2012 Delta/Bay Extravaganza and Catalina Offshore Adventure

Please call me on my cell phone 213-700-0080 about where and when is Sunday dinner...

Just about packed and ready... boat on trailer. I'll join you for dinner sunday with Kimiko, but will launch early Monday.

Thanks!
Keith
 
Discovery, Pounder and Dinner Belle are at Burton Chace Park in Marine Del Rey.

Going to dinner at Shanghai Reds at 7:00 PM. We will leave MDR at 7:00 AM Monday for Catalina.

Blue Eagle, call Jim.

Brent
 
Best of luck to all of the C-Brats headed over to the island today. I have been lurking on this thread for a month or so now. I tried to post an "on the water report" over the weekend, but struggled to make it work with my iphone.

We just got back from 4 days at the island, from Thursday to Sunday. We were greeted by great weather and warm water. We circumnavigated the island and spent the night on the anchor for the first time in Little Harbor. For those who have not been back there, it is well worth the trek around the island.

On the way back to Huntington Harbor on Sunday, around 10 AM, we crossed paths with another C-Dory 22, and I figured it may be one of the Brats headed over for the week.

We are headed over again next weekend on Saturday and Sunday for a dive trip, likely around the West End.

Have a great week.
Tim

C-Pelican
 
Dear All:

Made it back safely last night . Temperature was 112 degrees going over the grape vine! This was the hottest towing weather I have ever been in. I should have waited until evening to come back versus the middle of the day. John E. had a trailer tire blow out 50 miles from his home!

It was great to see everyone: Dinner Belle ii (John and Robbin), Discovery (Brent and Dixie), Thisaway (Bob and Marie), Blue Eagle ( David and Donald), C Pup (Keith), And Salty C (Sam and Kerry). Also on the way back to MDR on Saturday morning we even saw C Pellican! Thank you all for coming. We had a relaxing trip and another great adventure in paradise.

Jim and Kath
 
I sure enjoyed my week with everyone. Great R&R. Great weather! I now miss the afternoon ocean wind!

Sorry to hear that John had some drama driving home. Those trailer tires have to be such high psi to carry the weigh, I'm not surprised road heat like you NorCal C-Brats encountered on the drive home caused one to blow. I hope John, that you survived the heat from changing tires or waiting for road assistance to do so. How many hours did that add to your return trip?

If any of you are Face Book users and wish to "friend" me there, I welcome you to do so. If we haven't met, then FB me a PM saying you're a C-Dory owner. My FB page is https://www.facebook.com/keith.dager

As I was cleaning C-Pup Saturday in front of my house, the mail man came over to chat about the big Great White videoed by fishermen, sometime during our stay in Paradise. Apparently on AUG 10TH, "the man in the grey flannel suit" visited an 18 ft center console boat which was fishing three miles off of Venice Beach/MdR. It was bigger than their boat! After circling a few times, it began to chew on their outboard. Only then did these bright guys decide it would be wise to get the hell back to MdR! This video suggests that their girlfriend had A LOT to do with their decision to leave shark watching behind... See
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/1 ... os-angeles My theory is the shark just liked the guy's tattoos... maybe thought that food labeling had come to the shark population?

Regards to all... and stay cool!

Keith
C-Pup16 in Los Angeles
 
We made it back to Utah by 11:30 PM. Just too hot to stop anywhere to try and sleep, so we drove straight through for 600 miles. 116 F. at Baker Ca. and 114 F. at Las Vegas. Loa, Utah at 7200' elevation was 70 F. when we arrived home. No problems towing, but we kept a close watch on the trailer tires. I had bought a new Ford F350 Powerstroke just before we went to Catalina. Great truck, it really makes towing the TomCat an easy task.

We had a super time at Catalina and enjoyed renewing our friendship with the California Brats, and Dr. Bob and Marie. Sorry Swanny couldn't make the trip. He is our fishing guide. Maybe next year. Another boat we saw at Two Harbors was "Ripple" a CD 22' now from the SF Bay area, but formerly from CT.

Next gathering is at Lake Powell in September.

Brent and Dixie
 
We had a great trip home. Lots of Dolfin along the way. About a 90 minute trip. Spent 3 hours cleaning the boat. Then back to the RV, and the afternoon cleaning the inflatable Kayak and inflatable (good old Catalina Dirt and sand!.)

