The Mid-Hudson Valley is home to a large concentration of non-motorized boating activity that shares the river with a range of motorized boats that include tugs and barges, recreational motor boats of all sizes, cruise ships and personal watercraft.
The Hudson River Rowing Association Boathouse in Poughkeepsie serves as home to over 500 rowers and on any given day there are dozens and dozens of rowing shells on the river from March to November. In addition Marist and Vassar Colleges also maintain rowing programs that row on the river along the Poughkeepsie and Highland Waterfronts everyday each spring and fall.
Rowing shells range in size from a single which is about 25 feet in length and seats one person with two oars, to an eight oared shelled that is 60 feet long and contains 9 people with eight oars that extend 13 feet on either side of the shell. None of these rowing formats move fast or efficiently in contrast to motorboats. In addition, because rowing shells sit close to the water and are very thin they are particularly vulnerable to damage and capsizing in wakes caused by motorboats and barges.
Rowers of all ages and in all boat formats will be found anywhere along the Poughkeepsie and Highland waterfronts throughout the day, though their activities tend to be concentrated between dawn and 10am and 3pm to Dusk. Kayakers, canoeists and small sailboats may be found during all daylight hours and you may even see a dragon boat at anytime as well.
The map above shows the areas of the Hudson River along the Poughkeepsie and Highland waterfronts that contain the highest concentration of non-motorized boating activity - if you launch your boat from any of these marinas or visit from farther reaches please be aware that both non-motorized and motorized boats share this part of the Hudson extensively.
The Hudson River Rowing Association Boathouse in Poughkeepsie serves as home to over 500 rowers and on any given day there are dozens and dozens of rowing shells on the river from March to November. In addition Marist and Vassar Colleges also maintain rowing programs that row on the river along the Poughkeepsie and Highland Waterfronts everyday each spring and fall.
Rowing shells range in size from a single which is about 25 feet in length and seats one person with two oars, to an eight oared shelled that is 60 feet long and contains 9 people with eight oars that extend 13 feet on either side of the shell. None of these rowing formats move fast or efficiently in contrast to motorboats. In addition, because rowing shells sit close to the water and are very thin they are particularly vulnerable to damage and capsizing in wakes caused by motorboats and barges.
Rowers of all ages and in all boat formats will be found anywhere along the Poughkeepsie and Highland waterfronts throughout the day, though their activities tend to be concentrated between dawn and 10am and 3pm to Dusk. Kayakers, canoeists and small sailboats may be found during all daylight hours and you may even see a dragon boat at anytime as well.
The map above shows the areas of the Hudson River along the Poughkeepsie and Highland waterfronts that contain the highest concentration of non-motorized boating activity - if you launch your boat from any of these marinas or visit from farther reaches please be aware that both non-motorized and motorized boats share this part of the Hudson extensively.