Catalina Ferry - doubles?

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sapphire

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Has anyone ever tried to take a double tank setup on the Catalina Express or Flyer? The Express responded to my e-mail question with the following:

"The one tank allowance does not include the "double" scuba tanks. Those types of tanks are not allowed on our vessels. Thank You."

I was just wondering if anyone had tried to do so with any success...

Jennifer
 
sapphire:
"The one tank allowance does not include the "double" scuba tanks. Those types of tanks are not allowed on our vessels. Thank You."

Well, their response is kinda weirdly worded - probably written by a non-diver - but because they limit divers to 1 tank per person, I would think that doubles would not be allowed. You could always go with a non-diver and have the second tank count as theirs.
Since they use the tank racks to keep tanks stable on the trip over, I would think that you would have to detach the doubles anyway in order to store them, which would effectively make them 2 tanks.
I don't think that's what you wanted to hear, though. Sorry!
 
Thanks Stacy, I was thinking about that. I am not taking a tank myself, I find it easier to rent over there... I was wondering if it could count as two tanks for two divers... I guess if you took it all apart, but what a hassle :11: !
 
We've been there with twin 30s that had a rebreather in between, does that count? :wink:
Not much bigger than a large backpack, though, and weights only 47lbs. :D
One of us had an additional 45cu.ft. bailout tank, too. :11:

But sometimes they're a serious PITA. If they give you a hard time make sure it gets on Dr. Bill's list of complaints.
As long as they don't have to haul it they really shouldn't care.

With the amount of dollars divers leave at their doorstep you'd expect they welcome us ... and considering the amount of money we part with on the island one would think the city, conservatory or whoever else has the say would insist they do.
 
Thanks Stefan, maybe we can disguise them as a rebreather :biggrin:!!

It does seem strange that they hassle divers so much, we are carrying the stuff ourselves so I wonder why it matters...
 
The only reason I could think of is a space issue. I don't know if you saw my other post for Dr. Bill's list of complaints, but I was on the express once where they ran out of tank ranks and were just stacking them unsecured on top of each other in a tank pile. Personally, if there's limited room for safe storage of tanks, I'd rather be limited in what I can bring than see what I do bring being treated like that.
Otherwise, though, I don't understand why they would be unwilling to work something out - even maybe charge a $10 surcharge for extra tanks or bags, so we can at least have what we need over there.
 
sapphire:
Has anyone ever tried to take a double tank setup on the Catalina Express or Flyer? The Express responded to my e-mail question with the following:

"The one tank allowance does not include the "double" scuba tanks. Those types of tanks are not allowed on our vessels. Thank You."

I was just wondering if anyone had tried to do so with any success...

Jennifer

And both Michael and Terry were wearing doubles. It shouldn't be an issue. They're a pain to carry on, but it wasn't an issue.

K
 
Here's an idea: For those who don't want to rent tanks at the Casino for whatever reason, why not strap two tanks to one of those hand trucks and just roll them around, and when you get on board you can just secure it to the railing or whatever and you've got your own tank holder?
 
Must be plenty of people who bring doubles on board their boats. If I'm taking my tank, I always take my hand cart as well (like what Jim suggested) although they usually tell me to take all the gear off it and stow it separately (a PITA but OK with me).

Now where's my last bag to pack. Boat is in two hours. Gulp!

Doc
 
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