Dingy's at Watch Hill

Boaters do bring dinghies all the time, but you must keep them secured and out of navigation areas. I don’t recall a specific spot to tie them up. Some tie up to the west bulk heads, but there are signs that say no dinghies, but enforcement is at the dock masters discretion. Most seem to tie them up to their bow.
 
and if its got a motor it must be registered, or else!
 
We have brought the dink to WH many times. Our first choice is to keep it along the bulk heading between the c & d docks. Worst case you tie it off your bow and lower yourself in as necessary. I have never been told to move my dink in years past. Of course I also never had trouble getting a slip there either LAST year.
Robski I agree with you. I am not sure what the new management is up to. Most of my neighbors, also out of E Rockaway have not been able to get reservations this season. Friday at 9:00 am the res number is always busy, by the time you get through there are no more slips. I hear alot of folks have been leaving there boats there and ferrying out during the week. Gotta go to my backup slip more often than not. BEAT!
Harris
 
I have been to WH probably 6-7 weekends this year and have only seen it full the weekend before the 4th.

Anyone getting turned away? Maybe 13 ft beams are.
 
Interj
It's not a matter of being turned away. It's the fact that they do not take the res if the marina is more than a third full (I think?). For people like myself making a 2 hour run to FI, if I am going to go the extra distance I want to know I have a slip to drive to. If I am just going to dice roll it I might as well save 30 min cruise time and try places further West.
I also think that the larger 13 foot plus beamers also have more of an issue. There are fewer slips for them to begin with and a number of them are being "camped" in by people who dump and ferry out.
Harris
 
Harris, Yes I can understand that. If you call them they will normally let you know how many slips are left but it's still a gamble. Lucky for me I come out the Patchougue river and head straight over, one of the reason I keep the boat there because we love WH so much. Plus the ferry is right there if we need to go back and forth and leave the boat.
 
I was there this weekend, we went out Thursday evening after work, got a reservation in the morning. I was very surprised to see 11 empty slips on 'D' dock Friday morning, including some of the biggest ones. Even Friday night a big boat could have made it in, the marina did fill up Saturday though. Weather was great, mosquitos weren't bad, ocean water is warm enough to swim in now. Couldn't have asked for a better weekend there.
 
when i left around 9:45 last night there were only about 4 boats left on D dock, all with owners present. nice to see you again john, hope you're trip home was as nice as mine.
 
Jim, good to see you also. We had a beautiful ride home as the sun was setting behind the clouds. Really was a great weekend start to finish.

As far as getting slips, with a 14'5" beam I decided a couple years ago the only way I'd get in during July and August was to take Friday off and get there Thursday after work. In a way this works out nicely because when I do go I spend longer periods of time. I thought this year with the restaurant re-opening that it might fill up even earlier but from what I've seen that hasn't really been the case. We've been there twice this year (end of June and this past weekend) and both times any size boat could have gotten in right up until Saturday morning. I heard the same was true last week when the forecast wasn't that great. We did hear some weeks the big slips were filled by Wednesday, maybe earlier in July. But I know that wasn't the case 3 of the last 6 weekends.

It didn't seem to me that a lot of boats were left unattended during the week. Most showed up Friday during the day and stayed for the weekend. As of late Thursday night the 'B' land dock by the bar had only one boat on it, and plenty of open slips of any size around the marina. Anyone arriving early Friday would have had a slip.

John
 
I was out this weekend as well and was told by the boat that backed in next to me Saturday AM ( before 8 AM that they only take reservations for 10% of the open slips. He never has a problem getting in before they open on Saturday as it is first come first serve. The weather was great!
We(2of us) decided to eat at the resturant Saturday evening as a walk in. Walked in at 6:30 . The owner asked if we made reservations. We said no. He told us to come back at 7:30 as he had a cancelation. We proceeded to the bar for a few cold ones... there were 7 tables open when we sat down at the bar. only 3 of them got filled before 7:30 when we got seated at one of the table that was open one hour! Either a lot of no shows or poor planning!
The soup was very good, appy was very good and meal was very good. The prices were in line ( possibly a few Dollars higher)with what you would pay elsewhere and the Server was very good as well. I am going to have to have second thoughts as to eating there again due to the Owners lack of forsight in taking care of his customers.... especially since the tab was well in excess of a Benjamin.
Frank
 
Frank, they can reserve the first 1/3 of available slips, not 10%. After it's 1/3 full it's first come, first served only. I think with a smaller boat you can often still get a slip Saturday morning (especially if you're okay with one of the day slips with no electric). But slips for wide beam boats are usually gone by Saturday, but there are exceptions.
 
John
Ok as I have an 8'6" beam I havent had any problems getting a slip....
Thanks for the information.
g
 
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