This isn’t exactly the Gulf Coast.
There aren’t boat and jet -ski rental places dotting Long Island’s coastal communities.
Even if there were, traversing the Great South Bay could be somewhat treacherous for those inexperienced with its swaths of shallows; you need to know where the channels are.
That, and how to share the water safely with all those boaters.
So meet the Mann family, Eric and his daughters, Caitlin, 21, and Cassidy, 18.
They know every bit of about the bays. And they wanted to share their knowledge and love of the local waters with all Long Islanders and visitors alike. So in 2022, they launched Three Phase Charters & Jet Ski Rentals out of Bergen Point in West Babylon.
From there, couples, friends and families get to choose from four jet-skis and even a 31-foot Boston Whaler that’s built for absolute comfort, and which Eric Mann captains himself.
[Click here for all plans and pricing.]
“We try to make it the most personable experience that we can,” said Cassidy. “We want to show you all the cool things that we see; we want to share that with other people.”
So far, the business has been powered by word of mouth.
But in their desire to provide water access for all, the Mann family wants to spread the word about their guided tours, offering several different routes depending on the tides and the weather — and for all skill levels.
“We have a route that will make everybody happy,” says Eric.
How it came together
Eric Mann, a union electrician, and his wife and daughters grew up on the ocean and bays. We’re talking countless hours of experience in all seasons. Eric wanted to turn all that knowledge and passion into a family business.
So he pitched the idea of starting a jet-ski rental operation to Caitlin and Cassidy.
They were in.
That was in the winter of 2022. Just a few months later, they secured docking space at Bergen Point and hit the water running that spring. By August, Eric got his USCG captain’s license and added the boat to the fleet.
Now they offer one of the more unique Long Island entertainment experiences for families, friends or co-workers looking for just an hour or even a full day of fun traversing the bays, beaches and salt marshes of the South Shore.
“We don’t do fishing charters, but pleasure cruises, sunset cruises,” Eric explained.
They’ll even pull your party up to a waterfront restaurant on Fire Island or the Nautical Mile.
“We’ve had families out for tubing, wakeboarding and then, of course, the jet skis,” he said. “A unique part of what we offer is geared toward group outings. The boat has all the comforts of home to make your day out on the water very comfortable. It’s awesome.”
How it works
This is an appointment-driven business, either booked over the phone or by clicking here to book online.
Guests are advised to show up about 30 minutes ahead of time, so everyone has time to go through safely protocols and get fitted for life vests.
From there, guests can choose to rent a jet-ski for an an hour or 2 and 1/2 hours.
That’s the standard offering, but for those thinking bigger, say an entire day on the water, the Manns could also accommodate. The boat could be chartered from two to eight hours.
But what if you’re nervous? The Mann family says not to worry.
“We ride at anybody’s pace” Caitlin insisted. “You don’t need to have any previous experience to ride with us.”
And if you fancy yourself a pro?
“We run at your pace. You can’t run too fast for us,” she added with a laugh.
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Or follow their journey on Instagram:
