TahoeTom
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 3-15-2020
Member Is Offline
|
|
Gonzaga bay area boat launches
Hi, I'm thinking of going to Gonzaga bay area in the end of April and was wondering if there are other boat launches besides Papa Fenandez' . I like
that ramp and camp but wanted to camp somewhere new. Does Punta Final have a ramp? Amy other options or recommendations would be great. Thanks!
|
|
basautter
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
There are a couple of dirt boat launches in the estuary behind Alfonsina's. They work well during a medium to high tide, but there is no real
advantage over Papa Fernandez except you save a drive around the back bay.
|
|
del mar
Banned
Posts: 1057
Registered: 7-23-2016
Location: the cantina of course
Member Is Offline
Mood: lil' fuzzy
|
|
how about Sacrificio? close to PF reef, might catch the bar/restaurant open, let them launch and retrieve!
|
|
Marc
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by del mar  | how about Sacrificio? close to PF reef, might catch the bar/restaurant open, let them launch and retrieve! |
Yes & let them launch.
|
|
TahoeTom
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 3-15-2020
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks for the info guys. Is it safe to leave a boat on a buoy or is that a big no no... last I heard a panga was stolen down there but I didnt know
if that was an odd occurrence or normal..
|
|
del mar
Banned
Posts: 1057
Registered: 7-23-2016
Location: the cantina of course
Member Is Offline
Mood: lil' fuzzy
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by TahoeTom  | Thanks for the info guys. Is it safe to leave a boat on a buoy or is that a big no no... last I heard a panga was stolen down there but I didnt know
if that was an odd occurrence or normal.. |
west wind comes up in the middle of the night and your boats headed to the mainland, take it out!
|
|
basautter
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by TahoeTom  | Thanks for the info guys. Is it safe to leave a boat on a buoy or is that a big no no... last I heard a panga was stolen down there but I didnt know
if that was an odd occurrence or normal.. |
I do every October, but....make sure you have a good anchor and lots of anchor line to account for tides and waves. I use a big treble hook made of
rebar with three cinder blocks to add weight. A friend lost his boat during high tide last fall due to not having enough anchor line. Luckily we
found it the next morning, three miles away on the El Sacrificio beach. Not sure about theft, but I do take the keys with me.
|
|
freediverbrian
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 623
Registered: 2-24-2007
Location: Papas Gonzaga Bay
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by basautter  | Quote: Originally posted by TahoeTom  | Thanks for the info guys. Is it safe to leave a boat on a buoy or is that a big no no... last I heard a panga was stolen down there but I didnt know
if that was an odd occurrence or normal.. |
I do every October, but....make sure you have a good anchor and lots of anchor line to account for tides and waves. I use a big treble hook made of
rebar with three cinder blocks to add weight. A friend lost his boat during high tide last fall due to not having enough anchor line. Luckily we
found it the next morning, three miles away on the El Sacrificio beach. Not sure about theft, but I do take the keys with me.
|
I would recommend a good anchor and lots of chain twice the length of the boat and scope. Skip the cinder blocks
|
|
TahoeTom
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 3-15-2020
Member Is Offline
|
|
Great info, thank you. I was planing on lots of chain and anchor line.
|
|
del mar
Banned
Posts: 1057
Registered: 7-23-2016
Location: the cantina of course
Member Is Offline
Mood: lil' fuzzy
|
|
our boat just barely caught the tip of cactus point (where the ship wreck was) and it was blown off the beach!
|
|
basautter
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by freediverbrian  | Quote: Originally posted by basautter  | Quote: Originally posted by TahoeTom  | Thanks for the info guys. Is it safe to leave a boat on a buoy or is that a big no no... last I heard a panga was stolen down there but I didnt know
if that was an odd occurrence or normal.. |
I do every October, but....make sure you have a good anchor and lots of anchor line to account for tides and waves. I use a big treble hook made of
rebar with three cinder blocks to add weight. A friend lost his boat during high tide last fall due to not having enough anchor line. Luckily we
found it the next morning, three miles away on the El Sacrificio beach. Not sure about theft, but I do take the keys with me.
|
I would recommend a good anchor and lots of chain twice the length of the boat and scope. Skip the cinder blocks |
Do you use the chain for weight or as the anchor line? Using it for weight would be more convenient than a rebar treble with cinder blocks, although
that technique works well and is employed by some of the locals.
|
|
chatolj
Nomad

