Yachts of Yesteryear

The motor yacht Idle Hour was homeported at Balboa from 1935 to 1960. She was moored off Abalone Avenue, South Bay Front, Little Island, in the

Balboa Yacht Club anchorage. Owned by Harold W. Mason of Balboa Yacht

Club, she was frequently used as a Race Committee Boat. Idle Hour was

sold to Jesse Curtis of Balboa Yacht Club and Newport Harbor Yacht Club

in 1951.

Curtis would later recall, “During my ownership she was a frequent

visitor to Catalina and all of the Channel Islands. I sold her with

regrets about 1960. Unfortunately the new owner did not understand the

degree of care wooden boats require and I last saw her on a mooring in

Catalina with sunlight appearing between her planks only slightly above

the waterline. I fear she lies in a watery grave.”