Would you take a 240 Sundeck to Catalina Island?

Quint

New Member
Jun 11, 2007
25
Las Vegas
Boat Info
2001 240 Sundeck
Engines
6.2 MerCruiser with Bravo 3
Hey everyone

I've just picked up a very little used 2001 240 Sundeck with 6.2 MPI and B3 drive. It's mechanically and esthetically sound. Anyway, I was thinking it would be quite an adventure to trailer the boat from Las Vegas to Marina Del Ray or Dana Point and then scoot over to the island for a weekend.

I can imagine the seas could get a little lumpy in the afternoon with decent offshore sea breezes, but aside from that, are there any of you who would issue other warnings (aside from the usual ones about preparation, servicing, weather, safety gear, etc)?

Any advice about which place to depart from would also be very useful.

Thanks :)

PS: I am quite an experienced offshore boater, having owned 2 Bertram sportsfishermen, 2 offshore sailboats, and a couple of express cruisers before.
 
If you do a search you will find several discussions on taking open bow boats offshore. I make the run to Catalina at least once a month. I have been over there when the ocean is laying flat and is like going across a lake. I've also been caught out there in 8 to 9 foot seas which could easily swamp your open bow.

Bottom line - you can probably do it, but I wouldn't recommend it. Just my 2 cents...
 
Not me. i took my 390 a weeks ago in a full beam sea and got tossed around like a cork. When its FLAT it;s not too bad, otherwise, it's a rough crossing.
 
My dad was born and raised on Catalina. He delivered the Joe's rent a boat 16 and 18 outboard rental boats to the island. As a kid, we would take our 18' sabrecraft ski boat to the island for the summer. Two things, watch the weather and follow a larger boat, back then we would follow the steamer or the barf barge. (We made more than 100 crossings this way). With the high speed ferries, you can't keep up so find someone with a larger boat to go with you. The trick is the weather.
 
There are several guys I know do it in open boats. It is all about the timing. The water HAS to be right for an open bow. Check out the NOAA DATA BOUY website before you go and have all the safety equipment for your boat. Let the weather dictate your trip and nothing else. I ran into 3-4 footers with a 3.5 second wave period Friday Morning in my 21 footer while towing a broke down boat. The waves were real steep. Keep your head and be prepared. The ocean does not suffer fools. If I was on that side of the US, I would go with you.
 
I was out on Lake Mead a couple of weeks ago when it blowing about 35 knots. The waves were between 3 - 5 feet in the open part of the lake. With the trim down into a head sea and the trim up with a following sea, it won't bury the bow or swamp the boat. I know taking a big green wave over the bow would not be fun, but it would have to be rough in the open ocean to be that bad. And if it started out decent conditions, it is unlikely the seas could build up in the time it would take to get back. At 37 miles one way, at an average of 25 mph, it's only 1.5 hours of open sea.

I have an adage about offshore conditions and small boats (i.e. <40 feet), if the forecast is for 25 knots or more, stay on the shore!

And I know all the rules about weather-dependence - you could cross the Gulf Stream in a hollowed-out log if the weather was benign; but when it turns nasty, you wouldn't want to be out there in a 1,000 ft ocean liner.

BTW, thanks to SR400DB and Red Horse for the useful information.
 
Leaving early should be good conditions and returning no later then 1 PM is how the 20 fters do it. Davies or Huntington is a good launch point if your going to Avalon or the east end. Check the marine forecast 5 days in advance.
Winds are 20 kts in the afternoon quite often.
 
Can't speak directly to the Catalina Run. It sounds like others have and do make the run. Just like the Bimini run it is all about weather and planning. Keep us posted. Have you checked with the local boat clubs to see if they do group runs?
 
I've been 20+ miles off shore many times - sometimes in quite smaller bowriders than yours. Some of those times I've had to adjust to the conditions. Never "fight" the conditions - just go with it best you can. Although, as I'm sure you're aware, it can take quite a bit of "footwork" on your part! Your first fight against Mother Nature will be your last, you know?:smt001

As you mentioned, it's all about keeping a eye on the weather. If you're comfortable, which it seems you are, handling the boat in some rough seas I don't see any reason why you wouldn't go.
 
We used to do it on 16' Hobie cats but they weren't virtual floating bathtubs. Makes me nervous thinking about it. The swells on the west side can be brutal. Would be an interesting trip...
 
A guy at my club takes an 18" Grady White from Newport Beach to Catalina often. He said it occassionally gets hairy, but he has never felt endagered.
 
Our nasty winds and swells are mostly North at Point Conception. Serves as a wind break for So Calif waters.
Launching further South has less afternoon winds and Catalina island gives some protection from the usual West swell. Do need to watch for the Supertanker wakes though.:lol:
 
A guy at my club takes an 18" Grady White from Newport Beach to Catalina often. He said it occassionally gets hairy, but he has never felt endagered.

I don't think that is an open bow...which makes a big difference.
 
Actually the 18' Grady is a open/center console. Our mooring is right on the main fairway next to the pier. I could not begin to count the number of open bow boats that arrive from the mainland. You MUST pay attention to weather/swells and wind without any doubt, however, the open bow boats are not the biggest problem the CG/Harbor patrol has to deal with over there, they will always complain about the offshore boats that run in any weather/time of day WITHOUT radar as the biggest problem, oh and blowboats that have engine issues. Look at some of the recent boat incidents at the island to see the trend. Like I said before this is a very doable trip, just plan ahead. The crossing does not have anything like the Gulf Stream on the east coast.
 
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Can't speak directly to the Catalina Run. It sounds like others have and do make the run. Just like the Bimini run it is all about weather and planning. Keep us posted. Have you checked with the local boat clubs to see if they do group runs?


Ahh you can't take Chucks advice he thinks he can make the run to the bahamas on his 240SD.:lol:
 
Ahh you can't take Chucks advice he thinks he can make the run to the bahamas on his 240SD.:lol:

You had better be nice since your going to be my camera man on the trip.:thumbsup: Sir J.:lol::smt043:lol:
 

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