EC-SAR Auction | Eckerd College Search and Rescue

Eckerd College Search and Rescue, EC-SAR, held it's annual marine auction on campus this moring. The auction started at 9:00 AM, but wise shoppers started showing up before 8:00 to be sure to get a spot at the front of the line as many of the great values are snapped up before the late arrivals get to see them.

The EC-SAR team is a non-profit organization that provides free search and resuce operations for Tampa Bay and up to ten miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. The team is made up of Eckerd College student who join the club and donate their time and energy to benefit the bay area boating and fishing community.

If you happen to get in trouble on the water you can reach the Search and Rescue Team on VHF channels 16/68, by phone at (727) 864-8256 or through the local Coast Guard sector for St. Petersburg.

Eckerd College is proud to have been providing this free service seven days a week, twenty four hours a day for the last thirty five years. Anyone who has been stranded, or has thought they were going to be, appreciates the peace of mind that the blue EC sticker provides. Other towing services are available and rates start at about $150 annually and the expense associated with an indivudual tow can be in the neighborhood of $600 in one does not join an annual service or contact EC-SAR.

The auction is one of the ways that the expenses of such an operation are mitigated. Donations are accepted throughout the year for boats, motors, parts, windsurfers,  catamarans and misc marine accessories that they make available for the auction.

For more information on the service, how you might contribute or what's available we encourage you to visit their web site www.eckerd.edu/waterfront/ or call (727) 864-8288.

The images were taken this morining to give you an idea of what the auction looks like. Please click on an image for a larger view and remember... "Support Search and Rescue... Get Lost".