Best place to Launch for extended stay on Catalina.

[Jim See]

Hi So Cal divers,

My wife and I are towing our boat down from Sonoma County for our first trip to Catalina. I've found a lot of great info here regarding diving and staying on Catalina.

I'm struggling to find the best place to launch and "safely" leave our truck and trailer for about a week. Any suggestions?

IF the weather allows we plan to head down around X-mas.

Thanks in advance!

 

[gbert]

What kind of boat? Sailboat or power boat? Are you planning on going to Avalon or Two Harbors?

If you're looking to launch close, San Pedro / Cabrillo Beach has a public ramp and parking at $15/day with trailers attached. It's not unsafe but it's probably not my first choice in leaving a car or trailer for a week.
San Pedro and LA Harbor Area Sailing

There are a fair number of choices also in Long Beach; Alamitos Bay Davies Launch Ramp would probably be my first pick for leaving your car. It's a fairly large marina with a number of yacht clubs there. $12/day

City of Long Beach, CA - Launch Ramps

Farther away, Redondo Beach Marina has a public hoist (<$40 depending on size) and parking available for $8/day. It's tucked away in a pretty safe area so I'd pick that over Cabrillo myself, but you're going to pay more / take longer to get to Two Harbors or Avalon.
Redondo Beach Marina Services

If you're going to Avalon and are willing to drive farther, Huntington Beach is a decent option
Huntington Harbour Boating Facilities

Beyond that, Marina Del Rey would be an okay place to leave your car but it's pretty far from Catalina (~33 nmi to two harbors, 42nmi to Avalon)

Hope that helps.

 

[drbill]

I'd sure check the long range weather forecast. Storms can pop up in our waters this time of year although recently it has been pretty calm and foggy.

 

[Jim See]

What kind of boat? Sailboat or power boat? Are you planning on going to Avalon or Two Harbors?

If you're looking to launch close, San Pedro / Cabrillo Beach has a public ramp and parking at $15/day with trailers attached. It's not unsafe but it's probably not my first choice in leaving a car or trailer for a week.
San Pedro and LA Harbor Area Sailing

There are a fair number of choices also in Long Beach; Alamitos Bay Davies Launch Ramp would probably be my first pick for leaving your car. It's a fairly large marina with a number of yacht clubs there. $12/day

City of Long Beach, CA - Launch Ramps

Farther away, Redondo Beach Marina has a public hoist (<$40 depending on size) and parking available for $8/day. It's tucked away in a pretty safe area so I'd pick that over Cabrillo myself, but you're going to pay more / take longer to get to Two Harbors or Avalon.
Redondo Beach Marina Services

If you're going to Avalon and are willing to drive farther, Huntington Beach is a decent option
Huntington Harbour Boating Facilities

Beyond that, Marina Del Rey would be an okay place to leave your car but it's pretty far from Catalina (~33 nmi to two harbors, 42nmi to Avalon)

Hope that helps.

Thanks for all the info and including the links. I had looked at Davies online before and now I feel a little better about it.

We have a 25' C-Dory Powered with a Honda 150. And we plan to start exploring Catalina in Avalon and go from there. Depending on weather of course.

Thanks again.

Jim

---------- Post added December 8th, 2012 at 10:42 PM ----------

I'd sure check the long range weather forecast. Storms can pop up in our waters this time of year although recently it has been pretty calm and foggy.

Somehow I missed this post. I appreciate the heads up and agree with watching the long range forecasts in fact I've already started by checking the various buoys each day. One thing I have been curious about is the infamous Santa Ana winds. Am I correct in assuming that if they kick up that Catalina Harbor or Little Harbor are safer than Avalon?

 

[drbill]

Yes, in fact the "windward" side is generally protected during the Santa Anas. We occasionally dive there when those winds limit conditions on the normally "leeward" side!

 

[1.3]

25' is on the smaller size for the crossing - Plan to leave first thing in the morning which is when it is the calmest - Both outbound and inbound. Swell and wind chop builds during the day and depending on winds, lunch/afternoon is too uncomfortable.

http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=pzz655&syn=pzz600

 

[Jim See]

1.3,

I agree. We do plan to cross first thing after checking the conditions carefully. We have crossed from Ventura to Santa Cruz Island in the past, Catalina will be a first for us.

Thanks for the info.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

When the C-Brats have their Catalina gathering, most use Marina del Rey. It adds a lot of miles compared to Cabrillo, but is prpbably safer.

 

[mmcdanie]

I cross from Huntington Beach Harbor. I average about 17 knots and make it usually in 1hour 30mins to either Two Harbors or Avalon. Always morning crossings. Have run into dense fog going out and coming back in the winter months. A good knowledge of your radar is a big plus. I personally will not go if the San Pedro Nation Data Buoy #092 is showing 4 feet or greater. Have some great dives!

 

[Jim See]

Just wanted to say thanks again to everybody for all of the helpful info.

We chose Davies launch ramp and everything was exactly the way we left it after a week. (Christmas day to New Years day)

I managed 3 great dives in Casino Point. I can see why some of you dive the park over and over and over again. There are soooo many fish!
We also were able to do 8 more dives off our boat between Avalon and Isthmus.

One highlight of the trip was being surrounded by huge schools of squid on two different dives during the day. This was a first for all of us.....amazing.
Another was New Years Eve day after diving we stopped near Long Point to pick up some trash floating in the water and as soon as we finished a mega pod of dolphins swam all around us!! There must have been close to 500, after about 15 or 20 minutes I could see them for about 1/2 a mile in either direction.

We can't wait to head back down and explore more So Cal diving. It's truly amazing how diverse the diving is in this state..

Cheers and Happy New Year

Jim