Bachelor Party Charter in the Hamptons
Here's the question almost no charter website answers before you put down a deposit: how many guys can actually get on the boat? A bachelor party charter in the Hamptons lives or dies on that number, and federal law sets it before anyone at the marina does. We're Charters in The Hamptons, a family-run operation based on Shelter Island, and we'd rather tell you the rule up front than have you find out at the dock. Every trip runs with a USCG-licensed captain. Pickup is available in Sag Harbor and Greenport. Call (631) 251-1777 and tell us how many are coming, and we'll match you to a boat that fits.
The Six-Passenger Rule Nobody Explains
Most charter boats on the East End are what the Coast Guard calls uninspected passenger vessels. Under federal law, an uninspected vessel can carry no more than six paying passengers, not counting the captain and crew. Boats rated for twelve people on a Saturday with friends drop to six the moment money changes hands. To carry more than six, a vessel has to be inspected by the Coast Guard and issued a Certificate of Inspection. That's a different class of boat entirely. You can read the rule yourself at the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Why this matters to you: a party of ten that books a "12-person boat" online can show up and find four guys standing on the dock. We tell you the passenger number for the specific vessel when you call, before you pay anything. If your group is bigger than one boat holds, we can run two boats together. Give us the head count first and the rest gets easy.
Where a Bachelor Party Actually Goes
Shelter Island sits in the middle of the East End, between the North Fork and the South Fork. That location is the whole advantage. A boat leaving from Southampton or Hampton Bays is pinned to one side of the bay. We can run north or south on the same afternoon.
A typical day looks like this. Pick up in Sag Harbor or Greenport. Run out into Peconic or Gardiners Bay. Anchor somewhere shallow and warm for a few hours of swimming. Then tie up for a late lunch before heading back.
Sunset Beach and the Anchoring Problem
Sunset Beach on Shelter Island is the scene everyone asks for, and it's worth seeing. It's also one of the trickier places on the East End to anchor. The bottom drops off on a steep sandy and rocky slope, and the wind and current there will drag a poorly set hook. Boats swing into each other on busy August weekends.
That's your captain's problem, not yours. Ours have set anchor there hundreds of times and know which side of the crowd to sit on. When it's blowing hard from the wrong direction, we'll tell you and move you somewhere better. Coecles Harbor and Smith Cove on the south side of the island are calmer, quieter, and almost never crowded.
Dock and Dine on the Way Back
Plenty of groups want food halfway through. Claudio's in Greenport has a marina and dockhands, but transient docking there is first come, first served, and on a July Saturday you can wait. Mitchell Park Marina puts you right in Greenport village on foot. On Shelter Island, Ram's Head Inn near Coecles Harbor is the calmer option.
Your captain handles the docking. Tell us where you want to eat and we'll build the run time around it and call ahead where we can.
What You Bring and What We Handle
Every charter includes a professional crew, a clean boat, ice, bottled water, and fuel. You bring food, drinks, towels, and your own playlist.
A few things groups always ask about:
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Alcohol. Guests can drink. The captain and crew don't, and the captain has the final call if someone's had too much. Nobody enjoys the ride home otherwise.
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Music. Bring your phone and connect. We're not going to hand you a curated playlist.
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Swimming. Yes, at anchor, once the engines are off and the captain says go.
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Seasickness. Peconic Bay is protected on three sides and stays flat when the ocean is rough. It's a good bay for guys who don't boat much.
Why Groups Book With Us
We're cousins who grew up in the marina business on Shelter Island. We worked the docks as kids and earned our USCG licenses in 2019. We've run more than 200 charters since. That's not a marketing line, it's just the job.
A few things that separate us from the rest of the East End:
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Every captain holds a USCG license, not just one of them.
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Pickup at Sag Harbor and Greenport, so nobody has to find an unfamiliar marina at 10 a.m.
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Central Shelter Island base, which means North Fork and South Fork on the same trip.
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Private charters only. You'll never share the boat with another group.
We also run bachelorette charters, so if both halves of the wedding party are out the same weekend, we can coordinate.
The Best Weekend to Book
June and September are the two underrated windows. The water is warm enough to swim by mid June, and the bay is nowhere near as busy as it gets in late July. September is warmer than most people expect and the anchorages empty out after Labor Day.
If the wedding date locks you into an August Saturday, book it months ahead. That's the busiest stretch on the East End, and the good boats go first. Friday and Sunday are usually easier to get than Saturday, and a weekday is easier still.
Book the Day
Get the head count first, then call. Once we know how many are coming and what date you want, we can match you to a boat and a route in one phone call. Summer Saturdays go early.
Call or text (631) 251-1777, or email captain@chartersinthehamptons.com. We're at 63 S Menantic Rd, Shelter Island, NY 11964. See our boats or read more charter details before you call.
Ready to Get on the Water?
Whether you've chartered with us before or this is your first time on a boat in the Hamptons, we'll help you put together the right day. Call (631) 251-1777 or email captain@chartersinthehamptons.com to check availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can come on a bachelor party charter? It depends on the vessel. Most private charter boats are limited to six passengers by federal law. Larger inspected vessels carry more. Tell us your head count when you call and we'll tell you which boat fits or whether you need two.
How long is a bachelor party charter? Most trips run about four hours. Half-day and full-day options are available if you want a longer run or a stop for a meal. Call (631) 251-1777 and we'll build the schedule around your day.
Can we bring our own alcohol? Yes. Guests may bring their own drinks. The captain and crew stay sober, and the captain can end the drinking if safety becomes an issue.
Do you run charters on weekdays? Yes, seven days a week in season. Weekdays are quieter on the water and easier to book late. Summer weekends fill up early, especially in July and August.
Where do you pick us up? Sag Harbor on the South Fork and Greenport on the North Fork. Your captain confirms the exact dock when you book.
What happens if the weather is bad? Your captain makes the call based on conditions the morning of. Call (631) 251-1777 to talk through how we handle rescheduling for your date.
Do we need a boating license? No. Every trip is captained by a USCG-licensed captain. New York's Brianna's Law applies to people operating a boat, not to charter guests.
