OnBoard Magazine - Issue XIII - 2021 Season

T he year was 2012, and avid offshore fisherman Tommy Madden was ready to move up to a bigger center console. His boat of choice: a Regulator 34 CC. Although he hails from outside the Mid-Atlantic, Madden spent the fall and winter season each year fishing the Outer Banks of North Carolina. His new Regulator was due to be delivered in March of 2013 and he requested it be dropped in Manteo, North Carolina so that he could fish it right away. It was a unique request for Regulator Marine, but they worked diligently to organize the delivery with Bluewater Yacht Sales Professional Bob Hoste at the Wanchese Yacht Yard and sales office. “Bob never made a dime off me,” Madden said. “But he became a great friend and worked with me to keep my Regulator there at Bluewater in the winter so that I could fish from Wanchese and Pirate's Cove.” When the time came to move up again, Madden worked out the same deal with Regulator on a new 41 equipped with custom tower and quad Yamaha F350 V8 outboards. Hoste was again happy to assist with the delivery of his impressive new rig in Wanchese. STICKING TOGETHER Madden’s four children often join him on offshore fishing trips, but he admits that his sole daughter, Stephanie Rose, is with him the most. While all the children love to go boating, Madden’s wife Christine abstains due to a tendency towards sea sickness. When it came time for another upgrade, Madden became focused on having the whole family together. “The amount of research and analysis I did was way over the top,” Madden explains. “Extensive research, taking rides on other boats, going to boat shows… I was seeking the Holy Grail: including my wife in the fishing adventures.” Madden’s exhaustive research homed in on a single model and boat style available from just one builder—a new Viking 38 Billfish. “The thing I just love about the 38 Billfish is that it’s big for a 38, but not too big, coming from an outboard center console.” Madden goes offshore frequently, and the 38 Billfish can still be owner-operated with just one or two people. “If I made too big of a jump in size, I would lose the ability to fish and boat as often as I want—needing a bigger crew to run the boat.” Madden boasts about the substantial accommodations for a boat in this size VIKING'S 38 BILLFISH IS A BOAT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY Photos courtesy John Angelo & Madden Family A commanding view from both the upper and lower level helm stations 24 BLUEWATER