Captain Mike’s life has been synonymous with boating since he was an infant. He’s an expert boater, having cut his teeth on fishing boats in/around the Outer Banks, NC, when he was nine years old. In subsequent years, while working in marinas and honing his skills as a crew member, Mike landed in Hawaii and became an avid surfer. After serving six distinguished years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, Mike bought a sailboat and lived on it for two years before selling the boat to attend Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). He earned his Captain’s License at FIT and managed the school’s research vessel for two more years before moving up to operating larger sailboats and yachts. Over the next few decades, Captain Mike’s passion for diving led him on treasure hunts throughout the Caribbean, where he’s been diving on nearly every island except Trinidad and Tobago. He’s also delivered yachts up and down the East Coast, including the Great Lakes and as far south as Puerto Rico. In addition, Captain Mike owned and operated a boat repair business, and he’s bought and sold dozens of boats in his lifetime. Currently qualified to captain 130-foot vessels, Captain Mike brings passion for boating and adventure to BoatClass every day, and our alumni genuinely appreciate his practical, seasoned approach to boat instruction.

Skills and Achievements

• Lifetime and expert boater
• Attended and received Captain’s license at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT)
• Qualified to captain 130-foot vessels
• Has delivered yachts up and down the East Coast, including the Great Lakes and as far south as Puerto Rico
• Spent 6 Years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve
• Avid surfer, diver, boat mechanic, and business man

Captain Tyler Barrus is a four-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), having spent his first 18 months in the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington DC under President Reagan.  After this prestigious position he transferred first to USCG Station Swansboro, NC, and then to USCG Station Rochester, NY, on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. At the two small boat stations, he became both qualified as Boat Crew, a Boarding Officer and eventually as a heavy weather certified Coxswain of a 44’ Motor Lifeboat and 25’ Rigid Hull Inflatable. As such, Captain Barrus was responsible for training both new personnel in small boat operations as well continual training and drills in the various vessel operations furthering both Search and Rescue and Federal Maritime Law Enforcement missions of the Coast Guard. After completing a four-year USCG enlistment, he was hired by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Rochester NY, as a Deputy Sheriff, starting in the Marine Division and progressing to Investigator Sergeant over a 24-year career. Upon retirement from the Sheriff’s Office, Captain Barrus returned to the water working for both the Orleans County and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrols, operating various SAFE Boats as well as other vessels in and around the Sheriff’s Offices Fleets. He is a graduate of both the New York State Office of Parks & Marine, Marine Law Enforcement Officer’s Operations Course for both Small Boats and Jet Ski. He also 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 Barrus has also been a trainer for Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville and has trained well over 200 members since December 2019.  He is known for his patience and easygoing style and teaching methods. 

Skills and Achievements

• United States Coast Guard (USCG) 25-Ton Master’s License with Towing Endorsement
• Trained new USCG personnel in both Search and Rescue and Federal Maritime Law Enforcement
• Successful 24-year career in law enforcement in the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Rochester NY – starting in the Marine Division and progressing to Investigator Sergeant
• Member of the tournament winning R & R Fishing Team out of Marietta GA
• Current trainer for Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville and has trained well over 200 members since December 2019
• Known for his patience and easygoing style and teaching methods