The Official Catalina Express Luggage Policy and Weight Limitations

[AndyScuba]

Response

 

[on_two_wheels]

Well, I won't be in a hurry to go over there again. Unfortunately, sometimes my work schedule only allows for diving on days that don't have any boats running. It's not often boats run. Those days I usually just do casino point. We'll see. I'll avoid it as much as possible until this changes.

 

[nauga]

I can't speak on behalf of Catalina Express, but I imagine that they select divers in particular because their luggage is significantly more likely to meet the weight limits than a tourist who will not be diving.

We took a Friday afternoon boat out of Queens' last weekend. They waved us and our two "giant Akona bags" (I hate those things), weight bags outside and on top, and 2 AL80's on a dolly through, and stopped the non-diver nearby and weighed his roller. 100+ lb, sent him back to the terminal to redistribute. Didn't look to me like they're singling out divers.

Nauga
and his giant Akona bag of doom

 

[leabre]

We took a Friday afternoon boat out of Queens' last weekend. They waved us and our two "giant Akona bags" (I hate those things), weight bags outside and on top, and 2 AL80's on a dolly through, and stopped the non-diver nearby and weighed his roller. 100+ lb, sent him back to the terminal to redistribute. Didn't look to me like they're singling out divers.

Looks like it's hit-or-miss who they'll weigh but up until your post it really sounded like they were singling out divers.

 

[nauga]

Looks like it's hit-or-miss who they'll weigh but up until your post it really sounded like they were singling out divers.

I would imagine that they are singling out people with bags that look heavy(*). Divers just happen to be easy targets. Personally I don't have a problem with a weight limit so long as it's made known well in advance of boarding (and preferably packing). I really wish, however, that they'd do their weighing prior to the boarding release - it does tend bring the process to a grinding halt.

(*) My bag is specially marked to tell the handlers that it's overweight. It says in orange on the front: "Akona"

Nauga,
who really needs a new bag

 

[blue steal]

It has me just a bit concerned as I have never been to Catalina via the express.
We are going for the DWADD and I do know that most of us will be over the 50lb imposed weight limit.
A question for anyone who has used the express; Do you need to bring your tank aboard using a dolly/hand cart or can you just wear your BCD/tank up to the storage area?
When we use the dive boats, I have one dive bag and wear my BP/W with tank until aboard which works well for me.

 

[Captain12Pk]

Well it used to be acceptable to wear your tank aboard. But I can't say with any certainty now. It sounds to me like you're taking a chance taking any "heavy: dive gear abord now. Good Luck. Let us know how it plays out.
FWIW, I was planning to attend the DWADD, but due to this policy change, I'm passing. Unless someone wants to schedule a local boat for those of us with "heavy" gear. Hmmmm, maybe the Sundiver would be interested in our business. Kyaa? Ray?

 

[KVH]

I went over to Avalon for the weekend and I have to say that (for me) the new policy is a bigger hassle. Warning, . . . long rant.

I use a "California Diving Co. Dive Box" which holds my tank, a North Face Duffle bag, and my weights all strapped to the outside. It's easy to use, move around, and disassemble (under ten seconds in a rush). I live in West LA and like to use the Catalina Express's San Pedro port since it is much closer than the Long Beach port.

As stated in an earlier thread, two weeks ago (in San Pedro) I was pulled aside and had to disassemble my kit so that the dive box weighed under 50lbs. They made me carry as much as I could on my back and I had to carry my weights in my left hand and the box in my right hand. This was a single haul boat but I still had to manage all the gear myself with no help from the crew (they simply told me where to place it). AND GET THIS . . . they made me reassemble it on the boat, . . . that's right, . . . everything when right back on the box. They could have simply ignored me and the end result would have been the same. It was humiliating to be treated like this in front of the other passengers and having to reassemble everything on the boat made me furious.

Fast forward to this weekend and the new policy.

My "Dive Box" weighs about 30lbs empty and is not full after I put 20lbs of gear in it. This left so much unpacked gear that I had to abandon the Dive Box and come up with something new. I ended up using a two wheel collapsible dolly and carried some gear my back. It takes two to three minutes to assemble or disassemble.

Remembering the humiliating experience in San Pedro, I elected to drive to the Long Beach port (twice the distance from West LA) and use a Catamaran because (as we have been told) divers will not have to disassemble their kits. I will not be using San Pedro port anymore . . . grrrrrrr.

Once at Long Beach ticket window, I asked if someone wanted to weight my bags now instead of stopping me during the boarding process. The person at the ticket counter (glancing at my gear) stated that, . . . "it looks ok". Hmmm, I guess it's the Dive Box they don't like???.