Posts: 110
Registered: 3-17-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
anchors/chain
The rebar grappling hook style is great for rocky areas when you are on the boat. The rebar straightens out when stuck using the boat to pull on it.
Not the best idea to be used in sand. For overnight anchoring, an anchor designed to plow/dig into the sand is better. A long length of chain keeps
the anchor flat on the sea bottom. Without the chain, the rocking of the boat will pull the anchor up and dislodge it from the sand. Like said before,
" boat length x 2 = minimum chain length. Plenty of scope of rode. That being said, I have left my rigs on the hook overnight for years but would
never even consider it now days. Too much meth and you know who. Have fun, be safe!!!!!
|
|
Pacifico
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by chatolj  | The rebar grappling hook style is great for rocky areas when you are on the boat. The rebar straightens out when stuck using the boat to pull on it.
Not the best idea to be used in sand. For overnight anchoring, an anchor designed to plow/dig into the sand is better. A long length of chain keeps
the anchor flat on the sea bottom. Without the chain, the rocking of the boat will pull the anchor up and dislodge it from the sand. Like said before,
" boat length x 2 = minimum chain length. Plenty of scope of rode. That being said, I have left my rigs on the hook overnight for years but would
never even consider it now days. Too much meth and you know who. Have fun, be safe!!!!! |
I like the idea of the rebar type anchor for a cheap anchor that you can straighten out and retrieve if stuck. I've almost lost expensive anchors
because they were stuck and took a long time to retrieve them. However, I don't think I would rely on one for anything other than short term anchoring
while staying with the boat.
As far as chain length, 2x is a bit overkill due to weight/cost for most boats IMHO. I've seen a couple rules of thumb: 1 foot of chain per 1 foot of
boat, and 1/2 foot of chain per 1 foot of boat. Just for cost savings and weight, I would stick with 1/2 foot of chain per foot of boat length with 8'
minimum. Scope of rode is most important when anchoring, yet it seems like lots of people don't get enough scope.
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
|
|
Don Pisto
Banned
Posts: 1282
Registered: 8-1-2018
Location: El Pescador
Member Is Offline
Mood: weary like everyone else
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico  | Quote: Originally posted by chatolj  | The rebar grappling hook style is great for rocky areas when you are on the boat. The rebar straightens out when stuck using the boat to pull on it.
Not the best idea to be used in sand. For overnight anchoring, an anchor designed to plow/dig into the sand is better. A long length of chain keeps
the anchor flat on the sea bottom. Without the chain, the rocking of the boat will pull the anchor up and dislodge it from the sand. Like said before,
" boat length x 2 = minimum chain length. Plenty of scope of rode. That being said, I have left my rigs on the hook overnight for years but would
never even consider it now days. Too much meth and you know who. Have fun, be safe!!!!! |
I like the idea of the rebar type anchor for a cheap anchor that you can straighten out and retrieve if stuck. I've almost lost expensive anchors
because they were stuck and took a long time to retrieve them. However, I don't think I would rely on one for anything other than short term anchoring
while staying with the boat.
As far as chain length, 2x is a bit overkill due to weight/cost for most boats IMHO. I've seen a couple rules of thumb: 1 foot of chain per 1 foot of
boat, and 1/2 foot of chain per 1 foot of boat. Just for cost savings and weight, I would stick with 1/2 foot of chain per foot of boat length with 8'
minimum. Scope of rode is most important when anchoring, yet it seems like lots of people don't get enough scope. |
good point but two things....how much do you love your boat and you can have a mile of rode out there but without a stern anchor she's gone when those
hellatious desert winds come up in the night, pull her out and get a good nights sleep....jmho of course
|
|
BajaParrothead
Nomad

