Dry Storage in Southern California

[jetta01]

I am looking for a good mast-up dry storage location in Southern California, but am finding it hard to gather information. I know of the one in Oxnard where Rich and Lori have their boat, but was hoping to find something more centered down towards Long Beach. Any help would be much appreciated

[Zavala]

If you want to go further south, you might try Dana Point. They had mast-up dry-storage a few years ago. The gentleman we bought our boat from kept it there, and it seemed very convenient. The parking stalls were just a stone's throw from the boat ramp, and the marina area had a lot of nice amenities. IIRC, he said he was paying about $75 a month.

Of course, this suggestion is coming to you from South Dakota -- so take it a face value -- just thought I'd mention it since it seemed like such a nice setup.

[scott vos]

There is mast up storage at Marina Del Ray. For around $85.00 a month it includes electric and water in a secure, gated area. I will be putting my boat their in November thru Febuary. There are also two West Marines and several good resturants within a stones throw. Your about 30 miles from catilina and the channel islands.

Hope this helps

Scott

[jetta01]

Scott, that sounds like a pretty good setup. Right between the "roughing it" and the "easy going" islands. Do you have a contact number or address? I really like the Channel Islands, but I always have the dogs with me and it is illegal to take them on land. Makes a weekend trip a bit hard. But that would give me the option to ditch the dogs and head out there. If the pooches are along, just head out to Cat.

[Frank C]

jetta -
Mast-up at MDR (WITH elec & water !!) is a bargain at $85. In NorCal, I pay $70/month in a fairly secure, paved lot. But with about 200 other yachts, and one 110v outlet, and two hose bibs - it's pretty much a primitive solution.

Though I'm not really helping your basic question, I'm a little curious about your objectives. I think you're saying that MDR is an easy weekend cruise to either Santa Cruz or Catalina? OTOH, starting from Ch.Is.Harbor, Catalina is too far to cruise if the dogs are with you?

If so, take another look at the charts. MDR is an easy weekend cruise to Catalina, but not Santa Cruz. The reverse is true from Ch.Is.Harbor. The smaller islands, Santa Barbara and Anacappa aren't much closer to MDR, and they're not much good for weekending anyhow ... marginal anchorages, IIRC.

Regardless ... I loved my one cruise to Santa Cruz, and would jump at the chance again ... same for Catalina ... and I guess the dog just stays at home with the neighbor's teenager!

[richandlori]

$85/mo is a great deal, I pay $105/mo. They do take it in/out of the water, which lets me drive a car to the boat, but doesn't include power. I will probabally switch to MDR some time for a few months or so, just to explore a different area. That is the beauty of the Mac, stay at one facility for a while, then move to another, you're not locked into any long tearm contracts. I am on a month to month basis for just that reason. The one thing for sure, you can't go wrong in MDR, it is a first class facility.

See you out there Rick...


Rich

[scott vos]

Jetta01
Mast up storage
LA County Department of Beaches & Harbors (DBH) offers facilities in Marina del Rey to store your watercraft outside the water. To arrange storage, make an appointment with DBH Property Management at 310-305-9566; Monday through Thursday, 7 am 6 pm. Office closed on Fridays.

they do require proof of ownership, insurance certificates, current registration, 2 color photos of the boat, ect (call and inquire)

scott

[jetta01]

Thanks for the info Scott! I will give them a call.

Frank, I was referring to Anacapa Island when saying it was about in the middle. I haven't been up to Santa Cruz with the Mac yet. I still may go the Oxnard route where Rich has his boat, but I just need to weigh the options. Catalina is just easy since you can spend a whole day sailing out there and not have to worry about getting back to a slip or figuring out an anchorage. The mooring setup out there is great for Macs. There is always room over on the Catalina Harbor side of Two Brothers, or go for a little more noise and stay in the Ithsmus.

[jetta01]

Frank, the issue with the dogs is that they are not allowed on the Channel Islands... They don't do well crossing their legs for 2 days... Therefore, Catalina makes more sense when we have the dogs, Channel Islands when we don't.

[jetta01]

Rich, I think you have the best deal around, other than it is a long way from Catalina!!!

