Anchoring and Swimming at Croton

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MichaelNJ

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I haven't been to Croton in several years. I thought I read a few years ago that you can no longer bring your boat into the area and swim. I assume this is more about safety for the people swimming off the beach than anything else. Is this a restricted area or is there a section where you can anchor and swim off your boat? Is there any access to the beach from your boat? I don't mean beaching your boat but what about via dingy?
 
Technically you are not allowed to bring your dink to shore anywhere but certainly not in the roped off swimming area. To prevent this, I stay far away from the swimming area when walking the dogs so its too far for the rent a cops to walk and chase me. As far anchoring and swimming off the boat, I know of no restrictions but could be right around the roped off swimming area. I would see them getting a little upset if you anchor too close to this as if boat breaks loose, you could cause big problems. Plenty of room in the cove to not have to get that close and plenty of swimming going on.
 
I was just there yesterday, anchored about 15' off the beach, along with dozens of other boats. Everyone was in the water swimming.

There are signs that say you need to keep 750' off the beach, near the official swimming area, but it is rarely enforced.
 
Thanks. I guess if there were a lot of other boats anchored, I would stay in that same area. I wouldn't beach my Zodiac. I also have a little Sevylor inflatable without a motor. My kids are 7 and 5 and they like to play in the sand. Personally, I like to just swim off the boat away from the beach. Ideally, I would like to anchor in about 5' of water and put the 3 kids on the inflatable and pull it to the beach so they can play. Would that be a problem?

Last time I was there, there was no roped off swimming area. That was a while ago. There were people in the water who came through the park and boats anchored and people swimming around their boats with the ability to swim to the beach. Simpler times I guess.
 
The roped off swimming area at the south end of the beach has been there for over 20 years.

You can anchor anywhere
 
Is that in the little cove or south of croton point? It's been a while so I don't recall the roped off area. I do remember that every time I go there my props always get fouled with a lot of rope. Maybe I was in the same area you are referring to ;)
 
The North side of the point is where everyone anchors. The south side has very spotty water and is not recommended.
 
That was the way I remembered it. I want to anchor in the cove on the north side. I thought I read that anchoring there was no longer allowed.
 
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelNJ

That was the way I remembered it. I want to anchor in the cove on the north side. I thought I read that anchoring there was no longer allowed.

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There were over 100 boats anchored there last weekend
 
100? That's probably more than the whole rest of the Hudson. Then I'm not worried about getting a summons.
 
I live in Croton, about 1/4 mile inland from the anchorage. The county police patrol the park, not the Croton Police.
After a young man from NYC drowned by diving off his boat into shallow water (the tide went out, tragic!), the signs were erected without due process.
I have never seen or heard of anyone enforcing this rule. I have brought my center console to the beach many times and my kids swim there from the boat, you will be fine.
The only time I have heard of a potential issue is during the Clearwater festival. They didn't want boaters sneaking in without paying. But I'm not sure if anyone patrolled the beach, somehow I doubt it. You'll be fine.
 
I got chased off the beach last year by a rent a cop dinghying my dogs in to walk them. I was probably 100 yards from the swim area. That's why I recommended going a little further away where they cant be bothered walking. Anchoring has never been an issue.
 
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