Marinas In / Near New York City?

[jonic]

Hi all

We are a British boat with two young kids currently cruising up the east coast USA from the Caribbean and are heading to Norfolk. During the summer we are thinking of going on up to New York, but would appreciate any local knowledge concerning transient (and affordable) dockage in order to visit NYC. Boat is a 38ft sailboat. We have heard prices up to 85 dollars a foot!

Thanks in advance

http://www.theyachtmoonshine.com

[speedoo]

I'd write off Manhattan and look at someplace like City Island in Western Long Island ... it's actually part of NYC and you would have public transportation access to anywhere in NYC by bus and then subway. City Island is kind of a fun place and there are some yacht clubs and marinas there where you could probably moor your boat at reasonable cost and maybe even have launch service.

There are other possibilities in the boroughs and also Nassau County on Long Island and Fairfield County Connecticut. If you are a member of a yacht club with reciprocal privileges, you could moor at a local YC very inexpensively.

On edit... there is a marina on the upper west side of Manhattan... moorings on the Manhattan shore of the Hudson River... might be reasonable. I believe it's called the 79th Street Marina.

[Christian Van H]

See here: Marinas : West 79th Street Boat Basin : New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Dockage is around $100, moorings should be $30.00

[speedoo]

Joni, you are welcome!

I would definitely check out the 79th Street Boat Basin, part of the NYC Parks System.

Here is the info on it and also a back up facility in Queens.. World's Fair Marina.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_thing...n_brochure.pdf

Looks pretty reasonable, if you can get something there. Nice to find a reasonable marina in my home town!

[Sandero]

79th is convenient, but not the most comfy on a mooring at a slip (if you can get one.

I would consider something on the CT side of LIS beginning with City Island where you can moor, anchor or perhaps find a skip at a club or a boat yard. But it's a two zone public transport to Manhattan - doable but a longish journey.

The metro north rail line runs out along the shore and is only 25 min to Grand Central from New Rochelle and is a short cab ride from the shore. You'll find lots of marinas and clubs as you work your way east from City Island, a few moorings and not many decent anchorages.

The South Shore is not quite as convenient to public transport but rich with clubs, yards, moorings and anchorages beginning at Port Washington.

These are commuter lines and have frequent trains in rush hour.

[Vasco]

Liberty Landing in New Jersey is a convenient spot and they have weekly transient rates. Just a short water taxi ride from Manhattan. I've never stayed there but friends have. Be prepared for $4 a foot!! (daily transient rate in the summer)
Liberty Landing Marina - New Jersey Marina -

[camaraderie]

Ditto...liberty landing.
79th st. is shoal at the docks and lots of wakes on the moorings.

[hellosailor]

City Island, Oyster Bay, or Port Washington if you belong to a YC with reciprocal privileges. None is a fast trip into the city.

Gateway Marina in Brooklyn (west of JFK and Floyd Bennet Field) is probably the least expensive and moderately inconvenient. Very sheltered and only a short city bus ride or 20 minute walk up to major subway lines and into downtown.

Prot Liberte and the othe rmarinas on the NJ side, more expensive but only 1-2 stops on the PATH train into midtown, can't beat the convenience.

And, if you check out the NOAA charts and the anchorages in the east river and western LI sound, there are a surprising number of places where you can drop the hook and anchor for free--although, getting off the boat and securing a dink anyplace may be problematic. But they are invaluable if you are coming in late and tired and the priority is to drop the hook and get a night's sleep without further expense.

[sangaris]

Joni,
Personally, we like staying at 79th St - have used the moorings and alongside the sea-wall outboard of the slips. A UK couple that worked at the Manhattan West Marine last year was very happily bow/stern anchored just upriver of the mooring field all summer. Having the Hudson River bike trail immediately outside the marina gate and a subway station 3 blocks away can't be beat for the price - as well as having Fairway & Zabars for food and Conway Dept store for boat clothes nearby!

While in the area, also look at anchoring or mooring in Great Kills Harbor at Staten Island - Staten Island Parks
Very protected, good holding, or cheap mooring balls from the Great Kills YC, with tender service. A very large marina at the National Park there, but have not used it. Again, good public transport access. Follow the channels/markers carefully and it is fine to navigate.

One other great anchorage to enjoy for a few days is the small bay west/behind the Statue of Liberty - check with the SSCA Cruising Station hosts, Wendy & Burry Vanderveer, liveaboards at Liberty Landing Marina, ph 410-507-9284; email Bvander66@hotmail.com for latest info on where anchoring is allowed this year near the statue.

The key is, with so much available around NYC, try a number of different locations, Manhattan, Staten Isl, LI Sound, etc.
Enjoy
scott

[hellosailor]

NYC usually allows mass anchoring near Liberty & Ellis Islands for the 4th of July overnight, but there's no formal anchoring area near there, and many channels where it would be prohibited, or outright dangerous due to harbor traffic. The area southwest of Liberty Island and SE of Caven Point is fairly shallow and, like most of the fringes of NY Harbor, a rather foul bottom too. Not a REAL atractive place to hang out.
Also note that if you cross in NJ waters (which those are) that NJ has a new policy this year, that boaters must have some type of state boater competency card from their home state or other authority--regardless of your age! (This is a national first, requiring those over age 21 to have a "boating credential".)

[hugosalt]

Welcome aboard! Great web site!
We are located at a village marina in extreme
western long island sound, on the long island side. (one mile south of City island and one and a half miles east of the Throggs Neck Bridge...where the East River meets the Long Island Sound). Only a 30 minute trip on the railroad into the heart of the city. We often make a guest mooring available for friends,
not a lot of services but have extended launch hours and a
great park setting with playground for the kids. Send private
message if interested...Hugo

[hellosailor]

Stepping Stones Park has guest moorings? What, by invitation only?

[Intentional Drifter]

We were in NYC last Sept/Oct and docked at 79th St. Boat Basin. It is a city marina, staffed 24/7, gated. In Riverside Park -- that is very nice.

There are essentially 3 marinas on Manhattan. One is for megayachts only. The other is owned by Denis Connors and was $6.70/ft (not including electricity). Then, there's 79th St., which is first come/first served, both slips and mooring balls. $2.75/ft last year, "pay in advance and no refunds if you leave early, this is the city marina, you know."

Worst docks I've ever seen, anywhere (and if you've ever been to Killkenny Creek, you know about bad docks). Walking on them is like riding a rollercoaster. One bathroom for the entire marina (60 slips? 80 balls?), unisex. One washer, one dryer, one of which is almost always out of commission. Most of the staff were quite nice, though (if you see Pedro, tell him 'hi', from Orca -- great guy).

79th has one thing going for it, but it has that in spades -- location, location, location. 4 blocks from the subway. 6 blocks from Central Park. 5 blocks from one of the best restaurant districts in the city. Steps from Riverside Park. 10 blocks from the Metropolitan Art Museum. 8 blocks from the Getty. No hassling with making a ferry/bus at night (which you would have to do on the Jersey side).

I would go there, again. It does help to email or call ahead. Although Joe the dockmaster won't officially take a reservation, it seemed to help that I talked with him a couple times before arriving.

Oh, by the way, be sure and dump your holding tanks while still out to sea. Their pump out didn't work half the time.

ID

[hugosalt]

hellosailor...just checking if you were paying attention!
yes, very limited...
no not necessary...
pm if further interest...

[waterworldly]

I have stayed at the Chelsea Pier and intend to do so again this summer. GREAT location.