Going out around the bell buoy

John Blaich

The original bell buoy placed off the entrance to Newport Harbor

in 1918 was just a bell buoy. It consisted of four large hinged

clappers that struck the outside of a large stationary brass bell as

the buoy rocked “to and fro” due to the wave action.

The buoy was painted a dull black. It retained this color until

the late 1960s when it was painted a dark green. The present color

scheme, red and white vertical stripes, was adopted about 1990. The

radar deflection equipment and the flashing white light were

installed about 1950.

The No. 1 marking on the buoy indicates that this is the first

navigation marker as you enter the harbor. The number on the channel

markers increase as you enter the harbor, the odd number to port and

the even number to starboard.

The California Sea Lions, commonly called seals, sunning

themselves on board the buoy have become a problem. They pile up on

top of each other near the bell clappers. This prevents the four bell

clappers from swinging [as the buoy rocks] to hit the bell. Thus, we

do not hear the bell ring very often. In the old days, enjoying the

ringing of the bell buoy was part of the local nautical lore.

The seals used to live on the rocks of the West Jetty. However, in

recent times, they have taken up residence on the bell buoy. Usually,

there is a big fat bull seal on the buoy with his hare. Sometimes,

there are one or two seals in the water trying to get on board -- but

there is no room. This results in considerable discussion [barking]

between those that have and those that have not.

On a foggy morning in the fall of 1937, I was awakened by a second

bell ringing in the vicinity of the bell buoy. In those days, there

were not very many homes on the tip of the Balboa Peninsula. On a

crisp fall morning, sound traveled. My parents could not believe that

the second bell was aboard the M.S. Stranger, anchored near the bell

buoy waiting for the fog to clear so that she could enter the harbor.

Well, I had just returned from a six-month cruise in the yacht. I

knew the tone of my ship’s bell.

My family had a summer cottage on the ocean front on the Balboa

Peninsula about halfway between the pier and the jetty. About 1928

(when I was 5 years old), it was a big event to walk to Balboa on the

wooden boardwalk. We would then walk down Main Street to the Pavilion

to board either the F.W. Beckworth or the Balboa (excursion boats)

for a trip down the bay out the channel to round the bell buoy.

Floyd Gage, the professional captain who operated the excursion

boats at the Pavilion, got to know me and my family. Often, he would

let me stand in front of him and steer the boat. Thus, I learned to

steer a boat when I was 5 years old.

It is interesting to note that the excursion boats have been going

around the bell buoy for more than 78 years.

The bell buoy, with the seals on board, has become a destination

point. “Let’s go out around the bell buoy.”

Yes, after owning a boat for 75 years and sailing in and out of

Newport Harbor for a very long time, I still enjoy sailing out and

around the bell buoy.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: John Blaich is a Corona del Mar resident and

volunteer at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. About once a month,

he writes histories of interesting boats that graced Newport Harbor.