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JOSE PATINO GIRONA

jpatino@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2008

TAMPA HEIGHTS - As others head to their offices, Cliff Conatser works outside, painting and refurbishing his boat. He sees business potential on the Hillsborough River.

Next month, he hopes to tap into the market by starting Tampa River Taxi and already has asked the city's Parks and Recreation Department for approval to use available docks.

His vision is to run his 49-passenger boat, called the Fun Boat, from Tampa Heights, downtown, the Channel District, Harbour Island, Davis Islands and the Tampa Convention Center.

Conatser sees himself transporting people who want to eat lunch at a restaurant, catch a show at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, watch a game or concert at the St. Pete Times Forum, visit The Florida Aquarium, buy groceries at the Platt Street Publix or check out the view along the river.

The taxi service will cost about $5 round trip. Conatser plans to offer monthly boarding passes and eventually operate two boats. The boat also can be leased for private parties.

"The more things we got to offer downtown, the better we are," said Conatser, of Largo. "It makes downtown worth coming to."

A licensed captain, he has more than 30 years in the boating business.

He owned Clearwater Parasail, taking customers parasailing, renting wave runners and leasing his boat for private parties. In New Orleans, he transported crews and material to oil rigs.

He's also familiar with the water taxi business. He was a captain for Tampa Town Ferry, which provided a taxi service on the river in the 1990s.

"I just love the water," said Conatser, 58. "It's all I have ever known."

Karen Kress, the Tampa Downtown Partnership's director of transportation and planning, welcomes Conatser's venture. This year, the organization helped form a committee to explore ways to attract a water taxi business.

Kress said she has had several inquiries from businesses about starting a water taxi but hadn't talked to Conatser.

"If he is willing to get out there and test the waters, that is great," she said. "As downtown evolves, I think he'll be able to expand his services."

Darren Booth is development manager of The Heights, a 48-acre, mixed-use project in Tampa Heights. He contacted city officials to help Conatser establish his business at the Tampa Armature Works building, 1910 N. Ola Ave., which is owned by The Heights.

Booth said he regularly used a water ferry to travel with his family when he lived in Sydney, Australia.

"It is the only way to go because there is no traffic; there are no stoplights," he said.

"This is hopefully one of many small businesses that will start moving into The Heights redevelopment," Booth said.

FOR INFORMATION

For information about Tampa River Taxi, call Cliff Conatser at (727) 504-1001 or go to www.tamparivertaxi.com.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659.

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