The Spamtown Belle may be docked this season — for real, this time.

Dick Nordin, the boat’s captain and fervent supporter, approached the Austin City Council during its work session again Monday night to request funding.

The city owns the tourist attraction, which gives rides on Mill Pond during the summer. The boat has always been a controversial investment in the community, with some hailing it as a tourist pull, while others believe it is a waste of money.

One of many programs on the chopping block for the city’s budget reductions, the council had voted to consider funding the boat for another season at $1,100.

Now, the council has recommended to its next regular meeting to “support it, but not financially.”

Nordin said he believes he could keep the boat afloat with as little as $700-$800.

“I think it’s very easy to say, what in the world are you doing funding a boat?” he acknowledged Monday. “That is certainly one of the better bargains Austin has.

“This is a death knell for it if it doesn’t get funded,” Nordin said.

Mayor Tom Stiehm pointed out that if the Belle has as many supporters as he believes, Nordin should be able to keep the boat operational solely by donations.

“I just can’t see how the city can rationalize spending this money,” Stiehm said. “You always hear about two things: the (downtown) flowers and the Spamtown Belle.”

Council member Jeff Austin said that three years ago, the council agreed to fund the boat if it was self-sufficient within three years.

“I think it is a unique attraction, but just to reiterate to the council, three years ago … it was funded with the assumption that in three years we wouldn’t be funding it anymore,” Austin said.

“I don’t particularly recall that we had three years to make it self-sufficient,” Nordin said.

“I don’t think you can lump the flowers and the Spamtown Belle in the same category,” he added.

Council member Steve King said he would support docking it for now.

“Hopefully we’re not talking about the death knell of it,” Stiehm said. “Personally, I’d like to see us just moth ball-it for a year.”

The council voted 6-0 to approve recommending to its next regular meeting to support the Belle, but not financially; council member John Martin was absent. More information will be obtained about insurance and park and rec staff costs to operate the boat.