Looking to sail while in Oahu ...

[SeaYa]

>> I'm headed to Oahu this week to spend 10 days with my son. I would like to take my 2 adult children on a short day cruise. Hoping to hook up with a 43-50 footer. Looking on the Internet, I find many large catarmarans, that I don't want... Any recommendations??

 

[JoyRide28]

I have checked over many years for bareboat (or other) mono hull rentals in Hawaii. As far as I can tell there aren't any. The reason given (from someone I called who had an ad in one the sailing mags some years back) was that Hawaiian waters can be semi-treacherous once outside the lee of the islands, with the inter-island channels being especially known for huge unruly seas, etc. As a side note, I'll bet most of the large cats you're finding are group day charters, with skipper. Can be kinda fun, but at $60-80 a person, ahh, not so much (at least for me). Lots of other fun water-related stuff to do including surfing, outriggers, kayaks, small boat (resort) rentals.... Have fun.

 

[comfortzone]

A couple of years ago we sailed on a 42' Pearson Ketch out of Hanalei Bay. The owner had sailed it from CA and ran charters for up to 6 people for snorkel trips or Napali Coast site seeing. He was great and the boat was great. We didn't get to assist at all as he had a "quality", young female first mate but it was a great day and a fun boat. Now that was in the summer and I'm not sure any boats stay on the north shore in the winter. I think they move to the southwest side.

 

[comfortzone]

Hanalei is on Kauai.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

You can check the various marinas when you get there. Ko Olina is on the Makaha side of O'ahu and is one of the newest and biggest marinas on the island. Also try Honolulu and Waikiki marinas, but I heard the Ala Wai closed down recently. There is also the Kehei Small boat basin down Sand Island Road not far from West Marine Honolulu and the if you go there, stop in to the La Marianna Yacht Club bar for a beer. You'll love the old Hawai'ian decor. I might have some of the spelling wrong, but the Kehei (?) is one of the only marinas where they allow live aboards on the islands. And, as someone else mentioned, sailing around the Hawai'ian Islands can be very uncomfortable. Kane'ohe on the windward side has a yacht club too, but private.

 

[Steve Dion]

Do you belong to a Yacht Club? If you do you can visit some of the clubs and may have more luck with hitching a ride.

 

[SeaYa]

Many thanks for the suggestions! I will ask my son about these places. I had heard of La Marianna and thought that would be a cool place to check out. As for the North Shore, I will only be checking out the surf ... from the beach.
Mahalo!!