Southern California Catalina RIB run?

SurfnRide · 19 November 2019, 18:41

About a week or two from having my Avon Searider 5.4 RIB dialed in and I'm wondering if any of you So-Cal RIB owners are interested in a Catalina run in the spring/summer?

I'm in North County San Diego so I'd trailer the RIB up to Dana Point, Newport or Long Beach so the distance is shorter.

Any other RIB's out there down for this journey? Going to be fishing, spearfishing, diving etc.. while I'm out there for 3-4 days. Probably leave on a Friday morning and come back Sunday morning depending on weather forecasts.

vancouvertechie · 31 December 2019, 13:15

Hello,

Boating to Catilna is on my bucket list. What about lodging and other logistics?

John

SurfnRide · 06 January 2020, 20:48

I left that wide open on purpose. I'm down for anything. Camping at 2 harbors, hotels, air bnb's, sleep on the boat... Don't care.

Just want to make the trip. This morning was offshore with 1-2 ft waves. We could have left Dana and been to Catalina in 40 minutes. Super flat and glassy!

The more the better. 2 boats is good, 3 better, 4 even better than that.

Come on people! Lets do this!

Quote:

Originally Posted by vancouvertechie

Hello,

Boating to Catilna is on my bucket list. What about lodging and other logistics?

John

ncp · 10 January 2020, 05:58

40 minutes might be a tad aggressive! 46 miles from Dana to Two Harbors. What engine are you running on your Searider???? No matter what boat I'm in, it's always seems 1:45-2:00 (5.4m Avon, 730 Willard, or current 25' pilothouse).

Done it many times - we did it 8 times last summer (more so this summer than ever before since I got a pilothouse/cuddy cabin).

We do Dana Point if the weather looks nice or Huntington Harbor if it doesn't look as nice (coming from North San Diego County as well). Cost seems close - it's a trade off between truck fuel and boat fuel.

I'd upload pics but the app only takes what's on the phone, not from Google photos.... nothing recent enough since I got a new phone.

SurfnRide · 10 January 2020, 16:45

Only has the 50 HP 2 smoke on it. Looking to get a back up 10 or 15 for safety. Have an electric motor for trolling around also. 8 gallon tank and a 24 aux tank for range. I have no clue on the transit time as I've never done it in anything but the ferry. Was just chucking out a #.

I'm on a 5.4 SR also.

I'm down to go anytime. Was thinking about doing a March 12th, 13th, 14th 15th trip to hit the last weekend of lobster season. Weather permitting...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncp

40 minutes might be a tad aggressive! 46 miles from Dana to Two Harbors. What engine are you running on your Searider???? No matter what boat I'm in, it's always seems 1:45-2:00 (5.4m Avon, 730 Willard, or current 25' pilothouse).

Done it many times - we did it 8 times last summer (more so this summer than ever before since I got a pilothouse/cuddy cabin).

We do Dana Point if the weather looks nice or Huntington Harbor if it doesn't look as nice (coming from North San Diego County as well). Cost seems close - it's a trade off between truck fuel and boat fuel.

I'd upload pics but the app only takes what's on the phone, not from Google photos.... nothing recent enough since I got a new phone.

ncp · 10 January 2020, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfnRide

Only has the 50 HP 2 smoke on it. Looking to get a back up 10 or 15 for safety. Have an electric motor for trolling around also. 8 gallon tank and a 24 aux tank for range. I have no clue on the transit time as I've never done it in anything but the ferry. Was just chucking out a #.

I'm on a 5.4 SR also.

I'm down to go anytime. Was thinking about doing a March 12th, 13th, 14th 15th trip to hit the last weekend of lobster season. Weather permitting...

I'm out until the busy season at work is over but you should do it! There's a 90 stroke on mine.

vancouvertechie · 11 January 2020, 22:47

If we can get some dates nailed down. I can drive down from the Portland metro area. I don't mind taking a couple days off of work to get something checked off the bucket list.