Lots of great memories. Our grandchildren enjoyed the group, and want to know when we are we are going back!.

We realley enjoyed the companonship of these great C Brats. Looking forward to Powell (we will be ther about the 15th.) One of the very special aspects of C Dory is the great folks and cruises of the C brats.

Thanks to Jim and Kathy for a great trip!.
 
Sounds like you all had a great trip.

I about fell out of my helm seat when I saw not one, but FOUR C-Dory's running back from Two Harbors on Saturday around 7AM.

It was like something out of a C-Brat movie... a Tomcat, then a 25 Cruiser, then a 22, and then a 16- I think.

We head over to Catalina almost every weekend (18 trips and 215 hours on the motor since we bought the boat in February) and I saw more C-Dory's in that 5 minute stretch than I have in 6 months.

If you are ever headed over to Catalina, let me know.

Tim
C-Pelican
 
As many know C Pelican is my "old boat"--she has been over there a lot! Wonder why MDR rather than one of the closer launches (or maybe they are not closer?) I was very happy with Sunset Acquetic park. Could leave the truck not attatched to the trailer, goog slips for over night if you wish, and a great wash down rack area. Very secure.

Just sign up for any of the gatherings---or make your own. Good boating and enjoy the boat and Island!
 
You guys don't know how sad I was not to be able to join the the fun in the sun and friendships, especially so many from a long while ago and coming from so far. Had a major, non-changeable appointment occur mid-week, all day affair. Then I figured (2 weeks ago), at least I can make Thurs-Sat (or Sunday). But I had to change out one grease seal on a trailer wheel, wouldn't you know it, they sent the wrong seal, the correct one comes in tomorrow.

Sorry about the fishing too, I know a few spots for "meat fishing" that would've most likely given us a meal at least. Glad everyone made it back safely. Sorry John, about your blowout, --it happens, I know first hand.
 
Bob.

I did not know that C Pelican was your old boat! John and I saw it over by Cherry Cove on one of the days we were there and then I saw it coming back over on Saturday morning when we were going back. That boat really gets around.

I should check out Sunset Park. We have been going to MDR because it was slightlly closer coming down from Sacramento. However, MDR is getting pretty disfunctional in many ways including the guest slips and parking situation. Also, Sunset looks about 1/2 hour closer to the Island than MDR. Thanks for the tip.

Sincerely,

Jim
 
Steve.

We all thought about you not being there and we all agreed that we really missed you. Particularly, we missed your enthusiasm to put together fishing trips there. I am going to really have to research for next time where to go to find a good legal spot to catch Ocean White Fish that is not Marine Protected (enacted in January of this year for the Channel Islands!).

Thanks for checking in Steve.

Sincerely,

Jim
 
I was curious as to how the improvements in Marina Del Rey were going, and I guess Jim/Pounder shed some light on it. Used to be my home launch, but haven't been there in years.

Going down the coast past MdR, the following launch ramps and marinas are available. Note these are 20-30 miles past MdR, but a lot closer to the Catalina Isthmus. 20 mi vs 40 mi. So, you're spending driving the truck vs motoring the boat. I hope the truck is cheaper. Not only that, if you're coming back in the afternoon, you're going with the swell to San Pedro, instead of into it up to Santa Monica Bay.

First, just south of PV Peninsula is Cabrillo Beach Boat Launch at 3720 Stephen M White Drive, San Pedro, CA way at the bottom of San Pedro. Run by the city of LA, so it costs the same a MdR. Busy on the weekends. No dedicated guest slips, but a couple of marinas close by. Cabrillo Beach YC offers reciprocals.

A little further, there's South Shore Launch Ramp, 590 Queensway Dr., Long Beach. Next to the Queen Mary, at the bottom of the Long Beach Fwy. Use Google, hard to figure out how to get there. At the moment, our favorite. Run by Long Beach, so it's a little cheaper: $12/day parking and more importantly, they also allow just vehicles (no trailers) to stay there overnight. Shortest distance to Isthmus & Avalon. No dedicated guest slips, but a couple of marinas close by. Also Shoreline YC

The following 2 launch ramps are south of Long Beach, but they are an additional 15-20 miles road south. Depends on the direction from whence you came.

