Day-Trippers

For much of his life, Capt. Jim Noggle piloted boats in such exotic locales as the Caribbean.

These days, the 54-year-old Oxnard resident can be found in Channel Islands Harbor, at the helm of the 22-foot GG or one of two other boats in the Harbor Hopper Ferry fleet.

Depending on the season and weather, Noggle works up to seven days a week ferrying tourists and locals from dock to dock, restaurant to hotel--almost anywhere there’s a place to tie up. And he says there’s no better way to experience the harbor than from a boat.

“You just don’t see from the land what you’re going to be able to see from the water,” said Noggle, who has been a Harbor Hopper captain since 1990.

Cindy Lyon, 48, of Oxnard and her ex-husband, Bob, got the idea for a water taxi service while on a trip to Vancouver, Canada, in 1987. Two years later, the Channel Islands ferry service was born.

Cruises begin at the Harbor Hopper Terminal behind Harbor Landing on South Harbor Boulevard and continue to Fisherman’s Wharf on Victoria Avenue before heading home.

Along the way, passengers see some spectacular yachts, many of them home to live-aboard owners. Throughout the cruise, Noggle or one of the six other captains provide commentary and history, not to mention humor fit for old salts of the sea.

Many who pay the $5 for the round-trip cruise are out-of-towners new to boating.

“Most of them come up here from Los Angeles or the San Fernando Valley, and there are always lots of kids who have not been on a boat before,” Noggle said. He keeps the youngsters entertained by playing “I Spy,” in which the captain calls out something for them to find--a pelican, perhaps--and the children respond when they spot it.

The crew also uses the cruise to educate children about the Coast Guard and boating safety, Lyon said. Children can have their photo taken with the captain, and each receives a certificate as a memento.

On a recent afternoon, Army Sgt. Bryan Harlacher of Los Angeles celebrated his 33rd birthday with three friends, also from Los Angeles.

“The cruise was a surprise gift for his birthday. I figured nice weather, a small, quiet town. Why not?” said Linda Broadus, who organized the daylong excursion to the harbor.

As Noggle brought the 24-passenger GG dockside at one of six stops along the horseshoe route, Harlacher, his head out the cabin door and a smile on his face, gave his approval: “This is good. I like it.”

In addition to the GG, Harbor Hopper Ferry operates two 22-foot “six-packs” or six-passenger boats--Cindy Lee and Awesome. Stops along the round-trip cruise include The Whale’s Tail and Lobster Trap restaurants, Cisco’s Landing and the Casa Sirena Hotel.

Those with round-trip tickets can get off at any stop and return on a later ferry. For $1, you can take a “hopp to hopp” one-stop trip.

All-day passes aboard the Harbor Hopper are $8.

Officials from the Ventura Port District, urged on by harbor merchants, are looking into whether a similar service in Ventura Harbor would be a wise move. No decision has been made.

David Lyons of Oxnard can’t get enough of the 35-minute cruises. The Oxnard public librarian and model-ship builder was accompanied on a recent harbor hop by his 58-year-old brother, Johann, a 1956 graduate of Santa Clara High School who now lives in Lund, Sweden, and their mother, 78-year-old Mary Lyons of Oxnard.

“This is a fun little trip. I’ve taken it several times,” said David Lyons, as he and his mother enjoyed a breeze blowing through the open door.

“I like the sea,” said a contented Lyons. “It keeps calling.”