East Marion Charters on Orient Harbor
North Forth
East Marion is a strip of land barely wide enough for the road. Long Island Sound is on one side, Orient Harbor on the other, and in places you can see both from the same spot. Almost everyone driving through is on their way to Orient or the ferry. An East Marion charter gives you a reason to stop. We run captained trips with USCG-licensed captains and pick up in Greenport, a short drive west. Our captains have run more than 200 charters out here. Call (631) 251-1777.
The narrowest part of the North Fork
The hamlet sits on the causeway stretch where the fork thins almost to nothing. Truman Beach faces the Sound on the north side. Orient Harbor opens out to the south. Dam Pond, a preserved area of roughly 40 acres of estuary off Main Road, sits at the eastern end and is known locally for birding.
That geography is the whole story of East Marion. Exposed water north, protected water south, separated by a few hundred yards of sand and road. Our charters work the harbor side.
Where you board
We do not have a dock in East Marion. Our home dock is 63 S Menantic Rd, Shelter Island, NY 11964, and our North Fork pickup point is Greenport. From East Marion that is a short drive west on Main Road, one of the shortest hops of any hamlet we serve.
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Sag Harbor is our South Fork pickup if that works better for part of your group. A standard charter runs about four hours, with half-day and full-day trips available.
What the harbor side gives you
Orient Harbor is wide, protected and shallow at the margins. It is a good anchoring harbor and a reliable one when the Sound is unpleasant, which out here it often is.
From the water you see the causeway shoreline, the low beach along the south side, and the Orient village waterfront further east. On a clear day Shelter Island’s northern shore is across the bay.
This is also osprey country. The platforms along the marsh edges are occupied through the summer, and they are easier to see from a boat than from the road
Trips East Marion charters run most
Anchoring and swimming. Orient Harbor is one of the better harbors on the fork for it.
Eco and nature cruising. The marsh edges, the shallows and the bird activity. Our Hamptons boat tours page covers the eco and sightseeing routes.
Inshore fishing. Fluke, porgies, bluefish and black sea bass through the warm months. See our fishing charters page for trip types.
Sunset runs. Roughly 90 minutes before sundown, two to three hours on the water.
Longer trips east. Full-day runs can head toward Gardiners Bay and the eastern water.
What to know
Six passengers plus crew, set by the USCG six-passenger rule for uninspected vessels under 100 gross tons.
New York Navigation Law requires children under 12 to wear a USCG-approved life jacket while the boat is underway on vessels 65 feet or under. Children inside an enclosed cabin are excepted. We carry approved life jackets for everyone.
Bring your own food and drinks, towels, sunscreen and soft-soled shoes.
Who you are booking East Marion charters with
We are cousins who grew up in the marina business on Shelter Island. Our captains earned their USCG licenses in 2019 and have more than 200 charters behind them. From Shelter Island we can reach Orient Harbor, the Greenport waterfront and Sag Harbor without a long transit.
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We run a fleet of 27+ vessels, from smaller boats for a family afternoon up to our flagship Pershing yachts. That range is the reason we can match a boat to the day rather than the other way round. The fleet page shows what is available.
A good stretch for a slow trip
Not every charter needs a destination. A fair number of the trips we run from this end of the fork are simply slow loops of Orient Harbor with the engines down and nobody in a hurry.
The marsh edges, the shallow flats and the low shoreline reward that pace. So does the bird activity. Osprey platforms are occupied through the summer, and the shallows draw wading birds all season.
If that is the day you want, say so when you book. We will plan a route around it rather than running you somewhere and back.
Weekdays are calmer on the water and easier for parking.
Call (631) 251-1777 and we will price your date.
Booking the trip around the tide
Most people book a charter by clock time. Out on this end of the fork, the tide matters more than the hour, and it is worth a sentence of explanation.
Orient Harbor is shallow at the edges, which is exactly what makes it good for anchoring and swimming. It also means the good spots change with the water. A flat that is perfect at mid tide is not somewhere you want to be sitting two hours later.
Wind against tide is the other factor. When the breeze runs opposite the current, the same protected harbor gets short and choppy. When they run together it stays glassy. Same place, same day, completely different trip.
This is the argument for flexibility on departure time. If you can give us a window rather than a fixed hour, we will put you on the water at the better end of it. If you need a fixed time for a birthday or a dinner reservation, we will work to it and tell you honestly what to expect.
Either way, ask when you book. It is the question that most improves a trip out here and almost nobody thinks to ask it.
Frequently asked questions
Book an East Marion charter
East Marion charters are best booked with a time window rather than a fixed hour. Call (631) 251-1777 or email captain@chartersinthehamptons.com with your date, group size and pickup preference.