While waiting in line, I saw lots of Stanley boxes (with gear and tanks strapped on top) but no one was stopped, weighed, or harassed in any way. However, I suspect that these boxes weigh well over 50 lbs. as they bigger than the Cal. Diving Co. Box. Seeing this made me (once again) curse Catalina Exp's inconsistent and unpredictable nature . . . I want my good old Dive Box instead of the dolly setup. However I predict that if I go back to the Dive Box, in time, it will just backfire on me. . . for whatever reason.

About four years ago I was in line (in Long Beach) with my California Co. Dive Box and that North Face Duffle Bag on top. At the time I had two little wheels (with brakes) on the front of the Dive Box. I didn't know that four wheels was against the rules because: 1) I never read the baggage rules and, 2) I have seen large 4 wheel carts board the boat many times and always thought . . . "that's a good idea". On this trip there were two other people (non-divers with large four wheel carts) ahead of me. They were piled high with cardboard boxes, baby carriages, toys, and a tall lamp. Well, . . . an employee called me from beyond the railings and told me that I could not board with the four wheel box. I protested about the other two (much larger) four wheel carts ahead of me but he didn't care and gave no reason why I was different. I asked for him to speak to the captain for me (which he did), I told him that my cart has breaks, it's smaller than the other two, that I was a long time customer, and that I will correct the problem after this trip. He and the captain both said that there was no way I will be allowed to board the boat with this set up. I was mystified. Rushing against time, I asked for some tools to help remove the two front wheels, which the dock people provided. I had to disassemble and empty the box, turn it upside down and start working. By this time everyone (stepping around me and my stuff) had boarded the boat and the boat pulled out, leaving me on the Long Beach dock tools and wheels in hand. I could see passengers looking at me through the windows and felt pretty stupid, and angry. The person who started the whole affair apologized many times saying he's just doing his job and I tried to be as nice as I could. I finished the job and they put me (and my now two wheel box) on the next boat.

Fast forward again to this weekend, . . . On the return trip (5/22/2011)there were about five musicians plus friends with a very large four wheel cart full of drums, guitars, and amps. The cart were probably 6ft long, 2-1/2ft wide, and piled to about 4-5ft high. It had to weight more the 150lbs. These people came late, walked straight to the front of the line (not the "Commodore Lounge" line) but the standard line. They were all (musicians, friends, and four wheel cart) personally escorted on to the boat before the rest of us. The crew and ticket handlers didn't even glance at the four wheel carts as it was guided (by two people) down the ramp and onto the boat. Catalina Express, what the hell is going on here and what are you going to do about it?

There is a company that leaves from Marina Del Ray (Catalina Ferries) who (I am told) doesn't put divers through this kind of hassle but whose hours at not as convenient. I am going to look into it. Perhaps we should all call them and explain the problem. They might be willing to help the dive community for the chance to gain more business. I know that Marina Del Ray is a far drive for a lot of divers (south of San Pedro) but for those North of San Pedro this could be an acceptable alternative to Cat Exp. If we divers could help Marina DRF could grow their business perhaps in time they could begin to offer service from more southerly locations as well.

End of Rant . . .

 

[on_two_wheels]

It has me just a bit concerned as I have never been to Catalina via the express.
We are going for the DWADD and I do know that most of us will be over the 50lb imposed weight limit.
A question for anyone who has used the express; Do you need to bring your tank aboard using a dolly/hand cart or can you just wear your BCD/tank up to the storage area?
When we use the dive boats, I have one dive bag and wear my BP/W with tank until aboard which works well for me.

I went shortly after they really started to enforce the rules (14th I think). The guy taking the tickets asked if I had weights in my bag. I said yes and he told me to remove them before boarding. I went down the ramp and right up on the boat. The guys guiding everyone aboard simply told me where to put my bag, no weight check. I also had my bp/w attached to my tank. They asked me if I wanted to remove it before putting it in the rack. I said I wanted it left on and they had no problem simply putting it in the rack with the bp/w still attached. Again, that was a couple weeks ago but take it for what it's worth.

 

[James@Tank Trolley]

Try using the Tank Trolley. It is easy to slip over the tank and can be taken off easy to store in your dive bag. I've traveled all over the world with mine since 2005. It will roll in the sand too with no problems! Its an essential piece of my dive gear now, Its always in my dive bag. when I rent a tank on vacation, the tank trolley goes on it.
I also attach my BC and gear to the tank and roll it onto the boat.
www.tanktrolley.net​