Hudson Valley Attractions | ||
Dutchess CountyBoat Launch |
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All Beacon Listings
Beacon Boat Launch |
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Long Dock Park "Scenic Hudson Valley" | 845 473 4440 | |
Long Dock Park / Beacon Point Park
Beacon, Dutchess County Hudson River Valley, New York State From Scenic Hudson: "A critical 19th-century transportation link between New England and points west, Long Dock once contained a rail ferry terminal, warehouses and other buildings. More recently, it was home to an oil terminal, salt-storage facility and junkyard. All traces of its commercial and industrial past have been removed to create an exciting riverfront destination boasting a kayak pavilion and beach for launching boats, rehabilitated wetlands and meadows that attract wildlife, and the restored, historic Red Barn, now Scenic Hudson's River Center for arts and environmental-education activities. website and more . . . | ||
Municipal Boat Launch Ramp Beacon | 914-831-4390 | |
Call for location of boat launch ramp, fees, and more information about the Beacon Municipal Launching Ramp in Beacon, NY. website and more . . . |
All Dutchess County Listings
Dutchess County Boat Launch |
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Clarence Fahnestock State Park, Dutchess County | 845-225-7207 | |
Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park offers an excellent range of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. This 14,086-acre park boasts hiking trails, picnic areas, scenic campgrounds, and abundant opportunities for boating, hunting, fishing, birding and many more activities for kids of all ages.
Click to enlarge picture of "Fishing and Boating at Fahnestock State Park". website and more . . . | ||
Hudson Highlands | 845-225-7207 | |
Click
to enlarge photo of the Hudson Highlands.
The sign reads: "For much of its 315-mile course, the Hudson River flows straight and broad. But at the Highlands, the Appalachian mountain chain intersects the river to create a fifteen mile stretch of rugged, mountainous landscape. This area contains the river's narrowest and deepest points, as well as its fastest currents. The Hudson River is an estuary, a mixture of salt and freshwater, and the saltwater line extends just north of Beacon. The River is tidal all the way up to the Troy Dam above Albany." website and more . . . |
All Hyde Park Listings
Hyde Park Boat Launch |
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Andros River Road Marina | 914-229-9669 | |
Call for location of boat launch ramp, fees, and more information about the Andros River Road Marina Hyde Park, NY. website and more . . . |
All Millerton Village Listings
Millerton Village Boat Launch |
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Taconic State Park - Rudd Pond Area | 518-789-3059 | |
Taconic State Park - Rudd Pond Area is located at 59 Rudd Pond Road, Millerton, NY 12546 in Dutchess County in the northern Hudson Valley. The park is located along 16 miles of the Taconic Mountain Range. Two developed areas, Copake Falls and Rudd Pond, offer an extensive hiking trail system with terrain that varies from easy to challenging, offering spectacular views. website and more . . . |
All Poughkeepsie Listings
Poughkeepsie Boat Launch |
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Municipal Boat Launch Ramp Poughkeepsie | 914-451-4100 | |
Call for location of boat launch ramp, fees, and more information about the Poughkeepsie Municipal Launch Ramp in Poughkeepsie, NY. website and more . . . | ||
Quiet Cove Riverfront Park | 845-298-4600 | |
Quiet Cove Riverfront Park, a 27-acre park (with 5 plus acres to the West of the rail line) on the banks of the Hudson River, is located at Clear Water Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 in Dutchess County. Quiet Cove offers picnic tables, grills, fishing, walking trails and scenic overlooks on the upper section of the park and breathtaking views of the Hudson River. website and more . . . |
All Staatsburg Listings
Staatsburg Boat Launch |
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Mills Norrie State Park (Margaret Lewis Norrie) | 845-889-4646 | |
Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park is located at Staatsburg NY 12580, Dutchess County in the Hudson River Valley. Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park adjoins Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park and together, comprise more than 1,000-acres. Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park offers a full menu of exhilarating recreational opportunities and activities for visitors of all ages. website and more . . . | ||
Norrie Point Marina | 914-889-4646 | |
Call for location of boat launch ramp, fees, and more information about the Norrie Point Marina in Staatsburg, NY. website and more . . . |
More Hudson Valley Boat Launch |
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Albany County [14 listings over 8 locations]
Columbia County [6 listings over 5 locations]
Greene County [5 listings over 3 locations]
Orange County [10 listings over 5 locations]
Putnam County [3 listings over 2 locations]
Rensselaer County [9 listings over 9 locations]
Rockland County [25 listings over 11 locations]
Saratoga County [2 listings over 2 locations]
Schenectady County [1 listing over 1 location]
Ulster County [9 listings over 4 locations]
Westchester County [10 listings over 9 locations]
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Select a boat launch site from our list of boat launches in the Hudson Valley. Call for the exact location of the boat launch ramps, for fees, and specific hours of operation.
