That unusual vessel on Megunticook Lake is the M/V ‘Lady Crane’

Tue, 11/15/2016 - 9:15pm

Story Location:
Crane Island
Camden, ME 04843
United States

CAMDEN — Many people were treated to an unusual sight as they drove around Megunticook Lake Nov. 15, as Casey Leonard of Camden was at the helm of the M/V Lady Crane.

But the person behind the wheel was not the unusual aspect of the picture, it was M/V Lady Crane, a custom-built 50-foot-long utility transport vessel sporting two 250 Yamaha engines.

Leonard, of Village Builders and Remodeling, said his company is doing a project on the Crane Island property.

“The Lady Crane is used to bring supplies over,” said Leonard.

Leonard said it has a maximum capacity of 20,000 pounds. And in addition to wood, and heavy equipment, they have brought blue stone over to the island for the project.

Out on the water Tuesday, it was calm but brisk. The Lady Crane has a steering wheel, but it also has a joystick, which allows the captain to actually turn the engines and spin the vessel “nearly on a dime.”

“I am almost completely comfortable with it,” said Leonard, a Maine Maritime Academy graduate. “It’s fun to be out on the water doing what I used to really love doing.”

And now, he is combining both of his interests, if even for a short time, until this renovation project is done.