Born in Milwaukee, Dave spent most summers in northern Wisconsin.  Early on, Dave began swimming and waterskiing behind 14’ - 16’ aluminum boats.  As a teenager, Dave’s dad purchased a 16’ fiberglass Evinrude and boating took on an entirely new meaning.  At age 21, Dave bought his first boat, a 33’ wood Pacemaker.  The boat, however, just happened to be located in Fort Meyers Beach Florida and required navigation to Wisconsin by way of water. This required a 1900-mile, 4 ½ month trip across the Gulf of Mexico, the intercoastal waterway to New Orleans, up the Mississippi River to the Illinois River in Chicago into Lake Michigan and 90 miles north to Milwaukee.  The trip was anything but uneventful, but the knowledge and experience Dave gained along the way was priceless. 

Dave purchased the boat to do charter fishing in Lake Michigan.  He studied hard and obtained his 6-pak USCG license and began charter fishing.  The next year he obtained another boat in Florida, a 35’ steel Chris Craft Roamer (this time he had it trucked to Milwaukee).  At the age of 23, he now had 68’ of yacht.  After charter fishing for another year, Dave met his future wife, Becky, and got married in 1974.  After getting married, he sold both boats, moved to Florida and began working as a mate on 65’ and 87’ party fishing boats out of Pompano Beach FL.  While in Florida, Dave obtained his 100-Ton ocean operators license for the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. 

After 4-5 years in Florida Dave and Becky moved back to Milwaukee to earn a better living, have a couple of children and captain excursion/tour boats.  While the kids grew up, Dave was out of boating for a few years, but not out for good.  He got back into boating with a 21’, then a 26’ Four Winns cutty cabin and then his current 34’ PC Formula.  The 26’ was a turning point for Dave’s family as they could again stay on the boat.

In the mean time Dave’s family had started their own businesses, one of which was an interstate trucking company that eventually expanded into hauling boats and yachts cross-country and into Canada.  Dave had a contract with Mercury Marine to haul their test boats to and from Florida and other locations.  Dave has also hauled boats for Four Winns, Sea Ray, Wellcraft, Donzi, Proline, Formula, and Baja along with many private and dealer deliveries of power and sailboats on hydraulic and lowboy boat trailers. 

So next time a decision is rendered, remember, Dave’s been there and done that.

“Good Luck, Safe Boating and keep the Shiny Side Up.” - Dave