In 1979, Mike Pettis convinced his father Bill Pettis to build a boat for him.  Bill agreed to come out of retirement and the next fourteen months was spent making a son's dream come true.  The culmination of this team effort resulted in the 1980 launch of the 43' fishing vessel Challenge.  Mike and his wife Karen still own the Challenge.  The Challenge is an active fishing vessel in crab and tuna fisheries.  The Challenge turns 45 years old in June.