up coming trip

lorenbennett

New Member
Nov 17, 2006
429
Ft. Mohave, Arizona
Hey guys long time no posting due to 9 month long treatment for serious illness. Was not effective but is allowing me to plan my off shore fishing trip. Thought I would run it by everyone for suggestion and/or potshots.

I have some questions about cal offshore fishing but first my boat. I have a 2003 Searay 260 sundancer with a 6.2l b3 drive. I carry 85 gallons of gas, 28 gallons water and 28 gallon holding tank. It has a generator and is very seaworthy. I have temporary removed all rear vinyl seating and installed a live well, overhead rod storage and a total of 8 rod holders in different locations around the boat. My boat is set up with lowrance chart, gps, fuel flow sensor and radar along with updated charts for the southern cal area. Know before some of you start wondering what I have done to my boat, these mods were very easy and did not require damaging the boat in any way. We on our way to catalina with my boat 9/12-9/14. We do plan on fishing away from the island both days based on fishing reports. The range of my boat very's based on how its operated from a low of 90 miles up to 250 miles at trolling speed.
Any one carry extra fuel and water to extend there day on smaller boats?
I have been prepping my boat and preparing for this trip for a long time and would like to hear any suggestions that would make this trip great. We have settles on catalina harbor for our base heading out to santa barbara one day and san clemente the other. That's if the weather is nice to us. I have added a raw water washdown to keep the mess cleaned up. I have also added 300' and 30' chain to anchor along with 2 addition 150' rolls of rope and two box anchors for anchoring at night. There will 3 adults and one teen on this trip.

Ok here go's comments and suggestions please and remeber my doctor's order to keep my stress level under control.:thumbsup:
 
I lived in Long Beach, CA for many years and made the trip to Catalina many times first in my 23' I Cobalt and then in a 24' Sea Ray. I can't help you much on the fishing as haven't dropped a line in the water in over 30 years. (I decided I liked boating better than fishing)

You sound like you have things set up pretty well. There is gas available in Avalon....pricey but available. From Long Beach it is only 25 miles to Avalon which is well within your range. In my opinion, I'm not sure I would mess with the hassle of carrying extra fuel. You could just top of every day.

A couple of other tips for Catalina....plan to cross early in the morning. Dawn would not be too early. Watch the winds. They typically begin to kick up in the middle of the day and are usually out of the SW this time of year. That means that in the lee of the island the water is usually calm. If you are going to attempt a trip to the back, or windward side of the island pay serious heed to the weather and give Mother Nature plenty of respect. If you are on that side of the islands when the winds come up you can at the least have a very uncomfortable and wet ride getting back around. At the worst....we don't want to think about the worst. Just remember what I said about Mother Nature.

Lastly, if you are planning on getting a mooring in Avalon or the Isthmus, you should try and arrive mid week if possible as they are on a first come, first served basis. It is not quite as bad after school starts but if the weather is still really good, and it will be, getting a mooring can sometimes be a challenge. You can anchor but a mooring in the harbor is much more comfortable.

If you have a chance at all to spend time on shore be sure and take some time to do so. Avalon is a very cool place with much history. And don't forget to go to Luau Larry's and get your Wiki Wacked. Its tradition.

Enjoy the trip and be safe.
 
Don't forget a spare IAC (Idle Air Controller). I can't get over how often these things fail and I'd sure want a spare taking a trip like that.

Sorry to hear about your health problems. Enjoy your trip. :thumbsup:
 
... If you are going to attempt a trip to the back, or windward side of the island pay serious heed to the weather and give Mother Nature plenty of respect. If you are on that side of the islands when the winds come up you can at the least have a very uncomfortable and wet ride getting back around. At the worst....we don't want to think about the worst. Just remember what I said about Mother Nature.

Lastly, if you are planning on getting a mooring in Avalon or the Isthmus...

I called the harbor master and they told me that catalina harbor on the backside is very easy to get mooring and is very protected this time of the year as long as you move around in the morning. I have visited avalon plenty on the ferry, not looking for the crowds at all. Thanks for your insite.

Thanks for your well wishes Dave S.:thumbsup:
 
Loren;

best of luck on your trip, I just did my first long trip this past summer. no better medicine than being out on the water. to add to Daves recomendation on the IAC sensor. take a long a tool set, a raw water impeller and a replacement for you're serpentine belt. that would cover most of the items that could got wrong which you could self recover from in the matter of about 39 minutes or so.

I agree with not taking fuel with you as it can become more of a danger than it's worth just watch your consumption and when you get near Half a tank look for someplace to fill up.

enjoy.
 

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