The Captains
John GarzaUSCG CaptainFounder/Owner of PCWRI was raised on lake Berryessa since age 10 where my Uncle Tom and Aunt Laura had a Tri hull vessel and Trailer at Rancho Monticello.
In the 1990s I deckhanded and went out many times on Monterey Bay with USCG Captain Sal Margo on the Margaret Mary Bayliner 48. This is where I learned what it meant to be a Coast Guard Captain and the Charter Business complexity. In 1994 I bought a house on the Water in Discovery Bay and I have owned and operated over 20 vessels. Currently I own and operate a 46 American Marine / Grand Banks Raised Pilothouse Trawler. In the early 2000s years I went to the San Juan Islands and took a Captains course at San Juan Sailing and Yachting. For several years after that I went on cruises on the San Juan Islands and assisted with CPR and 1st Aid Training for the 50 Captains that were part of this great company in Bellingham Washington. In 2003 I help start the Fremont Fire Water Rescue team with a fleet of boats including a Zodiac 14 , Clavey River Raft 14 and Boston Whaler Montauk 18. All Fremont Firefighters were taught Swift Water and State Fire Rescue Boat Operations. We covered the Fremont Lakes, Alameda Creek and South San Francisco Bay from San Jose to the San Mateo bridge. We performed many cases with USCG Sector San Francisco. In 2010 I went through a USCG Masters Course on the 60 Foot Oakland Fire Boat and spent that whole course as a Coxswain / Master. WHY PCWR CAPTAINS SERVICES EXIST:
In 2012 PCWR founded the PCWR Foundation to help cover the Discovery Bay and South Delta Area as a result of the public approaching us to cover Boat Races; Tri-Athlons and Community Water Based events. We have a small fleet of 6 boats and we have covered over 100 events over the last seven Summers. Additionally we have trained over 100 Firefighters in Rescue Boat Operations and over 200 Community Members in 1st Aid and CPR. Also we have sponsored Community Boat Classes for US Power Boat, Boaters Safety Card, and USCG Training. To date since May 2012 to present we have accomplished the following:
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Jason AlexanderUSCG CaptainI grew up boating on the Sacramento and lower American river. My father had a documented vessel docked at the Virgin Sturgeon for some time. The most expensive boat I ever owned was "free". I bought books on how to fiberglass and rebuilt the 1960s 17 foot fiberglass on wood, with a 2 stroke 110 Mercury outboard. I ran this boat for years, fishing and skiing, all over Sacramento and Folsom waterways. I Joined the Sacramento Sheriff's Drowning Accident Rescue Team in 2008 where I became a certified Public Safety Rescue Diver, River & Flood Water Rescue Technician and Rescue Boat Operator regularly responding to boaters and swimmers in distress, vehicles in the water, critical incidents and recovery operations. I have served as crew aboard a 30ft. dive charter in the US Virgin Islands where safety and accountability was paramount. I also have limited time at the wheel of a 34ft. pleasure sailboat, also in the Caribbean. I am excited to join the Pacific Coast Team as newly minted USCG Captain.
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John FranciscoUSCG CaptainMy name is Capt John Francisco I am 54 years old and a Bay Area native. I grew up in Castro Valley ca. My childhood was spent hunting and fishing and that’s about it. Places like Disneyland wasn’t in the lists of places to visit until I was an adult and went with my fiancé. As long as can remember we had boats. I think I was around 11 or 12 when I first got to experience the SF bay and Ocean outside the Golden Gate and I was in love. The following years I spent as much time out on those waters as possible. We had a 21 foot Tiara Pursuit at 18 years old started my career as a teamsters and worked in the solid waste business yep aka I’m a garbage man within a year I had bought a 17 ft Boston Whaler.
After several years I got the itch to try and make some money in the commercial fishing industry and invested in a 28 Albin salmon troller. I did the best I could while still keeping my job and fishing on the side. I did this for 7 salmon seasons in the mid 80s to the early 90s I learned to run the area from Halfmoon bay to Bodega chasing the schools. Since all of this I have kept my marriage healthy raised my son and spent many days pursuing striped bass and sturgeon in the west delta area. I completed a maritime academy in 2017 and tested and was awarded a master captain license with a towing endorsement for up to 50 vessels. I plan on retiring in 2019 and hope to spend time as a captain for hire or run a boat of my own. |
Support Staff
Chris CushmanParamedic/Rescue SwimmerMy parents had a 16’ tri-hull I/O before they had me and I grew up spending my summers boating and skiing. They taught me all aspects of being a responsible boater from a very early age. At the age of 14 we moved up to a 20’ inboard tournament ski boat and I’ve logged hundreds of hours pulling and teaching skiers. I also have owned and operated tillered outboard boats, standup and sit-down Jet Skis.
I began working towards a career in the Fire/Rescue/EMS field in the early 90’s. While working as a Fire Fighter/Paramedic in Half Moon Bay, I was trained as an open ocean water rescuer and PWC based water rescue, worked extensively with the Harbor Master and USCG. I’m currently an active member of my dept’s water rescue team operating two tillered Inflatable rescue boats and a state certified instructor for Rescue Boat Operations and Open Water Rescue Swimmer. |
Interested In Becoming Part Of The Team?
Click the link and fill out the PCWR Application located at the top of General Forms/Links.
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What Our Clients Are Saying"I currently have the pleasure of be instructed on my boat and cruising by Captain John Garza. My boat is a Symbol 48 Pilothouse with twin Cat diesels. I find Captain John to be very knowledgeable regarding boat systems and operations. I am new to owning a boat of this size and much appreciate his knowledge, experience and especially his patience in “showing me the ropes”. I’ve had to move my boat a few times on short notice and he always did his best to make time for me. I plan on continuing my training with him over the weeks and months ahead." |