INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Sebastian resident and once-avid-boater Bob Walter is spending his weekend trying to find a new, loving home for his classic 1983 Mako called “The Other Woman.” He’s parked his boat and himself at the Indian River County Fairgrounds for the 3rd annual Nautical Flea Market and Seafood Festival, which continues through 6 p.m. Sunday.
“It doesn’t do any good sitting in the side yard,” Walter said, standing in a rapidly diminishing patch of shade cast by the large boat under the almost-Noon sun on Saturday.
With concerns about his health, Walter has resigned himself to re-home his boat.
“I put a lot into it,” Walter said. “I just don’t have the energy. It’s someone else’s turn.”
While he waits for someone to make him an offer, Walter has been perusing the other vendor booths, along with the other few thousand people to come out to the fairgrounds Saturday.
Along with vendors selling dock lines and propellers, vintage signs, and boat seats, was Ross Jones, a marine artist from the west side of Ocala.
He doesn’t paint with canvas or acrylics – instead, he creates works of art from lobsters, crabs and other shelled creatures.
“I call it crustacean taxidermy,” Jones said. He acquires the specimens, injects them with formaldehyde – which eats away the tissue and leaves behind the shell – and then coats them with resin.
For 30 years, Jones has made the craft a hobby. Six years ago, with the collapse of the economy, he decided to turn his hobby into a full-time job.
“I wish I had started 20 years ago,” Jones said while surveying his tables laden with creatures ranging from a few inches long to one that was approximately 2 ½ feet long.
The work can take between three weeks and 3 ½ months – depending on the size. The massive lobster on display took the longest.
The former commercial diver and fisherman said he got the idea to create these pieces of art because he wanted a way to share with others the sights he sees while underwater.
Jones said he’s happy to come back to the nautical flea market each year because it brings out people who would be apt to appreciate and purchase his work.
“I do pretty well here,” he said.
The 3rd annual Treasure Coast Marine Flea Market and Seafood Festival continues Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults. Children 12 and under admitted for free.
The Indian River County Fairgrounds are located at 7955 58th Ave., Vero Beach.
