“When Men were made out of Steel and Boats out of Wood”

Offshore, Blue Water, Big water, Big Game Fishing, Sportfishing

When you see these terms above there is certainly one thing that comes to mind… BIG MONEY

There is no doubt offshore fishing has a pretty hefty price tag.  Let’s see…An Offshore boat is typically 30 foot and up, average value of $100,000 to the millions.

Docking/Storage/Slip-$3000 to 10000 a year

Gear/tackle/electronics/gas etc…$5000 plus a year

You can see the price per pound for tuna just going through the roof here.

Let us not forget the hidden cost too, IE… repairs, bait, food, beverage

Most people can’t afford this nut so many prefer the charter route, which can be a perfect way and sensible decision to venture out into the great big blue water.  You can see why these charter captains are charging anywhere from $1300 to $2600 for an offshore fishing trip.  The captains really aren’t making the mad money you may have originally thought.  Some great captains out there, and there are many, just in Ocean City alone, are pulling in just enough money to make the bills, and that’s if they’re lucky.

And then there are those few out there that recall the days, as they said ”Men were made out of steel and the boats out of wood”

We all remember the commercial…

Tackle…        $5000

Electronics… $6000

Boat…            $300,000

David Konick…………PRICELESS

You Say David Konick…. priceless???? Who the heck is he and why is he so priceless?

This guy “GETS IT”… of course some of you might see it a little different.  When I heard of David, the look in his eyes said it all, this guy is Priceless.

Dave Konick idolizes the past and lives for the day, with an extreme passion for adventure.

David doesn’t need a 30 foot plus custom sport fishing boat, big name charter, or really a whole lot of anything, he’s got what a lot of us have forgotten.  David knows how to find happiness in the simple pleasures.  David seems to be that “Huckleberry Finn” of the new days

One of David’s Simple pleasures is his Chris-Craft Sea Skiff, made of wood and bolts.   David’s Sea Skiff is a 1954 Model, No. SK22-155, built in the Cadillac, Michigan plant Delivered May 1954. This was before they moved Sea Skiff production to Salisbury, MD.

David said the original owners were the grandparents of Robert Henckel (Chris Craft Parts, Inc) in Harsen’s Island, just across the river from Algonac. Until David bought her in Sept 2007, she never left Harsen’s Island.  The second owner was Michael Martin, Grosse Point Farms & Harsens Island, Michigan
All original — Model K engine.

David isn’t one of those guys that buys an old boat, restores it, then jumps around to the various boating shows, drinking wine and eating cheese talking about how pretty it is, NO NO NO…David uses the heck out of his “Olegirl” and prefers her over all other boats he has operated, including some 40 footers.

“Nuthing” says happiness like blood hitting the deck of David’s Chris Craft.  Ride her hard, just like she was built to do.  He does give her the well-deserved love at the end of the day after she performs for him all day.  To David, she is his Ocean Cruiser and he is not afraid to take her offshore some 30 miles, where he rips the tuna from the sea.

Some days, just for fun David will take her out of the Ocean City inlet, into the Atlantic during the White Marlin Open just to sit back and watch the mass exodus of boats heading out into the blue.

David takes his boat to the extreme but he still appreciates and respects the power of the sea.  He doesn’t venture out with out caution and a plan.  David said:

“I know you all think I am crazy to go that far out, but I grew up fishing out of Lewes, Delaware and Palm Beach so I know what the weather can do.  I don’t go out if the forecast is “iffy” and when I am out, I watch it.   And the Sea Skiff is the best boat I ever ran including some 40+ footers.  Yes it is a wet boat in a sea, but it is the best handling in any kind of sea I have ever run – bar none..  If it gets rough, you just have to slow down. Even at 10 knots, I am only 2 or 3 hours offshore and you just have to grit your teeth and tough it out.  As the advertisement says — it is “brawny”!  I have a GPS and also a marine CB radio in case of trouble — also Tow Boat insurance!  They come and bring you home up to 50 miles. One time I had to run through a thunderstorm about 15 miles offshore on the way home.  It got pretty black. The rain beats down the sea, so that’s not an issue; it’s the lightening that bothers me.  I put the top up and figured there’s no way lightening could come through that canvass.  It won’t will it?”

So when you see that little wooden Chris-Craft out in the big blue…Just think about all that history in those planks, I know I’ll be looking for him out there. 

Thanks for sharing David and we’ll catch you at the next adventure.

Outdoorguru

Jay Schline