Posts: 460
Registered: 12-4-2012
Location: Portola, CA / Los Barriles
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico  | Quote: Originally posted by chatolj  | The rebar grappling hook style is great for rocky areas when you are on the boat. The rebar straightens out when stuck using the boat to pull on it.
Not the best idea to be used in sand. For overnight anchoring, an anchor designed to plow/dig into the sand is better. A long length of chain keeps
the anchor flat on the sea bottom. Without the chain, the rocking of the boat will pull the anchor up and dislodge it from the sand. Like said before,
" boat length x 2 = minimum chain length. Plenty of scope of rode. That being said, I have left my rigs on the hook overnight for years but would
never even consider it now days. Too much meth and you know who. Have fun, be safe!!!!! |
If possible, I always try for a 7-1 scope on the rode, but when it gets over 25' deep, that's a tough formula to stick with.
I like the idea of the rebar type anchor for a cheap anchor that you can straighten out and retrieve if stuck. I've almost lost expensive anchors
because they were stuck and took a long time to retrieve them. However, I don't think I would rely on one for anything other than short term anchoring
while staying with the boat.
As far as chain length, 2x is a bit overkill due to weight/cost for most boats IMHO. I've seen a couple rules of thumb: 1 foot of chain per 1 foot of
boat, and 1/2 foot of chain per 1 foot of boat. Just for cost savings and weight, I would stick with 1/2 foot of chain per foot of boat length with 8'
minimum. Scope of rode is most important when anchoring, yet it seems like lots of people don't get enough scope. |
|
|
Pacifico
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto  | Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico  | Quote: Originally posted by chatolj  | The rebar grappling hook style is great for rocky areas when you are on the boat. The rebar straightens out when stuck using the boat to pull on it.
Not the best idea to be used in sand. For overnight anchoring, an anchor designed to plow/dig into the sand is better. A long length of chain keeps
the anchor flat on the sea bottom. Without the chain, the rocking of the boat will pull the anchor up and dislodge it from the sand. Like said before,
" boat length x 2 = minimum chain length. Plenty of scope of rode. That being said, I have left my rigs on the hook overnight for years but would
never even consider it now days. Too much meth and you know who. Have fun, be safe!!!!! |
I like the idea of the rebar type anchor for a cheap anchor that you can straighten out and retrieve if stuck. I've almost lost expensive anchors
because they were stuck and took a long time to retrieve them. However, I don't think I would rely on one for anything other than short term anchoring
while staying with the boat.
As far as chain length, 2x is a bit overkill due to weight/cost for most boats IMHO. I've seen a couple rules of thumb: 1 foot of chain per 1 foot of
boat, and 1/2 foot of chain per 1 foot of boat. Just for cost savings and weight, I would stick with 1/2 foot of chain per foot of boat length with 8'
minimum. Scope of rode is most important when anchoring, yet it seems like lots of people don't get enough scope. |
good point but two things....how much do you love your boat and you can have a mile of rode out there but without a stern anchor she's gone when those
hellatious desert winds come up in the night, pull her out and get a good nights sleep....jmho of course |
I agree... I would always throw a stern anchor if I was leaving the boat in the water overnight. A lot more comfort having 2 anchors! Wind changes
have taken many peoples boats!
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
|
|
Pacifico
Super Nomad
  
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by BajaParrothead  | Quote: Originally posted by Pacifico  | Quote: Originally posted by chatolj  | The rebar grappling hook style is great for rocky areas when you are on the boat. The rebar straightens out when stuck using the boat to pull on it.
Not the best idea to be used in sand. For overnight anchoring, an anchor designed to plow/dig into the sand is better. A long length of chain keeps
the anchor flat on the sea bottom. Without the chain, the rocking of the boat will pull the anchor up and dislodge it from the sand. Like said before,
" boat length x 2 = minimum chain length. Plenty of scope of rode. That being said, I have left my rigs on the hook overnight for years but would
never even consider it now days. Too much meth and you know who. Have fun, be safe!!!!! |
If possible, I always try for a 7-1 scope on the rode, but when it gets over 25' deep, that's a tough formula to stick with.
| |
Very true... I am just amazed at how many people drop the hook and the second it hits the bottom, they tie it off.  
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
|
|
chatolj
Nomad

Posts: 110
Registered: 3-17-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
After helping to recover two different skiffs that blew away in the night, the common denominator was short chain lengths. The anchor will not hold
unless it lays flat on the bottom. The more wind and waves the more a boat lifts the chain. Also, be careful of the extreme tidal swings in the upper
Cortez. As stated, lots of scope. 2:1 chain /boat ratio is a bit of an overkill yes, but your rig will be there if the wind really starts blowing.
Saludos!!
|
|
freediverbrian
Senior Nomad
 
Posts: 623
Registered: 2-24-2007
Location: Papas Gonzaga Bay
Member Is Offline
|
|
The 2x chain to boat length that I recommend earlier in this thread is over kill for a lunch hook, Anchoring while fishing or swimming. But for
overnight it's not. I sleep very well knowing my boat is on a trailer.
|
|