David Gates

I started working with Boatshed Port Townsend in August 2023.

What did you do before working with Boatshed?
A long journey of education, career, and adventure has brought me to becoming a professional boat broker. My earliest memories of life were crawling to the ocean at 3 years old on Laguna Beach in Southern California. Soon at about 7 years was able to sail my first boat, a little yellow Sabot Sail Dingy in Newport Bay with my dad's hands tight on the rope holding the dingy away from any troubles I might get in. Finishing high school and then graduation college with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems. I then opened a small computer service office assisting Ocean Watch Production Company and Terry Tri's Professional Fishing developing web pages while working on computers. I was soon hired as a Lead Computer Technician at Taco Bell Corporation spending my weekends on my 30' Columbia Sailboat and running my Zodiac up and down the coast fishing.

Finding the work in a cubical all day everyday did not sit well with me, I took a Network Technician job in Santa Monica, CA living in a Camper Van with a kayak on the back I used along the Southern California Coast. My father needed assistance with a 30 Semi-Custom housing project, I left my technical career to assist in construction and development, spending weekends on my 20' Sea Ray Ski Boat until the housing market crash in 2008.

To restart life and career I earned my Master's Degree in Network Communication Management. I started a new IT consulting business building the computer infrastructure for many businesses. Able to work remotely I spent much time on the road riding adventure motorcycles along the west coast of the United States and Canada reaching Perdue Bay Alaska and many other states racking up over 700,000 miles in 15 years. Unable to describe many places and events, I used my prior corporate experience in cameras and photography to professionally start a commercial photography business. My lens often pointed to the many boats to which I dreamed of owning. With my reignited passion for boating, I am crawling back to the ocean.

What attracted you to become part of the Boatshed team?
While taking photos of boats in Port Townsend, I saw a boat offered by Boatshed Port Townsend. This trigged an interest to be more involved, saw an ad for boat broker and pursued it.

Are you a motorboater or a sailor?
Motorboater

What is your most memorable boating experience?
Spending weekends on my Columbia 30' Sailboat in Dana Point Harbor, fishing from my zodiac, and cooking the catch back on the sailboat.