Haverstraw vs. SPBM vs. Patsy's

B

BenDiss

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Nov 13, 2009
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31831
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About to pull the trigger on a 40' Formula and looking to keep it on the Hudson. I've gone back and read through the archives and seen lot's of comments pro and con on the various marinas in our area. I don't get a good sense of the "culture" of each area. I'm looking for a quiet, family oriented marina. I might want to spend the night there once in a while and wouldn't want to be in the middle of a loud party, yet I would like to have friendly neighbors.

Any comments on this?
 
All three are nice marina's.

I was at Haverstraw for 12 years, and the one advantage they have is water. Water, Water and more Water. You can come and go as you wish with no considerations to tides.

The bid disadvantage to Haverstarw is that they cater to transients. They have 30 to 40 transients on any given week-end, and transients like to party without any regard for the people who dock their boats there on a full-time basis.

Just this man's opinion.
 
I have been at SPBM for 8 or 9 years and have been very happy. It is a family marina that is quite but still very friendly members they have a pool and good parking.
Down side is water I have a 53" draft and I live by the tide clock 2 hours before dead low to two hour after I can come and go but not in between. Sometimes this is a PIA but I still love it there and come back every year.

You will be happy at any of the above I suggest visiting all three and deciding for yourself.
 
I'm a total newb. My boat specs say my draft is 36". Will I be watching the tide at SPBM too?
 
"Here I go again..."
Patsy's, Patsy's, Patsy's!!!
You want a family atmosphere? You got it! You want quiet, you got it! You want fun people? Got that too! Wonderful pool! Lifeguards are friendly...goes a long way with the kids. Snack Shack, Ship's Store. Marina owners are the operators, ON PREMISES! Jimmy Tammen is MOST accommodating manager we have known in 35 years of boating. Enter the gate, you're on vacation!
 
quote:
Originally posted by BenDiss

I'm a total newb. My boat specs say my draft is 36". Will I be watching the tide at SPBM too?

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Yes but does this boat have IO or inboards? IO can be raised to give you a little more clearance. If I recall you said it is a 40' I'm assuming it's inboards so again the answer is yes you would be watching the tides like the rest of us. It's not the end of the world the people are nice and the price is right about $30 less per foot. For me it was an easy decision. Let us know what you decide hope to see you on the water.
BTW if you truly are a newbie I strongly recommend taking a boating class as soon as possible it is not yet required but should be. In fact take the whole family if the kids are 10 or older.
 
It's a 400SS so I/O. I've heard different things about running the engines with the drives tipped up. Some say it doesn't matter for a few minutes of no-wake speed and others say don't do it?

Yep, I'm a newb. The wife and I took a "safety course", but I'm also looking for some on-the-boat instruction. I'm a private pilot so I appreciate what I don't know yet, having gone through that training.

Are there boat instructors?
 
Ben,

At SPBM and Patsy's you will not be able to come and go at low tide, 2 hours either side if you value your props. Many people try it, many people ding props and pick up lines, wood all kinds of crap on the bottom. If you have outdrives you have a better shot at it but with inboards no way.

If the low water doesn't bother you my vote would be Patsy's because you cannot get better management at the other 2. Mike and Jimmy are the best, no kidding, they cannot do enough to make you happy over there.
 
As you will learn it is both safe and normal to raise the drives there is a safety to prevent you from raising it too high. I know there was a thread about a week ago about a local captain that does training hands on. I don't know of any myself. Best of luck
 
You don't want to operate the drives in the "trailer" position. Otherwise, they are made to be used in varying up and down modes.

Of those 3 choices, I'd pick Patsy's Bay.

While Haverstraw has deep water, the aluminum docks get very hot & noisy, the constant flow of transients will can drive you nuts, and it can be a loooooong hike to your boat.

There have been quite a few complaints about SPBM over the years, do a search here and you will see them.
 
What's interesting is as much complaining as there has been not many members have left so how bad can it be? Much of the complaining has been based on speculation and or rumor.
As I said before I believe you would be happy in any of these marinas I will say the guys at Patsy are great and a pleasure to deal with, but I still feel at home at SPBM.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

What's interesting is as much complaining as there has been not many members have left so how bad can it be? Much of the complaining has been based on speculation and or rumor.
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Oh really?

Where did you winter this year Dave? Where did many of the bigger boats on G-dock winter?

Answer: Not at Stony Point.

Oh and I'm already hearing AND seeing the damage caused on boats that DID winter there.

Stony Point has ONE thing going for it and that is the chemistry between the people that do keep their boats there. We have made some very good friends there but the negatives keep stacking up and getting higher each year.

Having had the pleasure of using Patsy's when I had my bow thruster installed I can tell you that those people are head and shoulders above what you find at SPBM. If I was coming in fresh and had to make a choice I would echo what Hogan has said. Face it thou change can be a hard thing for most people to handle!
 
I have never kept my boat at SPBM for the Winter I have always used TZ Marine for all my service on my boats so I winter next door. Mike and Jimmy have bent over backwards to make me happy and I can't thank them enough but I'm still going back to SPBM for the summer. If things there change I would have to choose between deep water at Haverstraw and Friendly service at Pasty based on price I would probably go with Pasty Bay.
 
Going into my eleventh year at Haverstraw, I think I can make the following objective observations. Keep in mind that Haverstraw is the largest marina on the Hudson River with about 1000 slips grouped into three sections; North Docks, by the service area and gas dock. West docks...bigger boats, limited access. South docks, the largest section and directly connected to the main dock, office, pool, store, and restaurant.

Negatives:

Aluminum docks...can be hot and noisy.
Possible long walk to your boat. You would probably be on silver dock if you are in the South section.
Transients...but I have never found them to be a big problem.
Sailboats. On windy days their rigging slapping against their aluminum masts can be annoying. But sailboats are restricted to the north side of the south section.

Positives:

Always deep water. Come and go as you please, not at the mercy of the tides.
Very well protected. Current seldom an issue.
Haverstraw has friendly and helpful boaters too.
Well equipped ships store.
New upscale restaurant on premises.
Large pool.
Fairly large gas dock and free pumpout for members.
Cable TV and WiFi available for additional cost.
 
Gotta ask this. I know I'm not the first to ask, so please pardon the ignorance. Why not just dredge the shallow bays?
 
quote:
Originally posted by BenDiss

Gotta ask this. I know I'm not the first to ask, so please pardon the ignorance. Why not just dredge the shallow bays?

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$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
 
They should drill a hole under Stony Point. That would allow nature to flush out the ol' bowl! Send it all down river.
 
I'm going to start a campaign called "Global Filling". The earth's vital water ways are filling up fast. Perhaps I can spin it to make me and my friends millions of dollars and win the nobel peace prize.

Will you guys help?
 
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