First Time Ocean Destination...opinions needed

[Emancipation]

The Wife and I want to take our boat on the Pacific this coming summer, never done that before. We have two destinations in mind, Long Beach to Catalina or Puget Sound. I've never been to either. Can anyone recommend or not recommend either? We'll be towing our Doral SE250 from Layton , Ut.

 

[Don S]

Re: First Time Ocean Destination...opinions needed

I would strongly suggest Puget sound before the Catalina run. Lot more to do, especially up in San Juan islands and Canadian Gulf islands and Desolation sound, if going for the summer. Spent 3 months doing just that on a 41' sailboat. Wonderful summer. Didn't come close to seeing everything we wanted. On a 25' boat, San Juan islands and Gulf Islands are plenty
Catalina seems more like a long weekend or week destination.

Enough big water for you to understand what can happen out on the ocean when it gets rough.

 

[QC]

Re: First Time Ocean Destination...opinions needed

I've never boated on the sound although I have been there, but I tend to agree with Don.

Catalina seems more like a long weekend or week destination.

Pretty true. There's a few things to do, and if you wanted to do all of the Islands up towards Santa Barbara, and even jaunts into Mexico, that might be cool. But . . . this is all unprotected water and can get pretty nasty for a 25 footer. To me lots more protection, and much more to explore in the Sound.

 

[John3]

Re: First Time Ocean Destination...opinions needed

They're both outstanding Cruising Grounds. We live in the Greater Los Angeles area, went to Puget Sound last July and I have a boat similar in size to yours, a 23 ft Dorsett Cabin Cruiser. If you can only do one, I'll vote for the Sound. It's beautiful , there's a lot to see & do and the weather is nice, except that it rains. There are many Marinas with slips plus, anchorages if you wish solitude.
I don?t think you can do justice to Catalina, Anacapa, Santa Cruz and the other Islands in a week and I don't agree with QC about the sea conditions.
Yes, it can & does get rough in the afternoon or when a storm comes thru. Pay attention to the weather forecast plus cross the Channel early. The mornings are generally good, there is an afternoon chop you can count on. If rotten conditions, such as Santa Ana Winds or a storm, are predicted hide out in a secure Cove or Marina, not on open water.
The islands have moorings and anchorages, on the weekends they can get crammed with local boaters, anything from a Kayak (Yes people cross in Kayaks) to 200 ft. There are no slips on any of the Islands, you pay for moorings and the string line (Avalon & Two Harbors). You can anchor in specified areas. You really should consider some sort of dinghy, there are shore boats at Avalon & Two Harbors, of course you pay for the ride.
There are many good coves to anchor in. Remember there is a Tide, don't Beach the Boat.

 

[Emancipation]

Re: First Time Ocean Destination...opinions needed

Does anyone know what you need on-hand when in Canadian waters? Passport? Inspection? Customs declaration? Just tring to plan ahead>

 

[azboater2]

Re: First Time Ocean Destination...opinions needed

Sometimes planning can be a large part of the fun. Plus a well planned trip will be more enjoyable. Make sure you have a VHF, not just a hand-held, an installed DSC-VHF with a mounted antenna, and connect it to your GPS. If you have a chart plotter you might want to get a card for the area your interested in and you can study that on a PC before hand. Most of them can be linked to Google Earth and you can really get familiar with your planned route, you might even be able to get an idea of the places you want to explorer. Have great trip.

 

[flightdoc]

Re: First Time Ocean Destination...opinions needed

I just moved from the Puget sound area, We have a 19 ft bayliner and it was so much fun. We didn't get to go to all the places we wanted, just stayed pretty much around the northern part of Whidbey, but it was amazing and beautiful. Probably the only place where you can shut your motor off, and have a pod of Orca whales come up and say hello. Also if you are up there for some time in July you can go crabbing (the actual reason we bought our boat). I would move back up there in a heart beat. In the summer the rain shouldn't be to bad and if you have something like a camper enclosure then you just make it an inside day.

 

[azboater2]

Re: First Time Ocean Destination...opinions needed

I just moved from the Puget sound area

Who, that sounds like a great time. I was looking at that area on google, I can see you would miss that.