About The Crew
There are lots of yacht adventures in Alaska. What makes us stand out?
Alaska's beauty truly speaks for itself. No matter where you go, it's easy to see sights that will give you stories to last a lifetime. But what truly sets an adventure on the Alaskan Legend apart from other vessels lies in the people running it.
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We boast a crew of Southeast Alaska locals who have spent their whole lives discovering the hidden gems that other commercial trips have never seen. Our crew has lived unheard of experiences that make this trip so unique and perfect for everything you've dreamed of checking off of your bucket list. You will truly get a once in a lifetime opportunity to dive deep into the wonder of Alaska from the local's perspective, and trust us when we say that you do not want to miss out.
Charles Davis
Owner and Captain
Robert Frampton
Captain
Michelle Benson
Chef
Cade Clay
Crew
Allison Davis
Crew
The qualifications required to run this boat start with the remarkable life of its owner and Captain, Charles Davis. Meeting someone like Charles is a rare occurrence, but once you do, you are sure to remember him forever. Charles was born in Ketchikan, Alaska and raised in the logging camps of Prince of Wales Island. He graduated as the Valedictorian of his class of 1 in Whale Pass, a community with dirt roads and a current population of 101. From a young age, he learned to be creative and find adventures in the wilderness around him. So, when you're aboard the Alaskan Legend, enjoying your delicious, fresh seafood dinner, be sure to ask him about some of his stories from his logging camp days; they are sure to keep you entertained!
In '99, Charles attended the Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona for Diesel Mechanics before returning home to run Petersburg Bottled Gas, a bottled gas and welding supply shop. However, this was just the start of his business ventures. He went from fixing and flipping used cars and welding, to purchasing a crane truck, aviation fuel truck, forklifts, cranes, and other heavy machinery for his business, Tonka Toy Rentals. He is also in the real estate business where he owns multiple buildings, ranging from apartments to state agencies.
The Alaskan Legend isn't the only marine business Charles is involved in; he also has a barge and tug operation for moving equipment to rural areas and building docks and piers. Another vessel Charles owned was a 76' landing craft called Allison Grace, which was used for all sorts of projects from equipment transportation, tendering for a local cannery, and even moving a house! His most recent noteworthy project, completed in 2021, was the moving of a 3-story house on a barge from Farragut Bay to Whale Pass, Alaska, a distance of approximately 150 miles. Once the house was back on land, Charles moved it a few miles over land and up a steep hill to its new home overlooking the bay. This was something he had never done before, and it was an extremely tedious process that took a lot of planning. But if anyone could do it, it was Charles.
One of the wildest adventures that earned him his credentials for leading people around Southeast Alaska was his time on the MavTV reality TV show, Dangerous Waters. He and a crew of 4 other men embarked on a journey to jet-ski around the world, starting in Seattle and making it right back. He starred in the first 3 seasons as the team mechanic, and his talents and abilities were definitely put to the test. With brutal weather and 25-foot swells, they became the first people in the world to cross the Bering Strait on jet-skis. This adventure was not for the faint-hearted, and after enduring handfuls of close calls and even being detained in Russia for a week, he completed 3 successful seasons on this show, available on Amazon Prime.
As you can tell, there isn't much that Charles hasn't done. There is no one more qualified than him to take you and your family on a journey to discover what Southeast Alaska has to offer.
Captain Robert Frampton is pleased to be again joining the crew aboard the M/V Alaskan Legend for another season of exploring SE Alaska.
Growing up along the shores of Puget Sound, he started working with boats as a youngster. A 43-year Alaska resident, Capt Bob retired from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a research vessel captain. He is a Coast Guard licensed 200-ton Near Coastal Master with Sail, Commercial Assistance Tow, Radar, Marine Radio, Safety and Security endorsements. His specialized maritime area of service is the Pacific Northwest coast from Southeast Alaska through British Columbia into the Salish Sea and Puget Sound. He has over 3,000 sea-days and 125,000 miles on the waterways of the Pacific Northwest including research, private yachts and charter vessels, both sail and power. He has voyaged offshore on the North Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Red Sea. Capt. Bob now resides on the Washington coast and is the principal of Pacific NW Coastal, a maritime consulting business providing vessel operations and deliveries, inspections, purchase consultations, systems design and on-board engineering. When not off-season cruising the Salish Sea, Capt. Bob’s off-the-water-times include an appreciation and study of northwest natural and cultural history, indigenous landscaping, and volunteer work with regional non-profits in Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
Cade Clay grew up in Haines, Alaska, living a unique lifestyle that not many people can relate to. At the age of just 14, he started his career as a commercial fisherman during the summers after school was out for the year. This is when his fascination with all things marine began. He soon discovered that being on the water in Southeast Alaska was his calling, and fishing became his passion. Cade spent every summer thereafter working tirelessly, often for 24 hours without sleep, picking fish out of nets, and gaining experience and knowledge of Alaska beyond his years. This allowed him to acquire his Captain's license at the age of 22.
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In addition to his extensive knowledge of the water, Cade also grew up hunting since the age of 4 and exploring nature around the outskirts of the small town he lived in. He spent his free time hiking, boating, and four-wheeling, which gave him the opportunity to learn about everything, from birds, trees, native stories, and more. Cade has also been participating in shotgun sports since he was 10 years old and placed 2nd in the nation in 2019. Currently, Cade is coaching the local youth shotgun team and takes pride in educating and sharing his passion for shooting sports.
All of these unique experiences have led Cade to his ultimate role on the Alaskan Legend as a Captain, Deckhand, engineer, and encyclopedia. Cade can assist you in landing a fish, tying up a boat, or even operating a boat. He can also answer just about anything you need to know while exploring the Last Frontier, from how glaciers are formed to how to fillet a salmon. Cade will be your tour guide as you are immersed in the wonder and beauty of Alaska!
