Meet Your Salty Daze Captains
Mama Daze
Kate is one half of the duo that started Salty Daze USVI back in 2018. She grew up coming to St. John, where her aunt and uncle managed Cinnamon Bay and Caneel Bay campgrounds, then on to term charters. She grew up loving the water and eventually competed in the 2008 Olympics in artistic swimming. She has literally spent her life's work IN the water. After the Olympics, she taught at the St. John Montessori school in John's folly and taught swim lessons. After a while, she attended University of Hawaii receiving her degree in Apparel Product Design and Merchandising. Upon graduation, she designed for the leading resort wear company, Tori Richard and Kahala, on Oahu. Now back on St. John, while raising her 3 kids in Coral Bay, Kate grew Salty Daze from our original boat, Salt Shaker, to the 6 boat fleet you see today. You'll hear her voice on our social media, big announcements and now, at her new shop, Dazey Drive In. She loves designing our merch and creating marketing campaigns. If she could make music videos for the rest of her life...she probably would.
Booking Manager Mackenzie
Mackenzie is your go-to girl for all things Salty Daze! Catch her running around the dock in the mornings with a pep and a smile. She moved to St. John from Chicago with her fiancé, yellow lab, car, and camper trailer in tow. You can find her cooking, singing, hiking, and enjoying her favorite beaches around the island. She misses Chicago restaurants the most, but definitely not those Midwest winters! If you see her around, make sure to say hi and tell her all about your boat day experience!
Captain Justin
Justin’s love of the water started very early on the back bays of the Jersey shore. This love blossomed after his eight and a half years in the Navy. Upon separating from the service, he started his commercial career working on tugboats throughout the Hawaiian Islands and Pacific ocean. Since his start, he has climbed the ranks and now splits his time between Salty Daze Charters USVI and working on board drill ships in the Gulf of Mexico. as a licensed uscg 100 ton master, Justin’s experience ranges from sport fishing, tour boats, barges and beyond. In his free time (yes, he has some), he loves spending it with his lovely family exploring the islands and relaxing with friends at the beach. From fishing, surfing, diving and paddle boarding, Justin feels at home above and below the surface.
Captain Landry
Meet Captain Landry! Holding a 50 ton master license, Landry is the guy you’ll most likely see from day to day. Started crewing for grandpa on his Lake Michigan salmon charter boat when he was 5. At 10, he took boaters safety so he could operate his own boat. Spent the next 25 years chasing bikinis, fish , sunburns and sunsets all over the Great Lakes. Driving boats in the Caribbean was his retirement dream until he realized life is short and you only get one swing. Quit his corporate job and sold his house to drive the only double decker pontoon in the Caribbean! His daily diet consists of tacos (he literally eats them EVERYDAY) and he’s got the skinny on some stellar snorkel spots.
Captain Jeremy
Salt Deck Meet Captain Jeremy! You’ll likely see this charismatic character on Sundays, slinging bubbles from the back deck or telling tales of sunken anchors of yesteryears. Jeremy is an avid sailor, racer and coach and has been a licensed captain for over 20 years, now holding a USCG 100 Gross Ton Master’s License. He has owned many boats and has innumerate professional experience on both sail and power driven vessels-now, including pontoon boats. If it can float, Jeremy can drive it! He’s an expert lobster hunter, turtle tracker and he’s got some pretty sweet dance moves.
Captain Bob
Meet Captain Bob (Kate's dad). Growing up in MA, he crewed on boats with his dad and uncles. He taught Kate love of the water on his sunfish in upstate NY. Right now he enjoys taking people out on his boat, Knot E Buoys. Come hear is epic stories and meet the legend, Knot E Bob, for yourself.
Captain Justin
Justin grew up in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania and spent his childhood exploring the outdoors and adventuring with his friends. This love of adventure got a little out of control as an adult, and he has spent his life seeking adventure all over the world. Prior to his life in the VI, Justin worked in Ski resorts and National parks around the US, becoming a scuba instructor in 2018 after falling in love with the sport in Thailand. Achieving his USCG 50 ton Master a while after, and eventually washing up in Coral Bay where he lives on his Sailboat Mahala.
Captain Dylan
Dylan was raised between St. John and St.Croix. He's a member of the VI Fire Department, home based at the Coral Bay station. See him in the fire trucks or on the boats, he's huge on safety and local knowledge.
Captain Ben
Hailing from Virginia, Ben discovered the waterman lifestyle spending a good amount of his childhood in the Outer Banks. His love of the Caribbean has brough him up and down the West Indies, delivering sail boats and eventually ending up on St. John. He is an avid surfer, fisherman, diver and loves to find hidden gems among our shores. Not only is he an excellent Captain, he is a skilled master carpenter. He built many of our Salt Decks, our one of a kind SurfSkis and so much more. Enjoy his stories, historical tidbits and fun attitude.
Captain Kyle
Raised by an old salt for a grandfather and my mother who was at the helm by 18, it comes as no surprise that growing up in the Bahamas and South Florida I was the Dinghy Captain as soon as I was strong enough to start the engine by myself. My grandfather gave me the responsibilities of maintaining my vessel that came along with my new title and I proudly kept my little ship in tip top seagoing condition. I left the continental US in 2014 on my sailboat and in 2015 found myself in the Virgin Islands. I was hired to run a 60’ Catamaran named Vivo which was my home for 3 years. Due to Irma & Maria, I expanded my skillset of yacht restoration and brought her back to life again. In 2018 I purchased an Irma damaged lagoon 55” catamaran named ReAction. My partner and I worked miracles with epoxy and glass and after launching her we sailed to Grenada and began running charters throughout the Caribbean. My next adventures were on a 58’ Voyage called Yes Dear in the VI as well as the southern caribbean and a 90’ gunboat on the east coast and Antigua. Having a lot of local expertise to share and with over 800 documented days at sea since becoming a licensed captain I know that you will feel safe with me as your guide to Saint John.
