boat company in the Finger Lakes, please follow our journey through 2015.