Dave's sailing experience began at age 11 at camp Nor'wester in the San Juan Islands, sailing Coronado 15's and Lightnings. He was hooked for life, and his love of the water led him to the Navy where he served for six years in the Navigation division aboard the USS California (CGN-36) and USS Wichita (AOR-1), leaving as a QM1 (SW).
After the Navy Dave took the $20,000 he saved, bought a 1963 Cal 28 flat top, and headed out for a year of single-handed sailing in Mexico. Four months into the trip one of the locals liberated his trusty outboard motor and after finding himself aground three times, he finally learned how to really sail: engine less.
Bouncing around the Sea of Cortez and Nicaragua, his one year cruise turned into 5-1/2 years and a lot of fish, beans, and rice. Dave had many amazing adventures in Mexico, none topping the day an octopus stole a case of beer from him.
He eventually sold the Cal and returned to civilization to work At Minnie's Yacht Surplus in Costa Mesa, CA, run his own yacht maintenance firm, become an assistant manager at West Marine, and for the past 7 years, lead our customer service team at SBO.
In his spare time Dave has bought and sold 14 sailboats and a Hatteras 41, almost single handedly propping up the used boat market.
After the Navy Dave took the $20,000 he saved, bought a 1963 Cal 28 flat top, and headed out for a year of single-handed sailing in Mexico. Four months into the trip one of the locals liberated his trusty outboard motor and after finding himself aground three times, he finally learned how to really sail: engine less.
Bouncing around the Sea of Cortez and Nicaragua, his one year cruise turned into 5-1/2 years and a lot of fish, beans, and rice. Dave had many amazing adventures in Mexico, none topping the day an octopus stole a case of beer from him.
He eventually sold the Cal and returned to civilization to work At Minnie's Yacht Surplus in Costa Mesa, CA, run his own yacht maintenance firm, become an assistant manager at West Marine, and for the past 7 years, lead our customer service team at SBO.
In his spare time Dave has bought and sold 14 sailboats and a Hatteras 41, almost single handedly propping up the used boat market.
