Chris’ Seafood Restaurant and Fish Market, at the base of the Ninth Street bridge in Ocean City was a popular eatery from 1932 – 1972. The restaurant served fish caught daily by its own fleet, and the market packed and shipped fish to all parts of the country. Some of Chris’ boats were used to take vacationers on sightseeing rides and fishing trips.
Gone with the Wind, Wild Goose, Flying Cloud, and Flying Pony were the fishing and touring boats. The most exciting boat was a surplus navy World War II PT boat named Flying Saucer. It had a 75 foot wooden hull with three engines, each burning 100 gallons of high octane airplane fuel an hour. It held 125 passingers and was once considered the world’s fastest motorboat ride. Because it was so fast, only the owner, Chris Montagna, operated the boat. Chris would talk to the passengers and slowly give a little tour before heading out to the open sea. He claimed it would reach 90 miles an hour. Most screaming passengers believed him as they bounced over the ocean swells. Only the truly adventurous would get there early enough to get a front row seat, one that would guarantee a good soaking.
