Catalina Kayak Fish Odyssey 100 - Now Accepting Applications

[Apex Predator]

Originally Posted by Mootaineer

Thanks for your detailed answers. Relative to ferry letting you bring a kayak back, I thought the opposite was true— how sure are you about this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

According to their website you are correct, the way it was explained to me is that they don't like folks bringing stuff to the island that would interfere with the rental business. I am pretty confident though that in the off season(After Labor Day), a phone call, a Fee and a good explanation would get you an exemption.

[Mahigeer]

Originally Posted by Apex Predator

According to their website you are correct, the way it was explained to me is that they don't like folks bringing stuff to the island that would interfere with the rental business. I am pretty confident though that in the off season (After Labor Day), a phone call, a Fee and a good explanation would get you an exemption.

There are two ways to get a kayak to Catalina without crossing the channel with it, and specifically Avalon. Believe you me, I have done my homework.

One is on a barge which then requires a way to get the kayak from the landing to the city. Or put it on the water and go on water to where you want.

The other is to have an inflatable kayak (like I do) that fits in a carry case.

The Catalina Express has a tight schedule for boarding and de-boarding. They take bikes with additional fee, but handling a kayak is awkward. It will cause delays. The only phone number that I know of is for the ticket sales office, which most likely is off-site.


As to -----“they don't like folks bringing stuff to the island that would interfere with the rental business.”
I don’t buy it.
What about fishing gear, bait or food? There are also rental boats, but you can take your own boat there.

What about cruise ships that stop there, don’t they cut in the restaurant and hotel business?

[Biggameaddict]

Apex can u show us your battery setup?

[Apex Predator]

Originally Posted by Biggameaddict

Apex can u show us your battery setup?

Sure thing., I made a couple versions of these battery boxes for different length Trips. When I made the first one, it was just supposed to be a replacement for the lead brick's for my bait tank and GPS/FF.

Version 1.0 Holds either a 1.5Ah, 3Ah, 4Ah, or the new 6Ah Ryobi Lithium Ion Batteries. I used a "Large" Watertight 1.5L poly-carbonate Outdoor Research box from wallmart, It holds one Battery, and with the 6Ah battery it can power every electronic on your kayak the same time, for about 10-12 Hours.

I started by Drilling two small holes just big enough for the 14ga wire that I had, and sealed the wire and holes by putting a dab of epoxy on it. Then I made two waterproof connections on either side of the wire(Male+Female). I had a Ryobi radio, that I destroyed to get the piece of the radio, that fits to the Ryobi Battery. I then soldered wires on it, and connected it to a waterproof "Step-Down Transformer" I found on Amazon that takes the Voltage from 18 Volts to 12 Volts. The Step Down Transformer then conects to the wires that leave your box. I also made a Y-Splitter that lets me connect both my GPS/FF and Bait Tank to that same battery.

Now my Bait tank uses 6Volts not 12 so I permenently attached a 12Volt to 6V step down transformer on my Livewell, so that the 12v coming to it, would be converted to 6v. you can also refer two my previous posts for some other pictures.

I will show you version 2.0 a little later...

[Biggameaddict]

Good deal there that looks like a neat Lil setup

[Apex Predator]

Originally Posted by Biggameaddict

Good deal there that looks like a neat Lil setup

Thanks Big Game!

[Apex Predator]

Hey All,

I'm going to do an Off Shore Trip Tomorrow Morning. 4am launch from La jolla Shores to the 9 mile Bank. About 30Miles round trip. Radio Channel 69. If you miss me on the beach, I will be baiting up just past the buoy's. Or you can meet me at the following coordinates at 9am: 32deg 47' - 117deg 131'. I'm planning on heading SSE from that location, following the contours of the bank. Post back if you plan on making it.

[Apex Predator]

Originally Posted by Mahigeer

There are two ways to get a kayak to Catalina without crossing the channel with it, and specifically Avalon. Believe you me, I have done my homework.

One is on a barge which then requires a way to get the kayak from the landing to the city. Or put it on the water and go on water to where you want.

The other is to have an inflatable kayak (like I do) that fits in a carry case.

The Catalina Express has a tight schedule for boarding and de-boarding. They take bikes with additional fee, but handling a kayak is awkward. It will cause delays. The only phone number that I know of is for the ticket sales office, which most likely is off-site.


As to -----“they don't like folks bringing stuff to the island that would interfere with the rental business.”
I don’t buy it.
What about fishing gear, bait or food? There are also rental boats, but you can take your own boat there.

What about cruise ships that stop there, don’t they cut in the restaurant and hotel business?

Yeah now that I think about it, that was a long time ago and my grandfather knew someone that worked for the ferry, so they let me do it.

no one can prevent you bringing your own stuff,..... it's still America.

The cruise ships don't cut into Catalina's, they ARE Catalina's business.