Summer in the Hamptons is best enjoyed at the beach or on a boat. HampTiki is the best way to have fun with your friends and family out at sea!
You can rent a private boat decorated with a fun tiki theme, bring your own drinks, snacks, and music playlist and create unforgettable memories. The boat will stop by at any of the waterfront restaurants in the area, or head over to a quiet nook, it’s all up to you. Dance away on the boat’s unique floor plan and take in the stunning sunset or sunrise!
Captain Mike, the mastermind behind HampTiki, spoke to Hamptons.com about the inspiration behind HampTiki.
Talk to us about HampTiki?
To start from the beginning, boats were a passion of mine since kindergarten when I would write about and draw them in my journals all the time. I ended up following my parents’ footsteps and working in Television as a Camera Operator for 22 years and literally just played one on TV for a couple Episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
When Covid hit I quickly watched my calendar go blank as every job I was booked on got canceled. My wife was a pharmacist for CVS and with the influx of people leaving the city for their summer houses she was asked to relocate to East Hampton. With my schedule clear, I reached out to Sag Harbor Sailing and asked if they needed anyone to captain their boats and they did. With my passion for sailing this was a great opportunity, and I really enjoyed the mixed clientele from avid sailors looking to strengthen their skills to people wanting to party on a boat all day.
Where did you get the idea for HampTiki?
We took a trip to Lake George and saw these floating Tiki Bars. We did not end up taking a trip as we had three kids with us under 6 years old but thought it was a great idea for a lake. These boats did not look like they could handle the conditions that may be thrown at them in Hampton Bays so I put the idea on hold and was looking for large luxurious sailing vessels to purchase and charter.
In my search I came across a 28 foot by 10 foot tritoon (three pontoons) made of fiberglass and aluminum. It was very seaworthy and had proven it could handle similiar waters on Cape Cod. It was used as a kids’ fishing vessel and was almost through with its USCG inspection. I spoke to a really close friend of mine who has been in the charter business for a long time and he told me to get my masters license and run this boat as an inspected vessel because everyone wants to bring one more than the 6pax allowed on a standard vessel.
My wife had my back on this and we decided to give it a go. I trailered the boat from Cape Cod to Hampton Bays via the Orient Point Ferry and we got to work turning this super safe kids’ fishing vessel into a Tiki Themed cruise boat. We decided to forgo the standard “Bar” and left the layout more open for dancing, and lounging. We added a bathroom that some other vessels of this nature seemed to lack. All the furniture can be moved or removed to provide room for anything from late night dance parties to midday kids’ parties with piñatas and other games.
We can carry up to 11 passengers, we have a 16 x 10 foot canopy to protect from the elements and as I said, a bathroom on board. We enjoy bringing clients to local restaurants for a quick drink, food, vibes, and or dockside pickup. We also have a few nooks and crannies worthy of a dip or float in our large SunChill raft. We provide all clients with a cooler of ice and bottled water. Gas is also included. Trips are private and can be tailored to anyone’s needs for start times and durations. There is a great Bluetooth sound system linked to my Spotify or your own phone.
When is the best time to go on HampTiki?
The best time to go on Hamptiki is on your time. Each part of the day has its own amazing vibes from that early bird wake-up on the water, to the golden hour sunsets on the Peconic and Shinnecock bays. We navigate the Shinnecock Canal regularly and choose which side has the best weather for the time slot.
For booking info, visit www.Hamptiki.com
