The Pat II served as a tour boat in the Thousand Islands from 1924 until 1956. Then, she moved to Skaneateles Lake to serve as a tour boat and US Postal Service delivery boat until 1991.  She sat out of service from then until her acquisition by the Finger Lakes Boating Museum in 2014 from the Skaneateles Historical Society. The Pat II’s amazing 67 years of service has been rewarded with a complete rehabilitation and return to the water.

The reconstruction of Pat II was a seven-year process that began in 2014. The project was led by boatwright Geoff Health and worked on by a group of skilled, committed volunteers. When the boat was originally brought to the museum by Former Museum Director Ed Wightman, the hull was warped from a broken keel and disconnected ribs. The cabin was, unfortunately, completely unsalvageable. 

Geoff redesigned the boat to fit more modern needs; however, the historical integrity of the boat was of utmost importance to the crew. By referencing historical photographs of the Pat II, Geoff determined that the boat was originally designed with elements of the Arts and Craft movement. Thus, an emphasis was put on the inherent beauty of the natural elements, using only high-quality wood such as redwood and mahogany. 

Through the hard work of the volunteers and FLBM staff, Pat II was able to once again return to the water in the summer of 2021. FLBM would like to thank our generous donors, as well as Geoff Heath, the late Jim Altemus, Bob Hanson, Gayle King, Chuck Vail, Dave Bornhodlt, Peter Hutchings, Thom Love, Dave Wescott, Tom Dinse, Diana Ketchum, Ross Rolls, Rob Whitcomb, and Ed Wightman for their skill and devotion to this project.