Transporting Doubles to Catalina

Hi all,

I finally put two of my tanks together to make a set of doubles. Dual X7 HP100s. I'm going to take them to catalina in 2 weekends to test them out. I was wondering, for those of you that go to Catalina with doubles, how do you transport them? I know a lot of people use a hand truck but what about all your other gear with it? I currently have a 50gallon stanley (dive) box, a Stahlsac Catalina wheeled dive bag, a large backpack style dive bag, and I'm willing to buy a handtruck. I need to transport... the doubles with bp/w (attached or not), drysuit in bag, undergarments in bag, maybe a few lbs of weight, regs, can light, your general dive gear and backups, and the other dry stuff for the stay for the weekend. With that stuff, and the carrying boxes/bags/equipment I have or will get, what do you think is the best way to transport everything over to Catalina for the weekend?

Last time I took the Catalina Express over and saw someone with doubles, he just wore them onto the boat with his backplate and put it down with all the other luggage (we were there for the whole weekend with a class, so had lots of stuff). He was in our group and didn't get any grief from the crew regarding weight. Or drill 2 holes 11" apart on top of you Stanley box and bolt your doubles on? You didn't say, but I assume you're taking the Express. If you have your own boat to go over on, anything is possible

I personally prefer to travel with my doubles on my backplate. Wearing them on my back is the most comfortable way for me to move them around.

Push your Stahlsac gear bag (or heft it up as a backpack), while pulling the hand-truck with the doubles.

Unless you're confidently in good shape, take two trips up the ramp/gangway to roll & stow each of your gear bag and doubles --same on disembarkation.

Utilize the baggage service at Avalon (Cabrillo Mole) to transport your gear to your lodging, or Casino Point Dive Park as needed:

Catalina Baggage Delivery & Storage Services in Avalon, CA - Courier & Delivery Service: Yellow Pages Directory Inc.

geoff w:

Last time I took the Catalina Express over and saw someone with doubles, he just wore them onto the boat with his backplate and put it down with all the other luggage...

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Surprised they would let him do this. They have always requested that I put my SCUBA tanks outside on both the monohulls and the cats.

Brian, just get a few beautiful sherpas to carry your gear and I'll take care of one of them when you get to the dive park!

Hey Dr Bill, I'll be bringing a couple of beautiful sherpas with me to the island next weekend. I'll probably be hauling THEIR stuff though...

drbill:

Surprised they would let him do this. They have always requested that I put my SCUBA tanks outside on both the monohulls and the cats.

Brian, just get a few beautiful sherpas to carry your gear and I'll take care of one of them when you get to the dive park!

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See ya there!