All aboard the South Shore’s most festive catamaran with Fire Island Tiki. The 26-foot “Big Kahuna” is available to book for personalized cruises anywhere across the Great South Bay. Captain Jeff Entin and his wife Stacy have lived on the South Shore for decades, exploring every inch of the waters. After many summers in Ocean Beach, they started thinking of buying a boat in a boat.
Taking inspiration from vacationing in the Florida Keys, Stacy pondered bringing a slice of tiki mystique to Long Island. Jeff took the logistical route of the project, finding a way to craft the perfect boat for this situation.
“We thought, if it doesn’t work, we’ll just have the coolest boat on Long Island,” Stacy remarked. Luckily, her idea proved successful, as the couple gushed gratitude for a handful of lovely voyages since last November’s debut.
“Big Kahuna” is a Coast Guard-approved vessel, equipped with a private bathroom, a long table with stools, a comfortable corner couch, and plenty of walking room on the exterior. Although it can hold up to 18 guests, it’s small enough to fit in a regular marina spot, making it extremely versatile in where it travels.
Details were incorporated for the comfort of their guests including purse hangers, phone chargers, and bottle openers – there’s even a small television! They also have a variety of kayaks, paddleboards, and other water toys available upon request.
Voyages are entirely catered to the group booking the cruise with an accommodating staff. The boat has already seen a myriad of unique voyages; bachelorette parties, Sunday football watch parties, and family reunions to name a few of the events held aboard the vessel so far.
Fire Island Tiki also supports local businesses, encouraging their parties to get food catered from restaurants on Fire Island. Some restaurants have created special menus for these voyages, with The Island Mermaid being a standout. Parties have the option to dock at the restaurant after the voyage and dine in, or choose from a plethora of food and drink packages to indulge in aboard the cruise.
“Scott [Hirsch] knows how to run a business,” said Stacy. “He has a special touch when it comes to catering and hosting.”
The menus featured from the Island Mermaid range from sushi platters to brunch packages to decadent Italian cuisines. If parties choose to cater from a local business, Fire Island Tiki will provide $100 towards the cost of the food package. “We let the restaurants handle their option to do the food plan,” Jeff shared. “We’re providing the boat and working with the local restaurants to help their businesses also.”
In addition to supporting local businesses, the vessel’s crew is locally employed from within the boating community.
“All captains are retired or active Suffolk County police, and the staff is employed locally from the boating community, including our professional waitstaff,” Jeff shared.
Voyages are running every day this summer, and you’ll want to join in on the fun with Fire Island Tiki. More information can be found at @fireislandtiki on Instagram.