Trailering and Launching Boats
Trailering
Back the tow vehicle up to the trailer. If you have help, have your partner stand beside the trailer tongue to help with alignment on the hitch ball. One system that works well is to have your partner hold a "thumbs up" when the hitch ball is in line with the tongue. If off to left or right, point in the direction the tow vehicle needs to go to get on line. If necessary, raise the tongue with the jack wheel to clear the ball. When the tongue is on the ball, close the spring lock that keeps the coupler secure on the ball and put the hitch pin or bolt in so it can't pop off. The rig may need to be pulled forward for the tongue to set fully down on the ball. Raise the jack wheel so it is out of the way. Hook the chains diagonally across (left to right, right to left) to the tow vehicle. If this part of the hitch system fails, the idea is for the chains to catch the tongue to keep it from driving into the ground. Hook the chain for the surge brake system to the tow vehicle. Connect the lights and make sure they work. Check running, brake, turn signals and emergency flasher lights. Check to make sure that the winch cable and safety chain are secured tightly to the boat.
Launching
Load personal gear into the boat. Put gear from the boat (canvas cover, straps, etc.) into the tow vehicle. Turn the blower on to ventilate the bilge area. Open the engine compartment to help the process. Use your nose to smell for fumes; nothing works better than your sense of smell for detecting the odor of gasoline. Put fenders out where appropriate to protect the boat when it is being launched. Prepare any lines that will help tie the boat off once it's in the water. Check the lower unit to make sure the gear oil is topped off. If the oil is foamy, water is mixed with the oil. The oil needs to be replaced and gaskets replaced on both the fill and air vent holes. If the boat is an inboard outdrive and the lower unit is down, raise it before moving the trailer. Put the drain plug in. If it is already in, check to make sure it is tightly in place. Approach the ramp and back your trailer to the edge of the water. If you have two people, put one on board to help the driver judge when the trailer is in the right depth of water. Unplug the lights. Remove the straps that hold the boat on the trailer at the stern and/or amidships area of the boat if you have not done so already. Store in the boat for easy access when pulling the boat out. Do not remove the winch and safety chain hooks on the bow eye until the boat and trailer are in the water! Back the trailer into the water. If there is someone on board, they can signal when to stop with the horn. A good rule of thumb is to back the trailer in until the trailer wheel hubs are just above the surface of the water. This might not work depending on the gradient of the ramp and how quickly it drops off. All ramps are different, so trial and error will play a big part in learning the ramps in your area. Note: Mechanics who work on trailer brakes recommend that trailer hubs never be submerged in salt water. If they are dunked, make sure they are rinsed off with fresh water at the end of the day and expect major brake work a minimum of every two years. Chock the wheels of the tow vehicle. Lower the inboard/outdrive -- Check clearance for the lower unit to avoid damage. Start the boat and warm it up for two to five minutes. Remove the winch hook from the bow eye, release the lock or ratchet and remove the hooks. If the boat doesn't roll off the trailer, it will need to be put in forward gear to take tension off the cable. Put the throttle in forward gear when the engine is warmed up with just enough power to take tension off the cable. The partner can take the hook off and give the "O.K." hand signal to the operator. Communication between partners is essential to avoid injuries. Sometimes the weight of the boat is not enough to pull the cable out. Sometimes the gradient of the ramp is not steep enough for the boat to roll off. Put the boat in reverse, release the lock or ratchet, and back off two or three feet. Once the cable pays out, put the boat in neutral and remove the hook. It may help to throttle forward a short distance to slacken the cable. Remove the hook and back the boat away from the ramp to a waiting area. Keep the boat clear of launch/retrieval area so other boaters can use the ramp.
Retrieving the boat
Check to see that all straps and cables are tight. Raise the lower unit. Plug lights in and check to see that they are operational. On a regular basis, nuts and bolts should be checked to make sure they are tight. Tires should be checked regularly and rotated. If your trailer is big, consider having it x-rayed once every 2-3 years for structural damage. This article is credited to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |