Home Regions Long Island Sound Port Washington
Anchor + moorings · New York

Manhasset Bay — Port Washington

Port Washington, New York · Long Island Sound · 40°50.0′N 73°42.7′W · VHF Ch 09

Good holdingProtected from E · SE · S · SW · WAnchor + mooringsReservable✓ Verified
Holding
Good
Best in wind
E · SE · S · SW · W
Depth
7–17 ft
Bottom
mud

At a glance

Depth range
7–17 ft (MLW)
Tidal range
7.2 ft
Bottom type
mud
Capacity
60+ boats
Crowding
Busy
VHF
Ch 09

Quick answers Manhasset Bay

Is Manhasset Bay good holding?

Holding at Manhasset Bay is rated good, over a mud bottom. Set well and check your swing before you trust it.

What wind is Manhasset Bay protected from?

Manhasset Bay is well sheltered from east, southeast, south, southwest, west winds. Check the wind-protection rose above for every direction.

Can you anchor for free at Manhasset Bay?

Yes — anchoring at Manhasset Bay is free; a guest mooring runs $35 / night (Town transient, incl. Water Taxi).

What VHF channel do you use at Manhasset Bay?

Hail on VHF Ch 09 (Town Harbormaster / Water Taxi Ch 09).

Can you get a mooring at Manhasset Bay?

Reserve or hail — Town transient moorings — hail Harbor Patrol / Water Taxi on Ch 09. It full daily in season.

Mooring picture can you get a ball?

Reserve or hailFull daily in season
Getting a ball
Town transient moorings — hail Harbor Patrol / Water Taxi on Ch 09
Launch service
Town Water Taxi on Ch 09, bundled into the mooring fee
If the field is full
Anchor in the special-anchorage areas in good soft mud — one of the best holding grounds on the western Sound.

Wind protection by direction

GoodE, SE, S, SW, W
FairN, NE
PoorNW
Derived from shoreline fetch + Coast Pilot notes

Amenities ashore

Dinghy dock
Fuel
Water
Showers
Provisions
Restaurants
Pump-out
Laundry
Trash

On the chart seamarks & approaches

Buoys & seamarks © OpenSeaMap · base © OpenStreetMap. Reference only — not for navigation.

Local knowledge

Manhasset Bay off Port Washington is the western Sound's yacht harbor — the Coast Pilot's words are "excellent shelter... much frequented by yachts," and it delivers: deep, soft-mud holding and a town that runs a proper transient program.

Pick up a Town transient mooring (hail on Ch 09; the free Water Taxi is bundled into the fee) or anchor in the special-anchorage areas in good holding ground. The bay is well enclosed except toward its northwest mouth. Ashore, Port Washington has a supermarket, a chandlery and restaurants right at the town dock — one of the easiest reprovisioning stops on the Sound. (Note: the old free-two-nights program ended in 2025.)

Hazards & cautions. A boulder reef bares at low water off Hewlett Point on the west side of the entrance (lighted buoy at its north end), with Gangway Rock and Success Rock off Barker Point to the northeast and Stepping Stones reef southwest of the mouth. The head of the bay is extensive mudflats; 5 mph limit.

Cruiser reports from the anchorage

Editor's note

NOAA Coast Pilot notes Manhasset Bay affords excellent shelter for vessels of about 12 feet draft or less, is much frequented by yachts, and has a soft bottom with good holding ground.

No cruiser reports yet. If you've anchored here, be the first — your note helps the next boat in.

More in Long Island Sound
Cruising Long Island Sound? Every anchorage nearby is one tap away.
Browse Long Island Sound

Augusto ratings and editorial are our own synthesis of public-domain sources and cruiser reports. Always verify against current charts and local knowledge before you rely on them.