Wheeling, dealing and cruisin’

Paul Clinton

Whether you’re looking for a replacement propeller, salt-water

pump or variety of sail, Ernie Minney probably has it at his Newport

Beach shop.

Minney’s Yacht Surplus, which has occupied a storefront on the

city’s commercial landscape since the early 1970s, has become a hub

for boaters who need a used boat part for their yacht, schooner or

sailboat.

“We just want to be the best boat junk store on the West Coast,”

Minney said Friday as he wrapped up business for the week.

The 63-year-old Minney has lived in the city since 1949, when his

family moved from Long Beach. He is a graduate of Newport Harbor High

School.

In the early 1970s, Minney, looking for a niche, opened a shop

along Coast Highway. He rebuilt the shop in the mid-’70s, after a

fire destroyed it.

Since the early 1990s, Minney has sold quirky and much-needed boat

parts to boaters who come from all over the Southland.

“Who’s who in the yachting world comes in here,” Minney said. “You

never know who will walk in here.”

In his “rental area,” Minney has a range of salty boating props --

including wheels, antique diving helmets and faux turtles -- that he

loans out for theme parties, Hollywood nautical movies and other

events.

About four years ago, he decorated a Playboy shoot with two

gorgeous centerfolds.

Minney’s shop is on Old Newport Boulevard in a building that was a

former furniture store and also the San Antonio Winery.

As a nod to the place, Minney converted the winery’s kitchen into

what he calls “the engine room,” which houses the collection of

propellers

The restaurant’s freezer has also been converted; you’ll find a

range of used engine parts.

Right now, about half of Minney’s business, he said, comes from

selling various sails for boats ranging in length from 8 feet to 100

feet.

Bargaining is the order of the day at Minney’s shop. During a day,

he’ll cut dozens of deals on parts he can easily resell for a profit.

“We just buy and sell and wheel and deal,” Minney said.

Minney also hands out “Minney Money,” which doubles as store

credit for other parts.

And, of course, Minney is an avid boater. He likes to cruise to

Catalina Island in his 55-foot schooner Samarang, which was built in

Newport Beach in 1934.