Sponge boats

[wilray]

Does anyone have any info on tarpon springs sponge boats?

Sent from my HTC One using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[skipmac]

What kind of information? Pretty broad question.

Very little commercial sponge fishing anyway. Most of the spongers switched to fish and shrimping many years ago.

[stevensc]

Here is a picture of an old one. They ren't real big 30-40 feet . Mostly for tourist activities

[wilray]

Do they make for a good hull to convert to a sloop? Would it be able to get out of its own way? I'm tentatively looking at one on eBay and am very intrigued.

Sent from my HTC One using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, wilray.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by wilray

Do they make for a good hull to convert to a sloop? Would it be able to get out of its own way? I'm tentatively looking at one on eBay and am very intrigued.

The answer 100% depends on the specific boat. No way to answer your question without more information. Over the years of sponge fishing in Tarpon Springs a lot of very different boats were used from sail to power.

So are you referring to this boat on eBay?

1903 SAROUKOS Builders;1st & or 2nd Generation CUSTOM BUILT TARPON SPRINGS SPONGE BOAT

If so, it appears to already be a gaff rigged sloop.