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Coast Guard Auxiliary Wants Better Ramps

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By MARK HOLAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 21, 2008

TAMPA - Michael Shea, commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, wants the city to improve what he calls deteriorating conditions at two of the busiest boat ramps on Tampa Bay.

Shea said the Davis Islands ramp is heavily silted on each side, and a shoal in front makes it impossible to use at low tide. He said the parking lot of the Salty Sol Fleischman ramp, near the Gandy Bridge, is a crowded mess.

The auxiliary, which is based near the east end of Gandy Bridge, teaches boating safety and supports Coast Guard and law enforcement work.

"If you are trying to do a security patrol and you can't get your boat in, it's a real problem," Shea said. "It's extremely frustrating to get to those two ramps and you can't use them."

Shea said he has given up on city boat ramps at Picnic Island Park ("too shallow"), Ballast Point Park ("a joke") and Lowry Park ("too far").
Tampa officials say they have hired a consultant to study problems at the Davis Islands ramp, which is along Seddon Channel, near the Davis Island Yacht Club.

"We know it is going to cost us a lot of money," Parks and Recreation Department manager Marsha Carter said. "Funding is going to be the big issue."
Commercial fisherman Frank Reilly said he launches his 23-foot work boat at Davis Islands. "To me, it's one of the better ramps," he said. "A lot of these ramp complaints are more operator error, if you know what I mean."

The city just finished patching some potholes at the Salty Sol Fleischman ramp. The ramp is owned by Hillsborough County, which pays the city $10,000 annually for maintenance such as garbage collection and mowing.

Pete Fowler, a manager with the county's Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, said $275,000 in boat registration fees is available for repaving the lot.

"We do not have a timetable," he wrote in an e-mail. "We're meeting with city staff to establish scope, budget and schedules."

A proposed expansion of the lot tied to development of the neighboring New Port Tampa Bay condominium project is on hold because of the real estate downturn. Construction of a condo marina threatened to crowd the boat ramp.

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at (813) 259-7651 or mholan@tampatrib.com.

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