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.)