Boat Transport Company

Water Buses are running all summer long in Marina del Rey.  The water bus is a small boat under power that is designed to shuttle people from one part of the marina to another.  This is a great way to transport yourself and others on boats for a very low cost.  In 2008 the cost for the water bus is $1 per person each way.  This is a government funded taxi.  There are places all over the marina where you can pick up the bus including Tahiti and Fisherman’s Warf.  The bus is very simple and confortable.  You can just show up anytime and a bus should pick you and your group up with in about 15 minutes.  There are people waiting just up from the finger piers who will take your money and provide you with a ticket to get on the Water Bus.

Water Bus 2009

The Water Bus is closed down for the fall but will reopen in 2009.  If you are looking for work on a water bus or if you would like to be involved with boat transport please contact Boat Transport Company directly.

Taking down a Star mast can be a tricky task if you are new to it.  The first thing to remember is that you should make sure to have at least one or more other people to help take down the mast if you are new to this task.  Be sure to remove the pins and tie up the halyards before removing or steping a star mast.

Two person take down:

In the first step both of the sailors will position on the deck of the boat on the trailer.  Then one sailor uses both hands seperated to lift the mast out of the boat and keep the mast from falling.  The other person will be on the deck, usually on knees, and moving the butt end of the mast from the step to a side of the boat.  This will allow the other crew to keep the mast up while the other crew moves down to the ground.  Then both crew with one on top of the boat and one on the ground lift the mast and slowly move it to the ground.

When putting the mast back up be sure to repeat the process in reverse.  Move slowly and take your time.  There should not be a rush to move the mast and always ask for additional help if you may need it.  Many masts have been damaged due to a drop from the boat.

There are a few places in the United States that everyone should visit if they enjoy sailing.  The Channel Islands off the coast of Oxnard, Ventura, and Santa Barabaraare included in this list.  Each of the islands have very unique sea and land life along with various human installations.

Santa Rosa, San Miguel, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa Island

These islands are all very close together off the coast.  It takes about 5 hours to sail to the Islands from close by harbors.  There are a variety of interesting things to see on each island including the painted caves, caves, and wild boars.  There are plenty of places to drop your anchor but do not expect that you will be able to tie up or raft up.  There are few places where you will not need your own ground tackle.

Traffic Lanes

Like all of southern California there is a need to be careful when crossing the shipping lanes.  These lanes go up and down the coast between the land and the Channel Islands.  Boats here many times can not stop quickly or manouver so be very careful when crossing the lanes and always cross at a 90 degree angle.