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Tarpon Decides To Repair Sponge Boat In-House

Mark Schantz/SUNCOAST

David Duvall, at the bow, and fellow city staffer Ray O’Donoghue have been performing restoration work on the Tarpon Springs, the city’s sponge boat. City officials had been considering pulling the Sponge Docks tourist attraction out of the Anclote River because it was so badly deteriorated.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: March 28, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - By June Tarpon Spring's sponge boat tourist attraction should be refurbished to its former glory.

Repairs to the former sponge boat that bears the city's name are being undertaken as the city focuses revitalization efforts on sprucing up its Sponge Dock's cultural district, along Dodecanese Boulevard. The work would include restoration of the City Marina, to the east of the Sponge Docks.

The one-time working sponge vessel has long been a major tourist attraction and photo opportunity at the Sponge Docks. Over the years, however, it has fallen into disrepair.

In 1990 the floating monument to the city's storied sponge-fishing industry was added to the U.S. Register of Historic Places. Once repaired, the boat could qualify for National Historic Landmark Status, according to Kathy Monahan, the city cultural services director.

Last year officials feared the boat would have to removed from the water and put in dry dock. An outside vendor wanted tens of thousands of dollars to do the repair work at a time the city is trying to control spending in response to a drop in revenue.

City Manager Mark LeCouris said the city was lucky to find someone on its maintenance staff who could lead an in-house restoration effort on the sponge boat.

"We did not create a new position to have this work done" LeCouris said.

Juan Cruz, the public services administrator, told the City Commission the repairs have begun while the boat remains in the river at the Sponge Docks. The restoration effort will take place in phases over the next few months, he said.

Although the exact cost of the in-house restoration effort has not been finalized, it will be a substantial savings over what the outside vendor wanted, officials noted.

Repairs will be carried out from stem to stern. The deck area is being restored and the mast repaired and strengthened. Handrails are being replaced along with the craft's tiller, rope system and cabin. The boat will receive a new coat of paint and restored to its former grandeur.

The repairs to the vessel have become a bit of a tourist attraction, with Sponge Docks visitors watching the restoration and chatting with the repair crew, officials said.

In a related matter, the City Commission also gave staff authorization to seek a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The state money would pay for improvements to the deck, pilings and sea wall at the City Marina and to dredge the marina's basin to its former depth.

The size of the grant request, Cruz said, is still being itemized, but the city would be required to make an in-kind matching contribution to qualify for the money.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

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