The crossing gets you there. The mooring is what lets you stay.
Catalina Island runs on moorings, not slips. There are virtually no transient docks for visiting recreational boats on the island — you pick up a mooring in Avalon or Two Harbors, or anchor in the coves, and you get ashore by dinghy or shore boat. For a first-timer, the system can feel like secret local knowledge: a patrol boat meeting you at the harbor entrance, stern lines with sandbags, VHF chatter on channel 9, reservation systems that only open once a week.
It isn’t complicated once you know how it works. This guide covers both ends of the island — Avalon’s first-come moorings and the Two Harbors reservation system, plus fees, the west-end coves, anchoring rules, and check-out procedures.
The system in 30 seconds
- Avalon (east end): no reservations — first-come, first-served. Harbor Patrol meets you at the entrance on VHF 9, assigns a mooring, and takes payment. Fees are set by the City of Avalon based on your boat’s actual length.
- Two Harbors (west end): weekend moorings can be reserved online, with new weekend inventory released every Thursday (check the official reservations page for the exact release time). Two-night minimum on weekends, three on holidays.
- Anchoring: allowed only outside the mooring fields at Two Harbors, at your own risk — and not at all in Avalon Harbor.
- Getting ashore: dinghy, or the shore boats that run the mooring fields for a few dollars a ride.
Avalon: how the harbor works
Avalon is the classic first-timer destination — the harbor, the town, the Casino building, the whole postcard. Its moorings are privately owned but leased to the public when the owner isn’t using them, and the City of Avalon’s Harbor Department runs the show. Here’s the arrival routine:
- Call on VHF channel 9 as you approach. The Harbor Department keeps a patrol boat stationed at the harbor entrance around the clock — they’ll meet you in person, assign a mooring sized for your boat, and take payment.
- Pay before you go ashore. Mooring fees are due before you take up the mooring or depart for shore. You can pay the patrol officer at the entrance or on the mooring, up at the Harbor Office at the end of the Green Pleasure Pier, or by phone.
- Fees are based on your vessel’s actual length, not the mooring’s. Per the City’s published fee schedule, daily rates run roughly $48 for boats 30 feet and under, $52 for 31–39 feet, and $65 for 40–49 feet (larger brackets scale up from there) — always confirm the current rates with the Harbor Department before you go.
- Short visits are discounted. Avalon offers a 4-hour mooring rate at half the daily rate, and seasonal deals: pay for four consecutive nights and get three free in spring and fall, or pay two consecutive nights and get five free in winter.
The important part: there are no reservations in Avalon. Summer weekends fill up — if you’re crossing on a Friday in July, get there early or have a backup plan (Two Harbors is the classic one).
Picking up a mooring: the technique
If you’ve never picked up a mooring, here’s how it works on a typical Catalina setup:
- Approach slowly into the wind or current, with a crew member at the bow and a boat hook ready.
- Grab the bow pennant (the floating line from the mooring ball) and secure it to a bow cleat. Then take the stern line — on Avalon moorings this is a weighted “sand line” — and secure it to a stern cleat, keeping it clear of the props with the engine in neutral or off while the line is in the water.
- Set the lines for your boat’s length. Moorings are rigged for specific size ranges; a smaller boat on a larger mooring will swing more and needs the lines adjusted.
- Tell the patrol your experience level. Harbor Patrol talks first-timers through the pickup all day long — there is no prize for bluffing.
Our members learn line handling and close-quarters boat work in hands-on training before their first solo outing, so the pickup isn’t the first time they’ve handled a line under pressure. (More in our boating lessons guide.)
Two Harbors: the reservation system
Two Harbors is the west end’s quieter answer to Avalon — a general store, a few restaurants, and more than 700 moorings spread across a dozen-plus coves. The system here is run by the Two Harbors Harbor Department, and it’s the one place on Catalina where you can plan ahead:
- Weekend inventory is released each Thursday for the coming weekend — book online, and confirm your assignment with the Harbor Department on VHF channel 9 when you arrive.
- Minimums apply: two nights on regular weekends, three on holiday weekends (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Buccaneer Days carry additional booking fees).
- Reservations are non-refundable and guarantee a mooring within a specific cove — the Harbor Department can reassign your exact spot.
- Check-out is 9:00 AM. Want to stay longer? Contact Harbor Patrol on VHF 9 to check availability.
- A booking fee (currently $25 on regular weekends) is added to the mooring fees, which scale with boat length — roughly $50/night for boats under 29 feet, $60 for 30–39 feet, $73 for 40–49 feet, and up from there.
- Midweek is easy. Outside the weekend-release system, moorings are first-come, first-served — shoulder-season weekdays are some of the best boating on the island.
