New York - Docking
This is an exciting city to visit and offers an enormous number and variety of berthing options. They range from quiet anchorages behind Sandy Hook on the southern side of New York Harbour entrance (although the river has strong currents so there are few options for anchoring), through busy docks at Staten Island, Brooklyn, in the Hudson and East Rivers, to quaint havens in the Bronx and other harbours at the southern end of Long Island Sound.
One cruiser has recommended that you can anchor behind the Statue of Liberty!
Port Washington on the north shore of Long Island offers free moorings for 2 days ($25 a night thereafter) and from here it’s possible to take the train to the city (15/20 minute walk from the Town Dock). Moorings are yellow, call on VHF 09. There is a water taxi that operates 7 days a week and a free pump out service. There is a good supermarket on the north dock and toilets on the town dock.
Visiting cruisers should be aware that the price difference between a marina berth and a mooring buoy is vast. The most convenient marina for Manhattan is West 79th Street which offers mooring buoys and dock space. It should be noted though that mooring balls are not available for catamarans.
A local almanac is indispensable to make the best of a visit here.
See comments below re. berthing options.
Also, see this blog post by SY Wandering Star (September 2015) titled Anchorages that don’t break the budget in NYC.
Last updated: October 2018 (Port Washington info.)
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There is a lovely place to anchor behind Lady Liberty. Make sure you are over toward Ellis I side to avoid ferry channel. There is a rec path near by for good shore time and dog walking. The views of Manhattan at night are beyond belief. Lots of current but good holding. Never had any security issues here. Highly recommend it.
June/July and October 2018
Port water Taxi, pick up a yellow buoy, although i radioed on VHF CH 9 to say I was picking one up.
Water taxi finishes at 11.45 on sat , and I think Friday too . They will give you a sheet with the times on when you arrive.
Sunday and weekdays 9.30 finish . 8pm finish in the winter.
2 days free in the buoy then $25 a night includes water taxi, you can pay for the water taxi on your free days.
and there is a Free pump out service. Pot Washington water taxi has a website: https://www.portwatertaxi.com/
We rang the office and gave them our credit card details then we didn’t have to give cash daily.
The train station is 15/20 minutes walk from the Town Dock and you can get the train to NYC, we used the LIRR train app to buy tickets.
Great supermarket on the north dock, water taxi will take you or you can dinghy.
Toilets at the town dock but they are not very clean.
Unfortunately, facilities in New York are not very good. Those on the Hudson River tend to be VERY rough compared to what moat are used to. If you do stay on the Hudson at most facilities (Libery Landing and Liberty Marina are two exceptions as they are pretty calm albeit a bit of a trip to get across the river) I highly recommend doubling your lines and using Shockles to reduce the shock load from the ferries, barges, etc. Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn is often overlooked as a place to stay. There are several yacht clubs and if you contact them in advance you may work out a reciprocal arrangement if you are a yacht club member. They also have the advantage of being serviced by the NY subway system. The B train runs express into Manhattan and is only about a 45 minute trip. Most marinas on the New Jersey side are a thirty minute to forty five minute trip. There are ferries however they often end in the early evening. You’ll have to check the individual ferry schedules to be safe.