John

vancouvertechie · 12 January 2020, 00:10

Here you go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O29e5nXJLQI

2 Hrs 10 minutes on a 12'6" Catlina with a 20HP Honda.

SurfnRide · 13 January 2020, 16:31

I'm down to lock in a couple weekends for the trip and then we just watch the weather/swell report a few weeks in advance to make the call.

Warmer waters is inviting to me so later in the summer would be a good goal. All of the NW swells will be gone so we just have to watch for southern or westerly swells.

Looks like late August has the highest water temps so maybe lock in the weekends of August 22/23 and 29/30 for the trip?

You can see the big storm patterns coming around Australia well in advance (2-3+ weeks) and once they wrap around New Zealand we'll know if the swell is coming up to us or staying south

Quote:

Originally Posted by vancouvertechie

If we can get some dates nailed down. I can drive down from the Portland metro area. I don't mind taking a couple days off of work to get something checked off the bucket list.

John

ncp · 13 January 2020, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfnRide

Looks like late August has the highest water temps so maybe lock in the weekends of August 22/23 and 29/30 for the trip?

Best I saw was 71 degrees this summer.

I will be there the Aug 29/30 in my hard boat!

SurfnRide · 13 January 2020, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncp

Best I saw was 71 degrees this summer.

I will be there the Aug 29/30 in my hard boat!

Where are you launching from? The bigger the floatilla the better

ncp · 13 January 2020, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfnRide

Where are you launching from? The bigger the floatilla the better

I always escort the paddleboard race. Last year we launched from Huntington Harbor. (exit Beach Blvd. take it all the way to the coast - 30 mile crossing from there to Two Harbors)

Squid Boat · 13 January 2020, 17:38

Can SIBs go?

Cheers

SurfnRide · 13 January 2020, 17:44

IMO anybody can come. The more boats the better for safety and fun. Just mark off those 2 weekends and we'll keep an eye on the forecast when we get closer.

Hell we used to do big floatillas off the carlsbad shoreline so if we get a big group we can do that again. Take the boats to a good cove and everyone ties up and throws anchors. Have our own personal party floatilla and we can bring floats etc... Especially if the water is in the 70's.

I'll be bringing diving gear, spearfishing, pole fishing etc... Can drag my tow rafts out also to kick it on. Whatever... lets make it as fun as possible

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squid Boat

Can SIBs go?

Cheers

vancouvertechie · 28 February 2020, 23:21

I am almost ready... We got lucky and had some nice sun today.

SurfnRide · 28 February 2020, 23:34

Niiiice. You're boat is 5x's my 5.3 Avon with a 50 2 smoke but hey... I'll get there eventually

I have to do some gauge swaps and some circuit board panel replacements and wiring and then I'm a go. I'll be ready for those weekends. Have it on my work calendar so I don't forget.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vancouvertechie

I am almost ready... We got lucky and had some nice sun today.

SoCal Hurricane · 02 March 2020, 23:12

Little late to the party here, but I’d totally be down for this!!

I’m rebuilding a 733 right now. Also have a few 470’s, 530’s, and 580’s. Brand new Evinrude 55hp MFE’s for the small boats. My 733 has a diesel I/O.

SoCal Hurricane · 02 March 2020, 23:13

Oh yeah... forgot to mention that we frequent two harbors every summer in August as well. Large group of friends each year and we rent the Bahia Azul campsite. Look it up... it’s the best one on the island!!

vancouvertechie · 31 March 2020, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal Hurricane

Oh yeah... forgot to mention that we frequent two harbors every summer in August as well. Large group of friends each year and we rent the Bahia Azul campsite. Look it up... it’s the best one on the island!!

Holy cow! I would be up for that. We are an older couple so I don't know how rowdy it will get, but that looks nice!

VT

OCCOMBILL · 02 January 2021, 02:22

Anything similar to this being planned for 2021? Perhaps for smaller, slower SIBS?