Keuka Maid owner dismantles boat

URBANA—The Keuka Maid, docked at Champlin Beach in Urbana, is being systematically dismantled by its new owner, Jeremy Fields.
Fields, owner of Fields Construction and Excavating Inc. from Canandaigua, purchased the Keuka Maid for $26,000 at auction in October of last year. Urbana Supervisor John Webster explained he did not know what Fields intended to do with the boat or where the parts are being taken. However, he added Fields expected the the boat to be removed from the lake by Jan. 31. Webster said it looked like that could happen, pointing out the pontoons were being removed Tuesday, Jan. 29.
“Everything’s being taken apart and numbered, like a giant puzzle,” he said.
Webster added Fields indicated the boat was still salvageable. Once the boat is completely removed from the dock, Webster explained the town will have no further commitment with the owner. The town had agreed to let Fields keep the boat in the lake until the end of January.
Webster said a meeting with Fields was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 30, and that the town expected to learn more about Fields’ plan for the Keuka Maid then. Calls to Fields’ company were not returned by press time. In December, Bruce Fields, the owner’s father, said the plans were to refurbish the boat and make it pass an inspection.