Next, Davies Launch Ramp 6201 E. Second Street at the Second Street Bridge on Alamitos Bay. Small parking lot, sandy launch ramp last time we used it. Harbour Patrol assigns guest slips and there is Seal Beach YC for reciprocals. Bottom of the Long Beach Breakwater, best ride home.

Finally, Sunset Huntington Harbor Launch Ramp in Huntington Beach (33º 43.790'N, 118º 04.990'W) Huntington Beach, California. Used to be known as Sunset Aquatic Park. In Orange County, it's $5/day. A PCH bridge is at the entrance, but not a problem for a C-dory. When we had a trailerable sailboat, we'd have to go out the channel to raise the mast. Haven't used that ramp much, but for a week in Avalon, it's certainly cheaper. Again, Harbour Patrol assigns slips.

OK, those are your choices south of MdR. I think that South Shore Launch Ramp is the least hassle. Also, I would launch there just because of the ease of getting to/from Catalina. The trip from/to MdR is long and can be rough. Though there's the fun of watching the stuff going on a MdR.

Hope to see you all next year.

Boris
 
Thanks Boris for the very descriptive and good input.

Considerations for us include the ability to have long-term truck and trailer parking (6 nights or more) and the ability to have slip rental (1 night or more on the front end). Dr. Bob says Sunset has all of these attributes plus the closer distance to Two Harbors.

Sincerely,

Jim
 
Not sure where Boris got the $5 a day/launch--but it is $12 a day/launch. If you take the tow vehicle out, and there is someone in the office, they will let you back in the park. If you rent a slip (Need insurance confirmation, which I had faxed) you get a parking permit for the time needed outside the parking lot, and the trailer is parked un attatched (must be arranged, but no extra cost). I think that the slip was $1.50 a foot a night--I would have to check my records for that however--it was $66 for two nights.

Of the bunch (and I have used all of them), I would rate Sunset Aquetic as best for security. I have stayed at Golden Shores near the down town Long Beach Ramp, and had boats in the Shoreline Marina--and security has been a problem at times.

Distance from Sunset Aquetic is 26 miles--a litle further than San Pedro, but no Hurricane Gulch chop as you go back to the Cabrillo Beach ramp in the after noon.
 
Hi Jim and all,

We usually prefer to travel a little further South to launch at Sunset/Huntington Harbour even though we're traveling from Central Coast. I launch there and travel the short distance to Alamitos Bay for overnight/restaurants before taking off early for Catalina the next morning. That gives me a chance for a short water test and Alamitos Bay has a West Marine for those last minute items and a good place for breakfast/coffee.

Never felt as comfortable (security wise) at Queensway in Long Beach or Marina del Rey. Somehow I always safer surrounded by the Naval Ammunition Depot and the launch is kind of out in the boonies.

We're glad you guys had a great time at Catalina. The MARCIA JANE has not been out of the barn since the Delta Extravaganza and the recent surgery now has me pain free. I'm ready :smiled

Pictures? Pictures?

Regards,

Kent
MARCIA JANE
 
Thanks Kent for the good input. Glad you are feeling better from the surgery.

Hopefully some pictures will dribble in over time as folks have time to empty their cameras.

Sincerely,

Jim
 
OK, I got the mileages from each launch ramp to the Isthmus and Avalon. Here's a table. Just having fun with Fugawi and vector charts. All this shows that if you launch south of Palos Verde Peninsula, all look about the same, just depends from where you're coming with the truck. And all are sorta downwind coming home.

Launch Ramp_____To Isthmus_____To Avalon

MdR_____________ 31_____________38

Cabrillo Beach______20_____________22

South Shore_______22.5____________23.5

2nd Street_________25_____________25

Sunset____________27 ____________27

And when the Beach Boys sang "22 miles across the sea", they obviously launched at Cabrillo Beach.

Sorry about getting hopes up about Sunset. I haven't launched there in 20 years, so I got the fees from the OC web site. Obviously Bob knows better and I thank him.

And, BTW, writing this post is not nearly as much fun as being at Catalina.

Boris
 
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