Meet Captain Dave
Captain Dave grew up on the water in Northeast Florida, and more than 25 years later, he still hasn't left it. He's a USCG-licensed captain based in Jacksonville and Mayport, and if you ask him what he does for a living, the honest answer is "a little bit of everything that involves a boat."
Since 1998, Dave has logged his "10,000 hours" coaching waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wake surfing, an obsession that's evolved into surf foiling today. In 2011 and 2012, he worked as an airboat captain on the Intracoastal Waterway. Somewhere in between all of that, he found his way into dolphin and wildlife tours by pontoon, and it stuck.
Dave also serves as VP of Sales for Premier Remotes, a marine technology company that builds smart boat lift controllers and marina solutions. It's an unusual combination, hands-on captain by weekend and marine tech professional by trade, but it's exactly why he notices details on the water that a lot of guides miss.
These days, Dave runs private eco and wildlife tours through the Mayport and Jacksonville Intracoastal Waterway. Dolphins are usually the headline, but manatees, birds, and Northeast Florida's protected waterways get plenty of attention too.
At home, Dave is married with two young kids, ages 4 and 6, which probably explains why he's such a fan of The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann, and Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols. Free time is rare between family and the boat, but when it happens, you'll find him watching college football, the NFL, the WNBA, or Formula 1. Go Gators! Go Jags!
If you're looking for a private dolphin tour, a sunset cruise, or just a few hours on the water with someone who actually knows these waterways, Captain Dave is your guy.
Meet Captain Jed Duckro
Captain Jed Duckro has spent more than eleven years on the water in Northeast Florida, and he still treats every trip like it matters. He's a U.S. Coast Guard licensed 100-Ton Master, and since 2015 he's worked as a St. Johns River Taxi captain, safely bringing thousands of passengers along for the ride while sharing his genuine love of boating, wildlife, and Florida's natural beauty.
Before that, Jed owned and ran an airboat tour business in Central Florida, where he made a habit of getting guests just a few feet from real Florida alligators. And before any of that, he played college baseball at the University of Kentucky.
Jed is also a two-time leukemia survivor, and it's hard to talk to him for long without that perspective showing through. He leads with calm professionalism, real care for the people on his boat, and a quiet sense of humor that puts everyone at ease. He doesn't talk much about trust. He just earns it, one trip at a time.
Off the water, Jed is a woodworker, a cook, and someone who's happiest outside. He's also a three-time defending champion of the Jax Beach Chili Cook-Off, which he'll mention if you ask, and probably even if you don't. Making something with his hands or sharing a meal with the people he loves is where he's at his best, right alongside the water itself.
For Jed, success was never about titles. It's about the people he gets to share these waterways with, and the small, quiet moments he gets to be part of along the way.
Ready to Make Some Memories? Limited spots fill up fast — especially on weekends and during peak season.
Give us a call or text at (904) 930-1801 to reserve your spot today.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, looking for a romantic evening, or just want to unwind after a day on the First Coast, our Sunset Tour is one of those experiences you’ll wish you’d done sooner.
Come enjoy the beauty, the stories, and the unforgettable sunsets that make Northeast Florida so special.
Old Florida Boat Tours — Real Florida. Real Fun. Real Sunset Magic.