The Boatworks
***The FISH Boatworks is currently closed, pending reorganization***
The F.I.S.H. Boatworks offers boatbuilding, restoration, and repair services to Cortez and the surrounding communities. The Manager and a skilled professional, works with a crew of volunteers whose skill levels run from professionals to enthusiastic amateurs.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Boatworks and have skills or want to learn skills in boat building, restoring or repairing wooden or fiberglass boats, come to the FISH Boatworks. (4404 116th Street West, Cortez, FL.) on Thursday through Saturday of almost any week and check out what is happening.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Boatworks and have skills or want to learn skills in boat building, restoring or repairing wooden or fiberglass boats, come to the FISH Boatworks. (4404 116th Street West, Cortez, FL.) on Thursday through Saturday of almost any week and check out what is happening.
Some of the Boatworks volunteers
In the past F.I.S.H.’s boat building has been primarily focused on celebrating local Florida Maritime traditions. For instance one of the first boats built was the Sallie Adams, a 21 foot shallow draft spritsa’l skiff named for one of the first Settlers in Cortez. This was the kind of working fishing boat early Cortez settlers needed to catch mullet and survive in their new location. They modeled it after the boats they had used in North Carolina, where they previously lived.
Launching of the Sallie Adams. She won the People's Choice Award at the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival at St Michaels, MD.
For another example the Boatworks built the Ana Menendez a replica of a 25 foot Spanish Long Boat, like one Hernando Cortez may have used on the Manatee River, for the National Park Service at Desoto National Park.
The Boatworks also restored the Esperanza, a derelict Cuban boat that refugees had actually used to sail to the Florida Keys and freedom. Each of these boats, and some others as well, won awards for F.I.S.H. and the Boatworks crew. FISH Boatworks has displayed boats on tours to festivals in several states even as far away as Maine and Pennsylvania.
The Boatworks also restored the Esperanza, a derelict Cuban boat that refugees had actually used to sail to the Florida Keys and freedom. Each of these boats, and some others as well, won awards for F.I.S.H. and the Boatworks crew. FISH Boatworks has displayed boats on tours to festivals in several states even as far away as Maine and Pennsylvania.
The Esperanza (EspSM1) was taken to the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival at St Michaels, MD where she won the People’s Choice Award, "Best in Show."
Each year the F.I.S.H. Boatworks either restores or repairs a boat to be raffled at the F.I.S.H. Commercial Fishing Festival in February. Boats ranging from small wooden skiffs to 24 foot fiberglassed sailboats may be on offer at any Festival.
As a non-profit organization the F.I.S.H. Boatworks accepts working, abandoned, or restorable boats as part of their new Boat Rescue program and can give the donor a receipt for tax purposes.
Currently, the Boatworks, offers others the opportunity to work on their own boats at the Boatworks, renting space and receiving, when wanted, advice or help, for the fee of $25 a week.
As a non-profit organization the F.I.S.H. Boatworks accepts working, abandoned, or restorable boats as part of their new Boat Rescue program and can give the donor a receipt for tax purposes.
Currently, the Boatworks, offers others the opportunity to work on their own boats at the Boatworks, renting space and receiving, when wanted, advice or help, for the fee of $25 a week.
Boatworks Manager Rick Stewart working on the Turner Skiff, that was raffled off at the 2015 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.
