Boat operators say new city rules to stop booze cruises out of Sheepshead Bay have left them trying to stay afloat.

The city nixed all charter trips other than fishing excursions from the Sheepshead Bay docks in order to eliminate hundreds of tipsy passengers from causing a nuisance when they returned to shore.

Fishing boats were also given a curfew of 11 p.m., nixing late-night trips.

As a result, at least one operator sold his boat and others are trying to keep from sinking.

Fred Ardolino, president of New York Cruises, said he used to take local students and nursing-home residents out on excursions as well as host weddings, something he can’t do now unless they are fishing.

He said he never held booze cruises and that two big boats with a combined capacity of about 1,000 passengers were responsible for most of the mayhem.

“Instead of just going after the boats that caused the trouble, they decided they were going to go after everyone,” he said.

Tony Santella, who owns three boats, said the fishing boats often supplemented their business with pleasure cruises like July 4th outings, something that is now prohibited.

He said the city should have just limited the capacity of boats that can use the docks, rather than outlawing the type of service.

“They’ve gone way overboard and seriously impacted the traditional fishing fleet and every business operating here,” Santella said.

Now, he said, every trip he takes will be deemed a fishing trip whether the passengers chose to pick up a fishing pole or not.

“If somebody came and wanted to spread their relative’s ashes 3 miles off shore we would take them as an ashes trip,” he said. “Now it’s a fishing trip.”

The Parks Department, which rents the dock space, did not comment.