Captains

Captain Tony R. Jenkins was born and raised in Jacksonville Florida. He holds a 6-Pack OUPV license. Captain Tony spent 6+ years on the dock as a Club Manager. He went full-time with the City of St. Augustine Fire Department as a firefighter/EMT. We are proud to still have him with us part-time as a Captain doing trainings out of St. Augustine.In his spare time, Tony spends time with his wife, their two children Eli and Ivy, and spending time outside boating, hiking, camping and hunting! He offers additional training for anchoring, sandbar orientation, and local knowledge.

Captain Tyler Barrus is a four year veteran of the United States Coast Guard, having spent his first 18 months in the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington DC under President Reagan. He was responsible for the training of both new personnel in small boat operations as well continual training and drills. Following his 4 year tenure in the USCG, he spent 24 years in the Marine Division as an Investigator Sergeant for the Monroe County Sheriffs Office in Rochester NY.

Captain Tyler is a certified National Safe Boating Council Instructor. He currently holds a USCG 25 Ton Master’s License with Towing Endorsement and is a member of the tournament winning R & R Fishing Team out of Marietta GA. Captain Tyler has been a trainer for Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville since December of 2019 and has trained well over 250 members. He is known for his patience, easygoing style, and teaching methods.

Capt. Scott Smith is originally from Cocoa Beach, Florida. He currently holds a 25 Ton Masters License with a towing endorsement. He retired from Southeastern Grocers and has been a captain with Freedom Boat Club for 3 years. He enjoys golfing, hunting, and inshore/offshore fishing. He offers additional trainings for Anchoring, Sandbars, and Local Orientation.

Captain Dave McLean was born in London, England from there he spent some time in Maryland before moving to St Augustine in 2007. He spent his career racing sailboats on the Chesapeake and offshore to Bermuda and Newport. Capt. Dave McLean spent time as a crewmember on the Pride of Baltimore II, a 109 ft wooden topsail schooner for her tour of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. He also spent 8 years working for the St Augustine Municipal Marina as a launch operator serving their mooring fields. Currently holding a 6-Pack OUPV license he offers additional trainings with any focus that the member has need of such as general orientation, sandbar anchoring, additional docking, and retraining following incidents.

Steve Sassa moved to North Florida in 2006 from Akron Ohio. He holds a 25-Ton Master license including sailing and towing endorsements. The majority of his career has been spent in the automotive repair business as a master tech. He has been with Freedom for almost 2 years as a captain. Steve and his wife Patty have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. He loves boating both under sail and power. Capt. Steve is also an avid runner apart of the Jacksonville track club! When he isn’t boating, or running he is playing the drums and/or other percussion instruments! He is happy to do New Member Trainings and additional trainings for anchoring, sandbar anchoring, and local orientation.

Capt. Frank Timmons, Jr. is from Ponce Inlet, Florida. In 1979, he became a 100 ton Master Captain and holds a Certified Powerboating Instructor License. Capt. Frank has been with Freedom Boat Club since 2007 and helped create most of our training curriculum. In his spare time, he loves offshore fishing and anything to do with being outdoors OR with boating and safety!

Captain Dean Marshall hails from across the pond. He grew up on a small island on the south coast of England. Being surrounded by water during these years fostered a love for the Ocean and boating. After marrying a young lady from Kentucky the logical place to raise their two children was of course, Florida. Approximately five years ago Dean’s family decided to sell up, move aboard a sailboat, and go cruising. They have spent the past few years traveling up and down the US east coast, numerous trips to the Bahamas and Caribbean. Over this time Dean also built experience as a delivery Captain on a variety of boats and Yachts.

Dean has a background in teaching mixed gas diving. His teaching style is based on safety while keeping a calm relaxed demeanor. Dean holds a USCG OUPV Six-pack license with towing endorsement. Dean works for the local Sea Tow franchise as a Towing and Salvage Captain. He offers additional training for Anchoring, sandbars, and local orientation.

Capt. Mike Pellerin was raised in South Florida and spent much of his time on and around the water. He earned a 100 Ton license while operating a 58′ Hatteras Motor yacht cruising the Florida Keys, Abacos and Exumas in the Bahamas. Capt. Mike recently retired from a 31 year career with BoatU.S.and GEICO Marine. While holding a number of different positions over the years including product buyer, claims manager and Catastrophe team member he spent the last 15 years of his career as Vice President of Underwriting for the BoatU.S. Insurance Program. Capt. Mike moved to Amelia Island 4 years ago from Northern Virginia where he did his boating out of Deale, MD. He spends much of his time enjoying island life and fishing on his 14′ backwater flats skiff as well as offshore on his 30′ Grady White Marlin. He is also an avid scuba diver and has reached a certification level of rescue diver.

Captain Benjamin Mullis is a six year veteran of the United States Coast Guard Active duty, having spent his first 18 months in the Bering sea stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. His last 4 years he spent stationed locally at Mayport. He was responsible for the training of both new personnel in small boat operations and law enforcement. Following his 6 year tenure in the USCG, he is continuing to serve as a Coast Guard reservist. Captain Ben is a certified National Safe Boating Council Instructor. He currently holds a USCG 100 Ton Master’s License with Towing Endorsement.