Day 7-10 Catskill, NY, Hop-O-Nose Marina Mast Stepping!

We made it to Catskill, NY, Hope-O-Nose Marina, absolutely the best place to step your mast on the Hudson. Great facilities, such as a swimming pool for your family to enjoy, while you are working away. The Creekside Restaurant with surprisingly amazing food and atmosphere – also a favourite of the locals!

Shawn is the owner & Chef at the Restaurant and the proprietor of both the Hop-O-Nose & Catskills Marina across the river. It is the only place on the Hudson, where you can claim that the Cook, Bar Tender (TIM) and dishwasher stepped your mast! However, don’t let that fool you Shawn and his staff are very efficient and skilled at mast stepping. That might be due to the thousands that they have done in their career.

TIP: If you are in a hurry, don’t wait for any instructions! If you arrive in the late afternoon or evening, and the dock under the crane is free, pull right in bow first. Do all your preparations to step your mast prior to meeting the staff in the morning. When they show up in the morning, usually about 8am, they will be raring and ready to go. If you are not ready, you’ll miss your window of opportunity. Same goes if you dock in one of the other slips, get your boat ready to step, and all you’ll have to do is move in under the crane once the first boat is done, and they’ll be ready to do yours. Usually takes about 1/2 hour per boat.

Top Ten Reasons to Step your Mast at Hop-O-Nose Marina.

1) Knowledgeable and very Experienced Crew.

2) Efficient and Quick, They don’t dilly dally.

3) Flexible and Easy going staff.

4) No wake to disrupt your stepping as there is on the Hudson.

5) Your family can relax and enjoy the pool, while you slave away.

6) You can store your mast cradles for when you return, and build new ones, if you don’t have one.

7) Creekside Restaurant on site, amazing food and great entertainment on the weekends.

8) If you want to hang around longer, affordable long term docking rates.

9) Quaint little town, with many shops and art galleries to explore.

10) Lets not forget Catskill’s Cats all lined up and down the Main street! You must check them out!

The night we arrived a massive party was underway. Two bands, one inside and one outside on a stage that was constructed from an old floating dock. The bands were exceptionally good, and the food and drinks were amazing! For lunch you must try the fish and chips!

The party was for “30 years of Life” Thrown by the man that fell head first off the Rip Van Winkle Bridge on the Hudson just outside of Catskill. This bridge is about 150 feet tall, and the man fell head first into 3 feet of water. Luckily there was nothing but smooshy mud underneath. He was waist deep, head first in it. He managed to dig himself out and survived. He is thankful to be alive, and throws a large party every 5 years or so to celebrate!

The residents and folks that keep their boats here are very friendly, and hospitable. One of the friendly boat owners, Pete offered us his truck so we can get around town. We were able to use it for a night out, and to get our laundry done. Very thankful! Thanks Pete!

Many things for families to do on this pit stop. Ice Cream and little amusement rides at the end of the road.

Catskill is famous for the annual display of artistic cat like creations along the main road. They are very creative and entertaining. Local artists get very creative with their themes, and this year dogs were added to the mix.

Try finding this interesting artsy area, near the end of the road where the ice cream store is. It is some kind of Meeting Post. Visitors leave notes and messages on the table or on the post, and others can read and enjoy them.

We decided to leave our boats here for the next couple of months. The rate offered to us were very competitive and we like the facilities and the floating docks with power. We can return for a week-end on the boats over the next couple of months. But the goal is to delivery the boats to the Bahamas, just after hurricane season, which officially ends November 1st.

Links below from our Blog Posts 5 years ago when we last did this trip.

http://www.sailboatcruise.ca/2008/10/22/day-9-swimming-at-the-hop-o-nose-marina/

http://www.sailboatcruise.ca/2008/10/22/catskill/

One of the Castles on the Hudson, Listed as one of the Top Beautiful abandoned places in the world.

http://distractify.com/culture/arts/the-most-spectacular-abandoned-places-in-the-world/