Is there anyone in So. Calif. out there???

Can you send me the info on your 37? Photos etc.

 

Are you a live-aboard or simply moving the boat there? It's cool to be downtown and using the facilities at the Marriott such as pool is awesome. The parking situation is terrible and expensive though as it pertains to a vehicle.

 

Just moving the boat there. Plan on being there about 10 days per month. Will prob park elsewhere and Uber there. Thoughts?

 

Sounds like fun. To bad SDens don't seem to be that much for joining locally.

 

Being new here, I was just thinking about staring a thread for this!!!

 

Hi SoCal boaters - Just returned from another weekend at Catalina - so thought I would offer my perspectives (plusses ++ / minuses --) on the various anchorages that I have now experienced:

**Avalon**
++ many options for dining / activities, shore boat service, may be well protected depending on where they put you, golf cart rental, zip lining, Descanso beach club near by, coin operated showers
-- can be crowded, difficult to get mooring on key holiday weekends (4th, Memorial, Labor), can be tricky to maneuver to your mooring on a busy weekend

**Descanso (next to Avalon) **
++ easier to get mooring (overflow for Avalon), in front of beautiful Descanso club, could swim ashore on board/kayak, Avalon shore boat
-- not as protected as Avalon so expect waves, no Dinghy dock (nearest is in Avalon), can get noisy with club like atmosphere on holiday weekends

** Isthmus Cove (Two Harbors - Near side of Island) **
++ shore boat service, quieter than Avalon, may be well protected depending on where they put you, close to "Harbor Sands" beach club / restaurant, hiking, swimming, coin operated showers, coin laundry
-- dinghy dock crazy full (bumper boats) on holiday weekends, difficult to get mooring on key holiday weekends (4th, Memorial, Labor), coin showers dirty and in need of upgrade

** Cat Harbor (Two Harbors - Far side of Island) **
++ most protected anchorage in all of Catalina, protection from Santa Ana's, quieter than Isthmus Cove, more availability on key holiday weekends (4th, Memorial, Labor), Del Rey Yacht Club shore facility (if affiliated), scenic
-- have to walk across dusty isthmus to get to any food / restaurants, water is more dirty / cloudy than Isthmus Cove, shore boat service unreliable (recommend dinghy)

** Howlands Landing **
++ can get advance reservations on moorings if affiliated with LAYC or CYC, LAYC/CYC shore facility with charcoal BBQ, picnic tables, campfire, and toilets (no showers), dinghy dock (shared with kids camp), quieter than Isthmus
-- 20 minute / 2 mile dinghy ride to Isthmus cove, camp limits when you can tie up dinghy based on club activities

** Emerald Bay **
++ quiet, may be able to get moorings on holiday weekends, quieter than Isthmus
-- 25 minutes / 2.5 mile dinghy ride to Isthmus cove, Boy Scout camp on shore limits tie ups / beach access

Others that I haven't tried but may in the future include Cherry Cove and 4th of July Cove (both closer to Isthmus than Howlands). I'll post additional reviews.

We will often sleep on our boat at our home marina (Marina del Rey) the night before and then I will wake up at 4 am to get the boat underway while the rest of the family is sleeping. The goal is to get to Catalina by 7am / 7:30am which is when the Harbor Patrol starts assigning moorings. Here is a link to more information:

Isthmus / Cat Harbor / Howlands / Emerald Bay / Cherry / 4th July
https://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/things-to-do/two-harbors/boating/mooring-sites/

Avalon / Descanso / Hamilton
http://www.cityofavalon.com/filestorage/3182/3209/Avalon_Harbor_Brochure_FINAL_2018-2019.pdf

 

JoAna: "Ensenada BC Mex" WOW!!! I've played with the idea of harboring there full time and commuting for one week a month (there). But was always concerned about the safety. The stories of all kinds of trouble are debilitating.

 

Currently in San Diego and planning a trip to Ensenada. Heard very positive things from friends!

 

I’m a new Sundancer 330 owner (2009) in MDR!

 

@Peter Z. - welcome to MdR! I’m not that far from you...in front of Tony P’s. Enjoy the SR.

 

Would love to meet and learn a thing or two. I’m in the Marina City Club, right near you. Let me know. TY!

 

We had an unexpectedly good overnight trip last night to Alamitos Bay just south of Long Beach. Originally we were going to take a two night trip and head down to Newport Harbor but a small craft advisory delayed our departure by one day and it ended up being a one night trip.

This was my first time trying to navigate around the Long Beach port area and I will admit it was a little bit confusing dealing with the commercial tankers, container ships, express ferries, etc. We did go next to the HMS Queen Mary so that we could take a picture of our boat with the Queen Mary in the background.

We stayed overnight at the Long Beach Yacht Club which has a reciprocal relationship with our yacht club and so we were able to stay on their long dock for free. They have a really nice swimming pool , nice showers and locker rooms and a fun bar atmosphere.

The highlight of the trip was taking our dinghy and sailing around Naples Island which is in the middle of the bay including a very narrow canal where all the canal lined homes had amazing Christmas lights and decorations.

We did dinner Friday night at Ballast Point brewery and breakfast Saturday morning at “Schooner or Later”. Both of the spots had docs out front and so we rode our dinghy over there but both docs would’ve also accommodated our full-size boat as well.

Definitely the overnight exceeded our expectations and we found Alamitos Bay to be a hidden gem!

 

What's going on over there in Cali now? Is Avalon and Catalina open? We sure miss our trips to that paradise for our weekend get aways with our kids and seeing them grow up on the boat.

 

Just joined this forum. I've had my 39 EC since new in 1988. Twin Cat 3208's turbo. Catalina is a frequent destination. JoAna is correct that the island is now closed. I'll post more on that early in the week. If you have a mooring, you are allowed to use it for your personal use - no going on shore - and you can not book it for anyone else. Boat is in MDR.

 

Hey @JoAna and @askworldtraveler - good news Catalina is open again!!

https://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/articles/post/catalina-island-company-reopens-moorings/

 

Open harbor. Few on island services open. Masks required. The city did not want the harbor to open. No side ties. We are going to wait a while before going.