Holidays ... a time for buying

Terry Phillips

‘Tis the season to be Jolly -- Roger. A boat gadget here a boat

gadget there, here a boat, there a boat, everywhere a boat, boat.

In any event, it’s a great time to give and receive gadgets, artifacts

and updated boat stuff. Where to go and what to do?

Minney’s Ship Chandlery, at 1500 Old Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach

has everything from “sloop to knots.” Your gift giving questions will be

answered for no additional charge at Ernie Minney’s legendary store.

“We’ve got so much stuff, I don’t know where to begin,” said Kevin, a

salesman at Minney’s. “Lately, we are seeing as many interior designers

in here as we are boaters.”

Minney’s has some great decorator type artifacts that make perfect

gifts for your nautical but nice friends and family members.

Traditional items like wooden, brass or stainless steel ship wheels

from 12 inches up to five feet. Brass ship’s bells and Queen Mary bells

with wheel and anchor wall-mounts for $28 to $70.

They have deck light prisms that are great on a coffee table or on a

bookshelf for $29. How about a porthole or ship wheel mirrors or boat

models from 12-36 inches ranging in price from $39 to $179.

These super gifts for a den, family room or in an office. They have an

extensive library of nautical books of fiction, nonfiction, instruction

and beautiful books on sailing vessels and photography. These are “coffee

table” type books, which make wonderful, lifetime gifts.

Of all the items at Minney’s, I thought the eight-day windup brass

clocks off Russian submarines are the most creative. You can purchase the

Russki chronometer for only $99. The only trouble is, when it tells you

what time it is, are you really sure?

More functional gifts are available as well. Radios, grinders, sails,

engines, screws, line and about any other thing you might need for a

boat.

Nautical items make great holiday gifts and are fun to exchange. For

more information, contact Minney’s Ship Chandlery at (949) 548-4192.

Other holiday gifts could include a membership at the Lido Sailing

Club for $250 (949) 675-0827. South Shore (949) 646-3102 or Newport Beach

(949) 760-0221 Yacht Club memberships, a gift certificate at Duffy’s

Electric Boat Rentals (949) 645-6427 for a cruise around the harbor or,

why not go all out and give that special person a brand new boat, or is

that like giving your wife a brand new table saw for her birthday?

Racing through winter continues in area. Some of the significant

events on the calendar include the Sunkist Series out of the Balboa Yacht

Club slated for Jan. 8-9. The harry Mann Regatta and winter series Jan. 9

and 15 respectively at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

The winter Hibachi No. 2 Jan. 22 at the South Shore Yacht Club. The

Voyager Hot Rum III, Jan. 16 at the Newport Beach Yacht Club and many

others.

February means the Voyager Humphrey Bogart Series at NBYC and the

annual SCYA Women’s Sailing convention held at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht

Club. This very successful seminar is always sold out so if you have an

interest in attending, contact the BCYC at (949) 644-9530.

The Chamber of Commerce Boat parade begins this evening and traffic

will be horrific. Plan ahead and be aware that parking will be almost

nonexistent.

If you are venturing out upon the harbor, please have a designated

skipper on board. The traffic on the water is as bad as on the streets,

so exercise extreme boating caution.

Happy holidays and have a great 2000.