Sometimes FREE can be too costly
As we mentioned yesterday, our plans had us heading towards Poughkeepsie. Specifically we had intended on staying at a free dock provided by the Mariners on the Hudson restaurant and then meeting up with a couple more of our blog readers, Ray, Julie and their daughter Kendra.
It was a great day for sailing and the traditional wind on the nose didn’t slow us down too much. We arrived at the restaurant just after 11:00 AM and after scaring away the numerous seagulls who had laid claim to the dock, tied up ZTC without issue. As this is the first time we would have to tie up in tidal waters, we had been thinking through our strategy with dock lines. The first clue that something was amiss was when I went to wrap a line around one of the cleats and it moved. A lot. In fact, it was only secured by one bolt. A number of the other posts were missing pieces too. No worries, we figured it out and got the boat “secure.”
Some of these light houses are very cool.
Hard at work. Yesterday’s blog post was completed while underway.
Just to pretend we were sailing, we unfurled the jib.
I’m sure we’ll see more and more of these as we head further south.
Before we called Ray to tell him that we had arrived we wanted to ensure that we could stay there the night. The young staff we initially met were less than friendly (who can blame them I guess) but they did direct us to the manager. She informed us that as long as we patronized the restaurant, we could stay the evening. I also asked if we were free to move our boat to the inside of the dock where it would we less exposed and she agreed.
With that good news we called Ray on the phone and made plans to meet up a bit later in the day. Rebecca and I untied the boat and then backed it into a slip where we felt it would be safer. Almost immediately some power boat went by and created such a wake that our fenders almost ended up on the dock. I jumped off the boat and was literally hanging off of it, trying to stop it from getting smashed. At that very instant we pulled the plug on the free dock. The restaurant looked great but free wouldn’t be so good if we ended up with $20,000 in damage from some inconsiderate power boater.
Sadly, leaving there would mean that we couldn’t meet up with our new friends. Even worse, just as we were untying the boat, Kenny, the bartender from yesterday’s post pulled up in his car. He actually drove down to see us. He was such a cool guy that we hated to take off just then. By the way, if we ever need an agent, Kenny will be our man!
OK, plan B then.
Plan B had us traveling a few more hours and anchoring behind Pollepel Island. The good weather continued and the trip took less time than we expected. Pollepel Island is probably best known for having the ruins of Bannerman’s Castle on it. Although Skipper Bob’s guide says that we aren’t permitted to go exploring on the island, being anchored just behind a castle is pretty cool. Our friend Tom told us he had some misgivings about this anchorage but to tell the truth, it’s pretty good. Although from time to time there is a bit of a wake, the holding seems good, the scenery is nice and I’ve even been able to pick up Wi-Fi (with our long-range antenna). This is also the first place we have anchored since the Troy Lock where we have had the foresight to give conscious thought to the tides when determining our anchor rode scope. See, we are learning! 🙂
Pollepel Island, looking at it from the west.
Skipper Bob got this one right: Loud, frequent train noise!
You can see the current by the flow of the weeds we have attracted.
Picturesque.
I wonder what adventure awaits today?
It’s all good learning in safe places. We had some major damage at a dock in Nasseau, Bahamas once from nasty wakes and sea planes. It actually cracked out steel tow rail on our PDQ and sent our poor dog into hysterics.
There’s nothing like a 3′ high powerboat wake to ruin a great spot….
I think I’ve been to more disintegrating docks than safe ones in the last few years. Sunset Chaser has taken her fair share of damage from them- I ended up adding aluminum L-angle over her spray rails after they got beat up by one too many ratty docks; spending an afternoon with epoxy filler and paint after each storm is not cool.
One thing I’ve taken to doing in such areas is to toss a kedge anchor out towards the open channel, and tighten it up so there’s a metre or two of slack in the chain… the boat can then ride with the wakes without getting pounded against the dock, and it only takes a few seconds to pull her in to shore for boarding (the weight of the anchor chain pulls her right back out again when you let go). It also helps keep the raccoons from boarding at midnight…
Good idea about the kedge. By the way, I almost resorted to setting a kedge anchor to help us get out of those weeds.
On the subject of boat damage on docks, our friend Tom told us a story of him chasing down a power boater that waked him bad and caused over 10k in damage to his boat. The insurance companies are apparently still fighting about it.
Dammmmmmm powerboaters…….I am going to buy a sailboat so I can be part of the groupies
We’ll let you be an honorary member right now John.
What a cool castle! (I love castles and used to collect them). I may sound ignorant, but I had no idea there were such castles in the USA. Too bad you couldn’t go explore it. Great picture of the both of you as well.
Your blog inspires me to get with it.
Today? Hmmmm, what shall I fix first?
That castle looks cool. I’d be hard pressed not to go ashore and explore, despite the warnings (no doubt I’d be bound to get in trouble). Sorry to hear you lost your free dock, but I have to say waking up to a sunrise hitting a castle has to beat watching the morning sun on a restaurant. Enjoying sailing vicariously through you for a few more months.
Cool, ever so cool! OK – what kind of sailboat should John buy????Great picture with your fair maiden. Have a great weekend!!
Long Range Wifi Antenna?
LOL..Is that THE antenna?
We have yet to acquire THE antenna, although our friend Christian has it in his possession. My little N3 amp and antenna was attached up on the bimini in that pic.
Hi Mike and Rebecca,
We are really enjoying reading about your trip so far. I especially love the castle pics….not something we see often here in Australia.
We recently saw another PDQ 32 here in Sydney, and posted some pics online here in case you were interested.
Have a great trip!
Sam and Nick
Hi guys
That is awesome! Thanks for posting them, and for the website link.
I wonder who sailed her there.
If you have higher res versions of those pics, especially the stern one, I would love to have a copy. I’d like to see how they secured those poles (wind and radar). Our email is: zero to cruising at gmail dot com
If you have a copy please email it to us. Thanks!
Great pics, cool anchorage, and good choice concerning unsafe docks!
Cool anchorage, except…