The Marina & Seaplane Base re-build project is on hyperspeed under FINAL design.
Reconstruction is under FINAL design. The brand new boat docks, seaplane docks and fueling dock should be completed and available for use by late fall 2020.
In the meantime, many boaters and seaplane pilots are enjoying mooring up along the Tavares shoreline, fueling at the fuel pumps or unloading and loading passengers at the temporary docks. The Tavares Marina & Seaplane Base is located at 150 E Ruby Street. For more please call 352.742.6267.
Update #6: Friday, September 6, 2019
The Tavares Marina and Seaplane Base rebuild project is on hyperspeed. Reconstruction is under design. The brand new boat docks, seaplane docks and fueling dock should be completed and available for use by late fall 2020
The storm was born on Aug. 30, 2017, near Africa. It surged into a catastrophic Category 5 with 185 mph winds. It hit the Keys as a Cat 4 and plowed north, passing through the Tavares area the night of Sunday, Sept. 10, and the morning of Sept. 11, 2017. In Lake County, 69 mph gusts were measured at 3:46 a.m. at the Leesburg International Airport five miles west of the Tavares Marina and Seaplane Base.
How long does it take to build a large city project?
The rule of thumb in a typical governmental agency is that it takes:
- One year to decide whether to do the project (The docks were already built so we don’t have to spend the time deciding).
- One year to find the money (The good news is the city had purchased “replacement insurance and betterment insurance” on the Marina and Seaplane Base).
- One year to design (currently nearing completion), engineer and permit a project (obtain permits from the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and St. John’s Water Management District).
- One year to construct a project — and that’s a fast-track community project.
The Tavares Pavilion on the Lake took six years to build, and the new Public Safety Complex took seven years to build.
When are the docks going to return re-built?
The docks were already built so we don’t have to spend one year deciding whether to do the project. So, the good news for the docks...it’s not four years, but three years! We estimate they should be up and ready for use by late fall 2020. The Marina and Seaplane Base will be better than before.
Below: Historical photo of the Tavares Marina & Seaplane Base after Hurricane Irma
Photo Credit: City of Tavares Public Works Department
