The Pat II Welcomes Guests Aboard for Season Five

The Pat II Welcomes Guests Aboard for Season Five
The Finger Lakes Boating Museum’s flagship has expanded daily cruises, increased charter availability, and added new specialty wine tasting tours
Hammondsport, NY – The mid-morning blast of the boat’s horn echoing across placid Keuka Lake waters signals another small but historical moment for The Pat II. As the volunteer captain announces their departure and steers the all-electric powered vessel quietly away from the docks at Depot Park, guests settle in for one of the region’s most unique tours.
The Finger Lakes Boating Museum’s flagship welcomes guests daily, typically setting off once a day Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m. and twice on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11:45 a.m. During the one-hour tour, the licensed captains – all of whom are Museum volunteers – navigate across Keuka’s “Y” and up the lake for about four miles, all while sharing the story of the 101 year-old vessel and her restoration as well as a bit of history about the Finger Lakes, boat building, and the link between two things the region is most known for - boating and winemaking.
 
The Pat II also welcomes groups to charter a tour for up to 16 guests. The boat’s captain and crew have graciously hosted business retreats, family reunions, bridal showers, anniversary and birthday parties, and even an elopement.



New this year, FLBM is offering monthly specialty wine tasting tours aptly named Vintage Cruises: Tasting Notes on a Classic Boat! Guests will enjoy specially selected wines from Living Roots Winery of Hammondsport and Rochester, NY, and Adelaide Hills, Australia. The Living Roots wine host and The Pat II captain will guide the tasting and the conversation for these one-hour tours scheduled for Sunday, June 29; Thursday, July 10; and Thursday, August 14. Wine tasting cruises are 21+ only, valid proof of age will be required when boarding.

 

For more information on all Pat II cruises and to purchase tickets, go to Finger Lakes Boating Museum’s website at www.flbm.org or call 607-569-2222.
 
The Pat II is a one-of-a-kind 16 passenger tour vessel that was built in Alexandria Bay in 1924 and started life on the St. Lawrence River as a tour boat to Boldt Castle. Then, for many years, she was a tour and mail boat on Skaneateles Lake. After years off the water and sitting in storage, dedicated FLBM volunteers renovated The Pat II starting in 2014. The Museum launched her again in 2021 and offers cruises starting Memorial Day weekend through October from Dept Park in Hammondsport. The Pat II is available to charter and the Museum will host specialty tours throughout the 2025 season.
 
Finger Lakes Boating Museum was founded in 1997 to preserve, promote, and celebrate Finger Lakes boating history. Since 2014, the Museum has been located on Pleasant Valley Road in Hammondsport, NY, on the former Taylor Wine Company campus. The Museum has the largest collection of Finger Lakes area produced boats on display in the world and one of the largest off-water, year-round exhibitions of historical boats in the nation.
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Image #1 – Fully renovated – The Pat II on Keuka Lake c. 2024
Image #2 – Guests aboard Finger Lakes Boating Museum’s flagship passenger cruise boat The Pat II.
Image #3 – Selection of Living Roots wines for The Pat II Vintage Cruises
 
              
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Kara Calder, Executive Director
Finger Lakes Boating Museum
8231 Pleasant Valley Road
Hammondsport, NY 14840
607-569-2222
www.flbm.org