Help needed...1st ocean trip

[ktmrider]

Hi guys!

I'm going to put my boat in salt water for the 1st time this coming weekend.
I'm planning to start my voyage from Long Beach, CA to Catalina (25 miles each way).

I'm also new to boating with two months of experience.

Do you guys have any tips to avoiding having to call the Coast Guard for help?

I'm bringing along the following:
- Flares
- GPS
- Cel Phones
- Marine Radio
- Water
- Spare marine battery
- 1 qt of motor oil/1qt ATF for the trim

 

[tommays]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

How big is that boat


How is your fuel range when the wind kicks up and you have to slow down to 10 to 12 MPH




Tommays

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

My boat is a 2000 21' Crownline with a 5.0 Volvo Penta SX and a 40 gallon tank.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

Don't forget the life jackets and make sure you have enough fuel. If you have a small boat leave early in the day before it gets too rough. I made the same trip out of Long Beach with my dad 4 years ago. We left about 6:00 AM on FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH. I took my 17 ft Larson bowrider and he took his 13 ft Boston Whaler. It does get lonely out in the middle of nowhere especially when you cant see any land because of the heavy marine layer. My GPS led the way very well. We cruised at about 16-18 knots and had fairly calm seas as you can see in the pictures. It got a little rough around the halfway point and had to slow to around 10-12 knots for a mile or two.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

Here's a few more pics. The last one is almost at Queens Gate coming home. The second to last is Palos Verdes Peninsula in the background. We spent two nights in Avalon and slept on my boat (has folding back to back seats) and tied his Whaler alongside my boat. We used his boat to go ashore and do some fishing.

 

[blues]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

ok, catalina sounds fun,
is there a place to tie up, or dock,?
I ve not been in salt water, for a long while,
so,,, a good engine flush with fresh water would be a must, and also the trailer,

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

Nice pictures! It's making more excited now.

Do I need a light jacket around this time of year?
I wonder how crowded it's going to be during the labor day weekend.

When you're in the middle of the ocean, do you get cel phone signal?

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

Labor Day Weekend will probably be very crowded. I had Verizon for my cell and had excellent signal in Avalon. As I recall, I had somewhat decent signal within 5-6 miles from the mainland and Catalina. That was back in 2003 so there could be better signal out there now. You should definately have a VHF on board. I went on Father's Day Weekend and only saw a few boats on the way. Labor Day Weekend should have more boat traffic which would be nice if you should need any help out there.

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

Oh my goodness! I'm not going to do this again. Trying to get back to the mainland from Catalina on a 21 footer cuddy cabin is a nightmare. It took three hours to get back.

Salt water sucks. The corrosion process was immediate.
Getting knocked around on a boat for three hours is not fun.
I'm not going to do this again....

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

What time did you leave Catalina for Long Beach? How was the trip to Catalina from Long Beach?

 

[blues]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

wow, sounds like a real bummer. when I lived in california, I would launch at marina del rey, they had a real boss, 24 hour launch ramp, with fresh water flush.
one time,,, just one time, I was in a hurry and did not flush my trailer with fresh water. bad rust started to appear almost immediate...
but, I did have a lot of fun out on the ocean, I had a 18 foot tri hull, bought new, 1978, with a volvo 270, closed cooling/
one time got stuck in sea weed bed, had to jump off boat, and remove prop, clear the sea weed, this was maybe 20 miles off shore.
when I got back in , we spotted a shark fin, large circling the boat,.
this was real adventure,
then fishing for baracuda off shore at 1 A M

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

The ride over to Catalina was nice. The water was calm. We got to Avalon about 11:30 but could not get a mooring because there wasn't any left. Hence, we couldn't get to shore to get some food. We cruise for about an hour or so and decided to head back since the two kids were getting tired....

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

Sorry you had a bad trip. My dad & I are already planing another trip FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH June 13 2008. I'm taking my 17 ft Glastron bowrider and he's taking his 13 ft Whaler.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

You could have went around to the north side also.

The ride over to Catalina was nice. The water was calm. We got to Avalon about 11:30 but could not get a mooring because there wasn't any left. Hence, we couldn't get to shore to get some food. We cruise for about an hour or so and decided to head back since the two kids were getting tired....

 

[AZSenza]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

We're planning this same trip later on this summer. I'm looking for a calm day, high pressure off shore. Leave early in the morning, stay in a remote boat-in campsight with a trip into Avalon for my wife and I. We'll be in a 22ft 1997 Larson. 250hp Merc with a Bravo III, it EFI and gets great mileage and has a 47 gallon tank. Full Coast Guard provisioning, Hand Held VHF with weather band. Running Dual GPS' cell phones, and bringing along an inflateable raft, mainly to float around the campsite. I've got dual batteries and am bringing along a jump starter, JUST in case. Its got an automatic bilge pump in great shape and bringing along a bailer too. I think I'll bring the bow cover "Just in case". We plan on puttin in at either Marina del Rey or farther down in New Port Beach. We have abig local lake, Roosevelt, that we travel at LEAST the 25-30 miles on, sometimes in high wind and rough water, cant imagine it being much worse? Any suggestions?

 

[INJUN]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

Nobody mentioned using a compass.
The trip sounds alot like going to Martha's Vineyard, here in New England!

 

[AZSenza]

Re: Help needed...1st ocean trip

I've been in aviation for over 20 years, a magnetic compass and a correct heading and charts never let you down.