Salty Lawyer

I am considering taking my 21' i/o open-bow (8 cyl 350 chev engine) from Long Beach to Catalina at the end of September 2008. I will have a marine radio, flares, GPS, and wetsuits. I am an experienced diver and would only go if the weather was nice and leave early in the morning. I would like to moor my boat at one of the many moorings available in Avalon and sleep right on it. I have a lot of boating experience on Lake Mead and Lake Powell but I have never been on the ocean. My plan is to do some lobster hunting.

Am I crazy? Is it dangerous? Has anyone out there made this trip?

JUSTINTIME

you will be fine as long as you check NOAA marine forecast

heck ask on bloodydecks,com and u might have a partner that will go out with you!

__________________
VOLVO OCEAN RACE team JUST-IN-TIME

switchbait.com

Salty Lawyer

Thanks for the tip... I hope the weather holds out..

Farout

I agree just watch the weather, and just FYI new regs say we have to have a lobster report card when taking lobsters this season.

Always something, GOOD LUCK !!

Salty Lawyer

Report card?!!! I'll read up on it... I'm on their "watch list" because two of my lobsters last year were a little small... I made the mistake of bringing them on the beach to measure because I was so exhausted from the surf. A ranger was standing there and wrote me up... He threw them back after photgraphing them. $762 dollars later (attorneys fees and fine) I figured my catch cost me $1400/lb. and I didn't even get to eat it... I'm glad you told me about the report card regulation...

prowlersfish

"I have never been on the ocean" Then I think you could use some more experience .
that is not a lake out there . find some some one else who has done it . Then "budy boat" with them .

__________________



36' Trojan conv 300BTA Cummins .
Paul

welder

I would get a buddy boat , it's only 26 miles from long beach but 1/2 way across and break down you will be in Mexico in a day or so .

__________________
F350 4x4/ Dodge 2500HD 5.9L Cummins
Leaving the Picture of the Ford cuz I miss it
Pacific 2325 cc
Honda bf225
aluminumalloyboats.com

cdavesmith04

So, I have never made the trip but my brother has several times and has a great time. From his stories and experience here are a few tips to add to the others:
Make sure you get towing insurance before you head out, breakdowns always happen when you least expect it and the cost to tow in from that far can be well over $1k. Make sure they have available moorings, call ahead I believe it is first come first served. You can anchor but make sure you have at least 200' of ground gear and you anchor is big enough to hold you through the night. As previously suggested, I would try and buddy up with someone, my brother has done this several times but only after years of Monterey Bay experience.
Have fun, good luck.

ABoater

Folks make the trip on PWC's.

Pick your days and as suggested, buddy up if at all possible.

The low clouds/fog can be thick in the morning, so be prepared.

The wind comes up in the pm, and you will mostly be going with the waves on your journey back to port.

Have a safe trip!

waterluver

I would love to hear how it turns out - we just got an 18 foot open bow, is that too small for Catalina from Long Beach or Marina del rey? - We are just getting our feet wet and can use all the help and information we can get...
Thanks so much.

cal tom

just made that very trip last fri. on my brand new to me 20.6 seapro cc I cound;nt have picked a better day for the crossing,I checked noaa the nite before and left around 6;30am to overcast and flat seas.stopped on breaking bait about 5 mi.from avalon, soaked a bait my buddy says he;s pick-up,a second later a 150 threasher shark
jumped no more than ten feet from my stearn,change of undies needed. I have made the crossing many times,you have to watch afternoon winds and seas.

grey goose

I do it from Long beach in my 17 foot whaler CC and no problem. Leave early and if you stay over you ought to consider coming back no later than noon I will usually head back around that time so I can leisurely troll home and if weather kicks up you
re allready on your way just reel in and speed up some goog luck.

jarracuda

I take a 19' bay boat over there. It's not really the boat although a dependable motor is nice, but the experience you should have from taking longer and longer "local" trips will allow you to make the best choices. Here's info if you don't already have it or have already gone..http://www.cityofavalon.com/filestor..._July_2008.pdf
BTW..There are more places to stay the night then avalon...

DeepVSoCal

I did it in the Summer of 2007 and plan on doing it again next year in my 19 foot open bow boat. I had a Fixed VHS with DSC, GPS, Ditch Bag, EPIRB and bow cover on the bow.

Here's some pics:

http://home.earthlink.net/~tbeckwith...album/id3.html

lorenbennett

I just made the trip for the first time, made the crossing in the middle of the night. Was great trip. DeepV has good ideas on how to make your trip safe. Here are some pics I took.


We traveled around the entire island.

__________________
2003 Searay 260 Sundancer
"Entertaining Angels"
2000 Ford f350 Dually with 7.3L

DivinusArma

Hello,

I'm considering purchasing a 1989 28' Bayliner or something similar, perhaps a sea ray 300.

I would love to know what the fuel costs are for a trip to Catalina from Long Beach would be...

Thank you very much!

pglein

Calculating fuel burn (and expense) is something only you can do. And it is something you need to know how to do before you even consider making a 26 mile open ocean trip.

You will need to know the boat's fuel burn at the speed you intend to cruise at. You will need to know the currents you will encounter. And lastly, you will need to know the vessel's fuel capacity, where you can get fuel, and how much it will cost.

Good rule of thumb is the "Rule of Thirds". 1/3 for the trip out, 1/3 for the trip back, and 1/3 for reserve.

__________________
2003 36' Albin Express Trawler
1984 18' Boston Whaler Outrage
1971 13' Boston Whaler Sport
1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 LT