House rules on the west end: 5 mph, no wake near mooring areas and anchorages; quiet hours 10 PM to 7 AM apply to generator use; a trash pickup vessel services the leeside coves in summer; and there’s a year-round fuel dock (gas, diesel, water, plus propane ashore) — handy if you’re stringing together a multi-day west-end itinerary.
Which west-end cove?
Not all 700 moorings are equal. The leeside coves near the village are the calmest; the weather-side anchorages are prettier on a calm day and rolly when the wind picks up.
- Isthmus Cove — the main cove, closest to the village, restaurants, and the shore boat. First-timer friendly; also the busiest.
- Fourth of July Cove & Cherry Cove — sheltered leeside coves a short dinghy or shore-boat ride from town. Great balance of calm water and privacy.
- Emerald Bay & Howland’s Landing — pretty, quieter, still on the protected side.
- White’s Landing — on the ocean side; gorgeous, but exposed to the prevailing swell. Know the forecast.
- Catalina Harbor — the west-end’s backside anchorage area, for boaters who want the remote end of remote.
If the forecast shows any real west swell, stay on the leeside coves. When in doubt, call the Harbor Department on channel 9 and ask — they know the moods of every cove.
Anchoring at Catalina
Short version: most visiting boaters take a mooring, and for good reason.
- In Avalon Harbor, anchoring isn’t permitted — it’s moorings only.
- At Two Harbors, anchoring is permitted about 100 yards outside the mooring areas, at your own risk and administered by the Harbor Department.
- The island gets deep fast, the holding varies, and you’re responsible for your own ground tackle and swing room. If you anchor, set it properly and stay clear of the mooring fields.
Given that west-end moorings run roughly the price of a casual dinner for two, anchoring is rarely the money-saver people imagine — the mooring buys you a properly maintained ground tackle and a harbor patrol that knows the coves.
Getting ashore
No dinghy? No problem — shore boats run the mooring fields in both harbors. Rides run a few dollars: around $7 per person in Avalon, and $5–$10 at Two Harbors depending on the cove (call on VHF channel 9). In Avalon the dinghy dock is free, so bringing a tender is the move if you like going ashore on your own schedule.
Check-out and extending
- Avalon: departure is flexible, but fees are by the day — confirm your departure with the Harbor Department so you’re not billed for another night.
- Two Harbors: check-out is 9:00 AM sharp; late checkout is available for a fee. If you want to extend, hail Harbor Patrol on channel 9 before check-out time — they’ll let you know if your mooring is free.
Why our members do Catalina twice a year
Catalina rewards exactly what a good boat club teaches: seamanship over gadgetry. Weather calls, line handling, harbor protocol, VHF etiquette — none of it is hard, all of it is learned, and it’s what makes the trip feel earned instead of arranged.
For our San Diego members, the move is the same one in our crossing guide: boat out of either location depending on the adventure. Our fleet lives at two marinas — Point Loma and Newport Beach — and Newport is the natural Catalina launch point, about 26 nautical miles to Avalon. Drive up, reserve a boat from our fleet, and the island is a morning’s cruise away. Our dock team will walk you through the mooring plan — Avalon strategy vs. Two Harbors reservations — before your first crossing, because an owner-led club means there’s always someone at the dock who’s made the run themselves.
Ready to make the crossing? Our boats are maintained, fueled, and waiting at Point Loma and Newport Beach. Call (619) 488-6630 and we’ll help you plan your first Catalina trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for a mooring at Catalina?
At Avalon: no — moorings are first-come, first-served, assigned by the Harbor Patrol when you arrive (VHF 9). At Two Harbors on the island’s west end: you can — and should — reserve online, with new weekend inventory released each Thursday.
How much does a mooring at Catalina cost?
Roughly: Avalon charges about $48/day for boats 30 feet and under, scaling up with length (about $52 for 31–39 feet, $65 for 40–49 feet). Two Harbors runs about $50/night under 29 feet, $60 for 30–39 feet, and $73 for 40–49 feet, plus a $25 weekend booking fee. Confirm current rates with the respective Harbor Department before you go — both offer seasonal discounts.
Can you anchor at Catalina Island instead of taking a mooring?
In Avalon Harbor, no — it’s moorings only. Around Two Harbors, anchoring is permitted about 100 yards outside the mooring areas, at your own risk. The island gets deep fast, so most visiting boaters take a mooring.
Which Catalina cove is best for a first-time overnight?
Isthmus Cove at Two Harbors — it’s the calmest, closest to the village, and covered by the shore boat. Or go for the classic: a mooring in Avalon Harbor on a weekday, when the harbor is wide open and the town is an easy shore-boat ride away.
Can I take a boat club boat to Catalina?
That’s exactly what our members do. You’ll need to be a trained, checked-out member — our NSBC-certified instructors make sure you’re confident at the helm before your first solo outing, and our dock team helps you plan the route, fuel, and mooring details for your first crossing.