Boat Basin Accessibility: Hours And Availability Explored

There are several places named Boat Basin, including the 79th Street Boat Basin in New York City, the Seaview Fire Island Boat Basin, the Boat Basin in Houston, Texas, and the Nantucket Boat Basin. The 79th Street Boat Basin in New York City was closed for rebuilding in 2021 and was still closed as of July 2024. The Seaview Fire Island Boat Basin is open seasonally from May to October and can accommodate approximately 60 boats of various sizes. The Boat Basin in Houston, Texas, is a community space that celebrates local food truck vendors and supports small businesses. The Nantucket Boat Basin is a full-service marina located in historic Nantucket Harbor that is open for reservations.

The 79th Street Boat Basin in New York City

The 79th Street Boat Basin is a marina located in the Hudson River on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. It is within Riverside Park at the western end of 79th Street. The marina is maintained and operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. It is the only facility in the city that allows year-round residency in boats, making it a hub for houseboats.

The 79th Street Boat Basin is currently closed for reconstruction. The marina closed in 2021 and is anticipated to reopen in 2028. The reconstruction project is a partnership between NYCEDC and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. The purpose of the project is to address the damage sustained during tidal surges and rip currents associated with Superstorm Sandy. The project will also improve the resiliency of the marina and dockhouse to climate-adjusted future flooding and coastal storms.

The project will include the demolition of existing structures within the marina, dredging to deepen the boat basin, reconstruction of the marina including docks and perimeter protection systems, and relocation and reconstruction of the dockhouse. The dockhouse will be elevated and reconstructed to meet current safety code requirements and the needs of the marina based on its existing use.

The project will also create new opportunities for boaters and the community of the Upper West Side. This includes the construction of a partial depth fixed debris screen to the south, dredging of the basin to improve vessel mobility and operations, and the construction of new fixed piers with partial depth wave screens. The existing pier at A-Dock will be extended to the pierhead line, and the timber docks and timber guide piles will be replaced with more resilient concrete docks and steel guide piles.

The 79th Street Boat Basin has been a popular filming location, with movies such as 9½ Weeks (1986) and You've Got Mail (1998) featuring scenes shot at the marina.

The Seaview Fire Island Boat Basin

In 1985, the basin was sold again and operated as a public marina for 22 years. The Seaview Association has owned the basin since 2007 and continues to rent most of the slips seasonally to Seaview residents, with some available for short-term docking and seasonal rentals to non-residents. The boat basin infrastructure was rebuilt after superstorm Sandy in 2012, and today it offers water and electric hookups for larger slips. A full-time dockmaster is on duty from the facility opening in May to its closing in October.

Slip rentals typically run from early May through mid-October, though the specific dates may vary depending on weather and dock conditions. The operator aims to open the basin on time but does not guarantee availability before the end of May. An email confirmation is sent to all slip holders around May 1st, informing them of the expected opening date.

The Nantucket Boat Basin

The Boat Basin is within walking distance of the island's beaches, bike paths, cobblestone streets, and lighthouses. The town of Nantucket is also just steps away, offering award-winning restaurants, museums, boutiques, and galleries.

For accommodation, The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin offer waterfront cottages and lofts with decks and views of the harbour. These accommodations also provide full kitchens, complimentary Wi-Fi, bicycles, a beach shuttle, and pet-friendly options. The Cottages are located in the heart of Nantucket Town, providing easy access to the town's restaurants, galleries, boutiques, and museums.

The history of the 79th Street Boat Basin

The 79th Street Boat Basin is a marina located in the Hudson River on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, within Riverside Park at the western end of 79th Street. It is maintained and operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and is the only facility in the city that allows year-round residency in boats, making it a hub for houseboats.

The site of the 79th Street Boat Basin was largely undeveloped during the early years of New York City, consisting of rocky terrain along the Hudson River shoreline. Native Americans sparsely populated this area prior to the arrival of Europeans. In 1846, the Hudson River Railroad laid tracks across the shoreline to speed up the transport of goods from Albany to Manhattan. In 1865, William R. Martin, a commissioner on the Board of Central Park, proposed a scenic drive and park along the river. This proposal led to the acquisition of land by the city and the subsequent commissioning of Riverside Park in 1873. Frederick Law Olmsted, the co-designer of Central Park, was named the lead designer, and his design was accepted in 1875. The park was completed by Olmsted's successor, Calvert Vaux.

By 1921, Riverside Park had deteriorated, and citizens were cut off from the waterfront by barbed-wire fences. In the early 1920s, the architecture firm McKim, Mead, and White submitted a proposal for an elevated traffic circle, which drew attention to this neglected area. In 1934, the City of New York announced the West Side Improvement Project, which was overseen by parks commissioner Robert Moses. Moses expanded the project into a grand, multi-level entry and exit from the Henry Hudson Parkway, named the "79th Street Grade Crossing Elimination Structure." The project included the construction of an underground parking garage, a restaurant, and the marina, which was designed by Gilmore David Clarke. The 79th Street Rotunda and Boat Basin were completed in 1937.

By the 1960s, the restaurant at the Boat Basin had closed, but the marina was thriving, with many slips occupied by year-round boaters, including notable figures such as Mad Magazine writer Dick DeBartolo, author Mario Puzo, and singer Frank Sinatra. In the following decades, the Boat Basin continued to be a popular mooring spot and a hub for the boating community, with various improvements and agreements made between the city and boaters to enhance the facilities.

In 2021, the marina closed for rebuilding, and as of 2024, it remains closed, with work scheduled to begin on a new boathouse. The 79th Street Boat Basin has also been a popular filming location, featuring in movies such as "9½ Weeks" (1986) and "You've Got Mail" (1998).

The 79th Street Boat Basin's popularity as a filming location

The 79th Street Boat Basin, a marina located in the Hudson River on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, has been a popular filming location for decades. The basin is nestled between Central Park and the Hudson River and offers iconic views of the river and the city skyline. Its convenient location and picturesque backdrop have made it a sought-after spot for filmmakers looking to capture the essence of New York City.

One notable film that utilised the 79th Street Boat Basin as a filming location is the 1986 romantic drama "9½ Weeks", starring Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke. The basin provided a unique setting for several scenes in the film, including shots of the marina and the interior of a houseboat moored there. This film helped to establish the basin as a desirable filming location and brought attention to its distinct atmosphere.

Another well-known film that featured the 79th Street Boat Basin is the 1998 romantic comedy "You've Got Mail," starring Tom Hanks. In the film, Hanks' character and his relatives are depicted as living on yachts in the basin, showcasing the marina as a vibrant and exclusive community. The film further solidified the basin's reputation as a desirable filming locale.

In addition to these films, the basin has been featured in various other productions, including television shows, commercials, and photoshoots. Its popularity as a filming location is evident through the presence of filming permits and guidelines listed on the Parks Department's website. The basin's aesthetic appeal, coupled with its proximity to other iconic New York City landmarks, makes it an ideal backdrop for capturing the essence of the city on screen.

The 79th Street Boat Basin's enduring popularity as a filming location can be attributed to its unique setting, rich history, and ability to convey a sense of New York City's diverse and vibrant culture. Its appearance in notable films has further established it as an iconic location, attracting filmmakers and visitors alike.

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