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Random Quote: My wife told me to pick. It's her or fishing from now on. I'm gonna miss her!
Do any of you run trailerable boats from San Diego to Catalina? I often go out to the island, but I have always trailered to Dana Point.
I just bought a 22 edgewater express and would prefer not to have to trailer to far with my truck (V8 4runner). That being said I am not sure which will be worse, my truck whining on the 5 or my girlfriend whining on a 3 hour ride to the island.
I don't have an answer for you, but I hope someone does because I want to do the same thing. I have found some information regarding Catalina on Bloodydecks.com. Catalina gets discussed occasionally on that site. I plan on towing up to LA Harbors and cruising over from there. Not until the summer when the weather is more predictable
It is a easy run from Dana Point. I may try running from Mission Bay, but I think trailering to Dana Point is the ticket (I just hope my truck is up to it)
My new boat will be here next week so I will be heading out there a lot. I have lived in San Diego for 7 years and there is nothing better than a weekend on the boat in Catalina. In the winter I usual stay in Avalon, during the summer I usually camp or stay on the boat.
Let me know when you are going, perhaps we could run together.
I also trailer to Dana Point before heading to the island. My 24 footer has a 78 gallon tank and I'm pretty sure it would make it from Mission Bay, but why take the risk? Plus, you use a heck of alot less gas and time driving the truck up the freeway than running the boat up the coast. The down side to Dana Point is the launch/daily parking fee (it was $10/day last time I was there). Mission Bay launch and parking is free.
TIME - Tow to SD launch ~.5Hrs, Crossing to Cat ~3Hrs
Tow to Long Beach ~2.5Hrs, Crossing to Cat ~1Hr
Tow to Dana ~1.5Hrs, Crossing to Cat ~1.5Hrs
(Traffic, weather & whining for each phase need to be factored in.)
COST - You do the math.
WEATHER (Wind speed. direction & duration of blow have a direct affect on the cost, time & whining factors) - Synopsys: SoCal wind & swell typically gain strength early afternoon from the NW & drop down at night, but there may be residual slop in the morning.
From SD, you'd be running into the weather going to Cat & with it coming from Cat.
From Dana, a little less of a weather concern because of the Catalina/Clemente Island shelter effect and not so much of a head-on/stern-to situation.
From LB you're quartering the slop. It's usually a great crossing in the morning but the San Pedro Channel can get nasty in the afternoon.
So, much depends on what your boat likes to do, run up, down, across or not at all.
If you're just going to Cat for its social aspects I'd tow & launch from O'side, Dana or LB. If it's a fishing trip I'd check timing & run from SD - lot's of high spots to hit on the way.
3 hours from San Diego in a 22 foot boat, no way... It's normally rough enough that I have to drop the tabs and say at minimum planing speed to keep from launching off the tops of the swells, this in a little bit bigger 26 foot boat.
Oh, launching there (Oceanside) isn't so bad....if you get there early enough to get a parking space near the ramp.* I used to do it frequently enough.* Now I'm in a slip there.
Jim - I haven't been to DP for quite a while now - How bad is it launching out of there these days?
LA to Isthmus Cove is a pretty quick run, just watch yourself around the commercial traffic and commercial fisherman.
__________________
Rich
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
The Dana Point launch ramp renovation was completed Memorial Day. I haven't used the ramp yet, but the docks are much nicer than the old wood one's. I prefer a steep ramp, so I don't have to dunk the back of my truck into the water. The new ramp is much less steep than the old ramp.
Catalina from San Diego
