It's the new and improved way to tailgate on the North Shore. Pull up near the stadium, set out your folding chairs, fire up the grill and break out the cooler.

You just add water.

More than 50 boats -- ranging from accommodating houseboats to sleek powerboats -- were tied up along the North Shore last night as Pittsburghers started partying for tonight's Kenny Chesney concert in Heinz Field. Another 75 or more are expected today, depending on the weather.

This is the kind of traffic that people don't seem to mind. When it comes to the boaters, the motto is "The more, the merrier."

"On a typical weekend, this wall is full of boats," said Terry Grantz, 32, of Shaler, a teacher at Deer Lakes High School and founder of boatpittsburgh.com. "It's a great place to come and tie up and hang out. We're just like any other group that likes to get together. We've met people from up the Allegheny and on the Mon. We have the same passion and we just enjoy each other's company.

"But it's different from tail-gating. It's not like in the parking lots. We know we're going to see the same people over and over again. Before Steelers games and before concerts. It's like family.

"At the same time, we have new people coming in all the time. Friends of friends. And it's a nice mix."

Mr. Grantz, who has been boating for 10 years, set up boatpittsburgh.com last year when he saw confusion among his fellow boaters regarding when and where they could tie up for concerts, fireworks and Steelers games. There is room for only about 15 boats along the North Shore wall outside Heinz Field, and boaters become dependent upon one another for tying up five, six or more deep. Water-loving music fans were already pulling in yesterday from points in West Virginia and Ohio.

Mr. Grantz's boat, Grantz Tomb, is the houseboat that is usually tied up front and center. It's a point of pride and convenience for him, his family and friends, but it's also because, in his role with boatpittsburgh.com, other boaters come looking for him for information.

He also passes out the free hot dogs to boaters (while the supply lasts).

"We wanted to be the connection between boaters and event organizers," Mr. Grantz said. "In addition, we want to promote boating and businesses related to boating."

"It's a good time," said boater Edie Grill, 35, of Brighton Heights, whose boat, the Blue Angel, was tied up outside PNC Park. "Even for Steelers games, on the river, it's different from up in the parking lots. There's never an argument or any fights. People tie their boats up to each other. Everybody welcomes everybody else and looks out for everybody else. I've never seen a problem."

Ms. Grill and her friend, Carrie Shaw, 32, of Brighton Heights, were sunning themselves yesterday in the North Shore water steps outside the Del Monte building. Ms. Grill's daughters, Olivia, 6, and Scarlett, 4, splashed each other nearby.

"We come down every weekend," Ms. Grill said. "Our boat's been here since Tuesday."

Even yesterday's intense storm didn't dismay them. They simply battened down the hatches and waited it out below deck.

As far as tonight's concert is concerned, they said, they don't even have tickets.

"We just sit outside and listen," Ms. Shaw said. "It's the same thing as going in. You can hear the entire thing."

Ken Vesely, 45, of Long Branch, Washington County, and his wife, Audrey, said they have no intention of missing the show. They and their friends made the 3¹/₂-hour cruise up the Monongahela yesterday and still found a place to tie up. Another three or four boatloads of friends are expected to dock alongside them this morning.

"But I come more for the party and to hang out on the water," said his friend, Pete Klein, 28, of Roscoe, Washington County. "Don't get me wrong, we like Kenny Chesney. But you see the price of those tickets, and we'd rather stay out here."

There's more to the riverside than reverie. There's also responsibility, Mr. Grantz said, especially as city officials begin to talk about placing restrictions on the boaters. So boatpittsburgh.com urges boaters to be cool and to clean up after themselves.

"There's been some talk of officials clamping down on this, so we don't want to see anything that would give us a bad name," Mr. Grantz said. "We're trying to work with the city and keep this open for everybody."