Heading to NYC

[MLampner]

Ell what seemed a long time off when I last wrote asking input about this trip is now less than a month away. Currently we are looking at the Lincoln Harbor Marina as a place to tie up in the Hudson. We considered 79th St but we don't have a dinghy suitable to use in the environment, ours is soft floored and carries two but with a heavy current it would be virtually unpilotable so we would have to dock and she does not maneuver well in reverse so getting to a crowded very tight dock again with a swift current and not much depth sounds like trouble. Has anyone stayed at Lincoln.

As a kid I spent time in NYc's Harbor but my kidhood was more than 40 years ago so any knowledge I have other than gross geography is worthless. I am posting here as I would like to here from people with boats similar to mine a Cherubini 30 so the comments will be reflective of its characteristics. Hearing from be with a modern 42 ft boat with bow thrusters isn't all that useful. One thing I do know from Childhood is the current and tides are a critical component of when and which way to travel. I don't remember but have been reading about the tides and somehow have forgotten the idea of a six foot tide. That will certainly make tying up more of a challenge than the Chesapeake's two or three feet.

 

[Benny17441]

Why not stay in the New Jersey side? In Hoboken you have Liberty Landings a well protected Marina with water taxi service to Manhattan and in Newport Marina you are close to a subway station where in minutes you could be in Broadway. You also at night have the view of the full NYC skyline. Newport gets a little bumpy during the day when the ferry's are running. You would be close to the Holland Tunnel and Battery Park. When going into a tight marina with currents you do not have to remain behind the wheel, call on the radio and request docking assistance, have lines ready to hand over. place the boat in neutral and let the dock hands pull it in to the slip. You may also approach a convenient dock and drop off a crew person who could handle the lines after walking to the assigned slip. I know the h30 has a strong prop walk, almost as strong as the h27. It would be advantageous to practice rotating the boat in its axis. Moving forward at slow speed, almost idle, in the center of the fairway turn the wheel fully to starboard, as the boat approaches a 90 degree turn shift the transmission to reverse and let the prop walk now move the stern in the direction of the turn. As you approach 180 degrees then shift back to forward and slowly release the wheel to move straight out. Sometimes the boat will only want to turn to port and it can not be fought; so go out and then turn it on its axis to go where you want to go.

 

[KD3PC]

2nd vote for Hoboken....I think the "lincoln Harbor" marina that ML mentions is the one in Weehawken....If so, there is a Ruth's Chris' across the street and a Chart House just down the street. Short ride on the light rail and you are in some of the finest, non chain restaurants in the tri state area.

The view is awesome from Lincoln Harbor!! It can be a bit choppy and every now and then some "star" is at the marina, but all in all THE place to see NYC from.

 

[MLampner]

Many thanks yes definitely looking at the NJ side. Actually have mastered her in reverse fairly well over the five years I have had her though when we repowered she now walks to port rather than starboard it took a period of reeducation. Really excited about this other than sticking our nose out at Cape May a few years ago this will be my first coastal cruise. My crew has one long distance ocean racer aboard so while the skipper aka me may be new to us the number two won't be.

 

[H33CRich]

79th St Boat basin should be considered. Price is right and easiest access to NYC.

 

[MLampner]

Rich, what was your experience 79th st like. It was first preference but looking at the Active Captain website's review and comments lost interest. I understand there is limited room to maneuver by the slips and with no dinghy the mooring field is out. I also hear that at low water the bottom can be near 5 feet with a two foot chop I can see spending a lot of the time hitting the bottom.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I keep reading on cruisersforum about anchorage down on 25th street, west side of Manhattan, I forget its name.

 

[MLampner]

Thanks Stu I did find a few place downtown, but problem is unless we can dock have no way off. We do have an inflatable but it's strictly for easier water than the currents in the Hudson as it's soft bottom and row with stubby little oars. In a knot current might chance it once but two or three times would get old fast. There appears to be no true water taxi service in NYC. What they refer to as a water taxi is really a point to point service unlike what exists in Annapolis and Baltimore where you call and they come along side for pickups. I appreciate the Hunter specific comments as fellow owners know our boats limits but I am going to repost on the cruisers forum as well.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Try this

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f47/anchoring-in-new-york-area-124820.html

 

[pfaffk]

I have used Liberty Landing Marina a number of times, and I like it. It is a little pricy, but they do have a water taxi to take you over to Manhattan. I have never used the taxi, as I use this as a stopping point when coming down the Hudson River and Heading to LI Sound. I have enjoyed by stays there.

 

[H33CRich]

No issues with depth with my 4' depth nor my friend's 4' 8" depth. If there are depth concerns, they will move you out away from the shallower areas. Call and talk to the marina master. I will there at the end of the month without concern but you need to use your own decision. It is a classic big city marina with a a pub across the street, laundry, provision store, and hot showers. What more do you need?

 

[MLampner]

Thanks Stu, pfaflk and Rich. We draw 5 3 so nervous they said post Katrina slips hit 5 but will definitely call the dock master. There is no question being where it is would be great. Grew up playing on this water and know the city well despite having left nearly 35 years ago. liberty also is walking distance to PATH trains and they were $2 last I checked.

Su will check out the cruising forum link as soon as I get back to a PC trashed the install by mistyping my email and it thinks I am spamming it.

 

[H33CRich]

I keep reading on cruisersforum about anchorage down on 25th street, west side of Manhattan, I forget its name.

This marina has limited transient slips and sees a steady yellow water taxi traffic. I took this water taxi every day for 6 months. Amex, Merrill Lynch, a Japanese Bank, World Trade Center, and the New York Mercantile Exchange is right there with the Winter Gardens at the heart of it. Tom Hanks and Dabney Coleman had their yachts moored there in the Movie "you've got mail". The New York film festival is staged there annually so you need to keep an eye out for lots of crowds looking you over like a gold fish in a bowl. The marina is not that large.