Overview
Redondo Beach sits south of the communities of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, part of the South Bay beach communities. A home to families who make a comfortable living for themselves, Redondo Beach is a land by the sea with all the elements of fun in the sun, but less of the flash and pretense. It has four marinas—King Harbor, Port Royal, Portofino, and Redondo Beach—and over 1,400 boat slips. The marinas host seasonal activities, such as whale-watching in January, the annual Super Bowl Sunday 10K Run in February (with a beer garden at the finish line), and the Bayou Bash and Crawfish Boil, complete with music straight from New Orleans, in May. For those of you who just can’t get enough seafood and fanfare, head out here in the fall for the annual Redondo Beach Lobster Festival for live music, wacky seafood paraphernalia, carnival games, and, of course, more lobster than you’d care to eat. Between sailing, kayaking, and enjoying a seafood dinner by the water, let’s just say there are worse things in life than having to spend a week at Redondo Beach.
Practicalities
The marina provides several double-spaced parking spots for vehicles with boat trailers. If you’re hoping for a space during the summer months, you better head out early—the place gets mobbed. Expect to pay between $3 and $7 per day for parking, depending on the season and location.
Boat Hoist & Fuel Docks
Unlike most other marinas, the Redondo Beach Marina has a boat hoist instead of a launch ramp. Skilled hoist operators launch boats mechanically via slings using two five-ton hoists, which can lift boats up to 10,000 pounds and 30 feet long. Round-trip hoist fees are $8 for a hand-launch size boat, $18 for personal watercraft, $30 for boats 18-24 feet long, and $40 for boats over 25 feet long. Reservations are not needed. Locals with proof of boat registration can obtain boat hoist coupons from City Hall for $7.50. If you’re launching a boat by hand, you’ll want to go behind Seaside Lagoon, via the Redondo Beach Marina parking lot, or by Portofino Way.
Fuel docks are located at the commercial basin and across from the Harbor Patrol office.
Boat Hoist Regular Hours: Mon–Fri: 7 am–5 pm; Sat–Sun: 6 am–6 pm. Extended summer hours—6 am–6 pm on weekdays and 6 am–8 pm on weekends—begin Memorial Day weekend. For more information, visit www.rbmarina.com.
. . . Two If By Sea
If you’re coming in from the water, use the lighted buoy to the SSW of the exterior jetty to guide you into the marina. The entrance is at the south end of the harbor, between two lighted jetties.
Guest Slips
King Harbor Marina (208 Yacht Club Wy, 310-376-6926) and the Redondo Beach Yacht Club both offer guest boat slips and docking accommodations. Boat slips come fully equipped with storage lockers, cable TV and phone hook-ups, laundry facilities, and plenty of parking.
Harbor Patrol
The Harbor Patrol office is located at the west end of Marina Way, adjacent to Moonstone Park. If you need them call 310-318-0632.
No Boat?
No worries! You can hire fishing rods, tackle, bait, and a salt water fishing license right on the Redondo Sport Fishing Pier. If you prefer being out on the water, fishing trips range from $32 ($27 kids) for a half-day to $650 for a ten-person charter boat for the day. For something a little racier, try sailing classes (310-937-3180) or a high-speed tour of the coast on the Ocean Racer (310-374-3481).
Restrooms
Restrooms are located in and around the harbor, on the Pier, and along the beach areas.
Redondo Beach Pier
The Redondo Beach Pier has a host of dining spots, a few bars, many touristy shops, and an arcade. If nothing else, you’ll get a semi decent meal and find some places to pass the time. You can park at the Pier Parking Structure (100 W Torrance Blvd) south of the Boardwalk or the Plaza Parking Structure (180 N Harbor Dr) north of the Boardwalk. There’s metered parking as well in the area. For seafood, try Oceanside Seafood (100-F Fisherman’s Wharf) and then make a stop at the Pier Bakery (100-M Fisherman’s Wharf) for fresh churros. Then you can browse through places like the Sunshine Kite Company and Shark Attack to round out your pier experience.