Boaters with their boats in Avalon Harbor can now catch a ride aboard a new shoreboat service with Catalina Coastal Tours and Fishing, the water taxi service. According to one captain on the island, the Harbor Patrol was the only one providing rides on harbor patrol boats to people needing to get to and from their moored boat.
“A Request For Proposals (RFP) was issued and the city awarded the RFP to Catalina Coastal Tours and Fishing,” Harbormaster Brian Bray confirmed. The city of Avalon called for an RFP in December of 2016 from companies willing and able to offer shoreboat services. This was the second time an RFP for shoreboat service was issued. Avalon received three bids this time from Catalina Coastal Tours and Fishing as well as Island Enterprises. The city was offering a maximum subsidy in the amount of $250,000 for this shoreboat service. “The City Council awarded Shore Boat service to Catalina Coastal Tours and Fishing for the period March 1, 2017-February 28, 2022, with an operating subsidy from the city of Avalon of $239,000 per year based on performance standards set in the RFP,” Avalon City Manager David Jinkens stated in an email to The Log.
In regards to the new shoreboat service, Catalina Coastal Tours and Fishing will have two custom-built, U.S. Coast Guard certified WingCat boats. These lightweight 24-foot long inflatable boats will have the capacity to transport 19 to 21 passengers. The boats are expected to be ready in time for the summer season, and in the interim they will be using the existing fleet of three six-pack boats to provide the shoreboat service. “We are extremely excited to provide this essential [shoreboat] service to the Harbor and look forward to exceeding customers’ expectations,” Gorelczenko stated. “One of our core values is to be stewards of Catalina Island and ensure that the visitors we encounter are provided the highest level of service so they look forward to coming back to Avalon year after year.”
If you are in the market for a boat to take to Catalina and test out the new shoreboat services, please contact Ballast Point Yachts, Inc. for all of your boating needs. We offer yacht sales, service, insurance, financing, transport and more!
Visit: https://www.ballastpointyachts.com
1239 Scott Street, San Diego, California 92106
Tel (619) 222-3620 x 1 • Toll-Free (866) 341-0687