Ever wondered how to live on a boat in New York? We have... and it's possible. We have a friend who lives at the 79th Street Boat Basin, we recently wrote about a couple who moved from Brooklyn to a boat in Hoboken, and we have been continually drawn to The Frying Pan, a dance spot + home for the owner and his family by Chelsea Piers. Sunken Living Rooms, by Simon van Booey (NYPost) is a great article if you want to get more of the lowdown on how, where and how much does it take to make this kind of move. Interviewing Ed Bacon, who has lived on the river for 34 years, we learn the ropes:
His advice to anyone that wants to live on the water is to start the process as soon as possible. "Most people are in lockstep from cradle to grave," he says. "If you're thinking about doing it, tell all your friends and you'll be too ashamed not to do it."
There's no property tax, he says, though with boat insurance, boat maintenance and the year-round docking fee, he believes that the expense "is comparable to an Upper East Side studio."
We are always interested in the many different ways apartment living is interpreted in New York, and want to provide resources for all the different options. If you have more info on boat living, please comment below. MGR
I'm very interested in boat living in NYC. I looked into this for a while but it seemed impossible. IIRC, 79th street boat basin strictly disallows living for new slip renters.
Further, I'm primarily interested in the idea of getting an old barge and living on that. You can find old barges for <$40k that are decent loft-sized (25'x100' or so), but I couldn't find anywhere to park them. On the Jersey side, there's a place you can park largish boats, but the fees were insane, especially during the summer.
Is it possible to get access to those unused-looking areas of the waterfront of queens and brooklyn, particularly in sunset park?
Does anyone know what the story is with those 2-3 sailboats that are always moored in front of the giant white building on the water at like N. 5th in williamsburg?
What about the famous tube house on the water in gowanus. There are several boats parked in front of it in the canal. is it possible these are house boats, or could be replaced with house boats?
Sorry, I read the last sentence of the post as 'if you *want* more info...' that's why my whole post above is questions.
i am looking for a room
Are any of those 25x100' <$40K towable to North Shore of Long Island Sound?