The location that Scott mentioned is about $87 a month, but it is a do it yourself location. It is mast up and there is a launch ramp right there, but you need your own rig to launch and recover. I have my own rig, a small RV, but I live up near Big Bear, so during the winter months, often times I can't get out of the driveway with the RV and the poor little Subaru just couldn't handle it. So that sort of defeats the purpose.

The location that Rich is in has Golf carts ready to go. You just walk in the office and tell them you are ready. They get the boat with a golf cart, hook the boat up on a hoist and about 5 minutes later you are sailing. So for an extra $18 a month, as Rich mentioned, you could ride a motorcycle out there and go sailing, no need to have a pull rig.

[richandlori]

aa

[richandlori]

Bingo...

Since we do not own a tow rig, it was critical for us to find a facility that will put the boat into/out of the water. Capt Steve keeps his boat at the Oxnard airport for something like $90/month. That works if you have a tow rig, but that extra $15/month gets me mast up storage AND the ability to drive down to my boat in my Honda Civic and not spend $40 on gas round trip just to get to my boat.

Once we get some type of tow vehicle, like I said, we would consider moving to another location just for variety, but $105/month does seem like a deal when you look at what it saves you....(tow vechile payment + insurance).

Now if you are willing to be in a wet slip (and can find one), that too may solve your problem, but now you are talking about bottom paint, increased maintaince cost, and lets not forget the higher monthly fee. I think they go for $7-10/foot in my area.

Look at it this way, when you want to go to Catilina, hook up the boat and tow it down to longbeach from Oxnard. For the other times, just ride down on the motorcycles and go sailing. In the 30 trips I have made on my boat in the year I have had it, most of them were day sails with sleeping in the Oxnard Marina.

I would go for whatever option would get you more time on the WATER and enjoying and learning to sail. In SCUBA diving we use the phrase BT (bottom time) to refer to how much time we actually spend underwater. I fugure that for every hour I spent under water I spend 3-4 hrs in preparation. So you are always out to maximize you BT. In this case BT is BOAT TIME and the same applies, you want to maximize your BT while minimizing your BST. I think you can figure out what the BS stands for.

So what ever your decision, work the angle to make it easier to use your boat and you WILL use it more.

Rich

Rich

[Frank C]

Scott, (MDR) sounds like a pretty good setup. Right between the "roughing it" and the "easy going" islands.
I really like the Channel Islands, but I always have the dogs with me and it is illegal to take them on land ... But that would give me the option to ditch the dogs and head out there. If the pooches are along, just head out to Cat.

jetta (Rick?),
Yep, I understood about the dogs and the Nat'l Park islands. For that matter, Rich pointed out that you could ride motorcycles to Oxnard & go sailing ... the dogs would clearly be staying home that day, so the Nat'l Park is no problem. My point was that MDR isn't "right between" Catalina and Anacapa.

A berth at MDR vs. Oxnard pretty much dictates your destinations, AND your pet opportunities. It's not a simple weekend cruise from MDR to Anacapa or Santa Cruz, since distance and prevailing conditions are contrary. By contrast, Catalina isn't a simple weekender from Oxnard, either.

But as Rich observed, you'll choose a berth for your predominant needs, and you can always tow a couple of hours to try out the alternative (or tow six hours - depending on LA traffic).

[aya16]

Any one that needs help with launching at the mast up storage in mdr
feel free to PM and i will give you my cell, I am at the MDR storage FRI. and Sat almost every weekend. I will launch your boat and pull it back out any time Im there.
Also the mac can be launched with any 4x4 even my suzuki sam. I use my truck most of the time. High tide is the best for any veh. Low tide can be a challange.
any car you use to get there would most likely work in and out just wouldnt tow far.

MDR is a really nice place to store but during the summer it can be a little hard to get a space.
the 89 dollars include free parking and free launch also very secure. Like Scott said free electricity at the boat and water and wash area provided.
Each space provides two outlets for electricty. Thats why I have a dorm type refer on board that stays plugged in at all times.
make sure you have a sock for the jib and the main stays covered.


Mike

[Zavala]

Also the mac can be launched with any 4x4 even my suzuki sam.

Mike, you've gotta take a photo of this for me. I've got an '87 Samuraiwithout a hitch myself, and would relish in showing my wife what a REAL truck can do. "See honey, we can sell your Envoy now..."

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I'd love to see it.