About
Small shop. Real captains. East End roots.
Three locals, one boutique fleet, and a home port on Long Wharf.
East Coast Yacht Charters is a small, family-feeling shop based on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Everything you book runs through us directly. There is no reservation desk in an office park, no franchise, no upsell. Three captains, one boutique fleet, and a shared calendar.
We grew up here. That matters when the wind swings west at three in the afternoon and you need to know which side of Shelter Island stays calm. It matters when a bachelorette weekend needs a very specific playlist and a caterer who will actually show up on time. And it matters when a family with young kids has never chartered before and needs a real answer to the question, is this safe.
Every one of our vessels runs with a USCG licensed captain, appropriate insurance, safety equipment we inspect ourselves, and a plan for weather. We do not run boats in unsafe conditions. If the day is not right, we reschedule. That is the deal.
We are local since 2020. We are still small on purpose.
We are Carter and Sean. We grew up in Sag Harbor. We learned to run boats before we could drive cars. And after years of working for other charter companies, we started this one so we could do it the way we always wished it was done.
This is our story, our values, and the credentials that stand behind every trip we run.
How This Started
Both of us started working on boats in high school. Deckhands first. Then mates. Then captains. We worked for the big concierge shops that run out of Sag Harbor, East Hampton, and Montauk. We loved the water. We did not love the way guests were treated.
Too many charter companies here treat guests like a wallet with sunglasses. Vague pricing. Bots for texting. A different captain every time who has never sailed the East End before. Guests would board excited and disembark five hours later feeling like they had been processed.
We knew we could do it better because we already were, one guest at a time, on our days off. In 2024 we bought our first boat together. In 2025 we added two more. Now we run a real boutique fleet, and every guest still gets one of us on the other end of the text.
What We Believe
Safety Comes First
No question, no debate. Every boat is fully insured. Every captain is USCG licensed. We check the forecast before every trip and we will cancel a run if conditions are not safe. You get a full refund or a free reschedule if we make that call.
Honest Pricing
The price we quote is the price you pay. Captain included. Fuel included on most trips. No surprise fees at the end. If there is a fuel surcharge on a long Block Island run, we tell you before you book.
Fast, Human Replies
When you email us, you get Carter or Sean. Not a bot. Not an assistant in another time zone. We reply within two hours during the day, usually inside 15 minutes.
Fun Is The Point
This is a vacation, not a lesson. We keep the vibe easy. We play your music. We stop at the sandbar you want. If you want to fish, we fish. If you want to swim and read a book, we swim and you read.
Local Is Better
We know these waters because we live on them. That means better routes, better swim stops, better dock lunches, and better fishing. It also means we care what the water looks like next year and the year after.
Our Credentials
Both of us hold USCG Master captain licenses. Sean holds a 100 ton Master. Carter holds a 50 ton Master and is working toward his 100 ton. Both of us carry current CPR and first aid certifications. Both of us hold TWIC cards.
Our fleet carries commercial marine insurance well above what the law requires. Our event yacht is USCG T boat inspected, which allows us to legally carry groups over 12 guests. We keep all inspection paperwork on board and we are happy to show it to any guest who asks.
Sustainability
We only get to do this job because the East End is clean. We work with two local groups on that. We pack out every piece of trash from every trip. We use pump out stations, never overboard. We keep our engines tuned so they burn cleaner. We avoid anchoring in eelgrass. And we support the Peconic Baykeeper and the Sag Harbor harbor committee.
We are not perfect. But we are trying.
Community
Sag Harbor made us. We give back where we can. We run a free youth day every summer where local kids get out on the water. We donate a charter each year to the East Hampton Fire Department fundraiser. We sponsor the local youth sailing team. If you know a good cause on the East End, we want to hear about it.
What Makes Us Different
There are dozens of charter companies out here. Here is why guests pick us and come back.
- You text one of us, not a call center
- Prices are all in and shared up front
- Local captains, not summer imports
- Boutique fleet, not a broker list
- Same team every year, not a rotating cast
- Fast, warm replies
The Boats
We keep a boutique fleet on purpose. Small enough that we know every boat like our own kitchen. Big enough that we have the right boat for almost any day. See the full fleet.
Meet The Team
Want to know more about who is running your day? Meet Carter, Sean and Max.
Ready To Book?
The best way to start is to text. Tell us your date, your group size, and the kind of day you want. Reach out here.
Frequently asked questions
Are you a broker or do you own your boats?+
We own or manage every boat we send out. We are not a broker. That means we know each boat, each captain, and each maintenance record. If something is off, we know before you board.
How long have you two been running charters?+
Both of us started working on boats in high school and got our captain licenses in our early twenties. We have each been running paid charters for around eight years. We started East Coast Yacht Charters together in 2024.
Do you run charters year round?+
Our main season is May through October. We run a small winter schedule for holiday parties and Block Island crossings on warm days. If you want a shoulder season charter, email us and we will see what we can do.
Are you insured?+
Yes, fully. We carry commercial marine liability well above the state minimum, plus hull and pollution coverage. We can share a certificate of insurance for corporate charters that need one for their books.
Do you support any local causes?+
Yes. We work with Peconic Baykeeper on water quality, we sponsor a youth sailing team, and we run a free youth day each summer for local kids. If you want to add a donation to a local cause when you book, we will match it.