It's not impossible to find a slip to dock your boat in Tampa, if you're here for a short, temporary stay and aren't interested in basic amenities such as water and electric. If you want more permanent space, and this is surprising, there aren't enough. It's a strange and almost unexplainable situation why there aren't more slips - temporary and permanent - in a city nearly surrounded by water. But, strangely, oddly, they are in short supply. These relatively new and well-designed floating slips look great but are empty. Not one boat. In talking with an experienced yacht broker, who really knows his yachts and our waterways well (and who has his offices across Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg), they built these slips without fresh water and electric hook-ups - a must for decent size boats. They are temp slips (for transient boaters as the city calls them) that aren't very inviting or attractive to many boaters. So while even the sea gulls aren't enjoying the quiet on these temp docks, that were designed without the necessary hook-ups, the monthly rental slips are full. And waiting lists for marina space and monthly slips grow longer and longer. Serious boaters, who have invested big money in their boats, don't dock here. They just go elsewhere. (Note that across the channel are docks for the homeoners's boats on Harbour Island.)
So, my watery scene of this dock is devoid of boats altogether. None of the exciting shapes and styles, sleek designs and nautical flair that could fill this watery scene is there. Our water, sky and empty boat slips will have to do. Now all I need are some of our abundant and colorful waterbirds to fill my frame. Where are they now when I need them?
9 comments:
Such a gorgeous sight...now, I just have to buy a boat and head down to Tampa, right?
Beautiful scenery and photo - but seriously foolish planning, I would say!
This is too funny, some minds behind our ports have to be the same or at least related! Interesting and bit sad story illustrated with a perfect image.
Definitely didn't do their research when they built these! The water is pretty though.
Love the calm feeling of the photo without all the chaos of the boats
Look up Frank! Maybe you'll see a bird or two. Oooh, on second thought be careful looking up. Boats or no boats this is a fine photo.
What a wonderful photo. I really like it.
Sydney - City and Suburbs
It's nuts that these docks are always empty. The fireboat I posted a while back is tied up close by and a police boat is here also. But they don't need/use water or electric. What a waste. (But the scene itself is pretty.)
OK Frank! I want to see this gentleman pup you have!
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