Scouts break ground on Sea Base

Paul Clinton

MARINER’S MILE -- What a long, strange trip it has been for the

new Scout Sea Base, which passed a significant milestone Friday when

scout leaders broke ground on the much-anticipated project.

The $5.2-million base, which is expected to be completed for

summer scouting activities, is nearly five years in the making.

Construction begins about four months after a long-awaited approval

from the California Coastal Commission.

With the project, local scouts are looking at broadly revamping

their cramped existing base, which was built in the 1930s. New

classrooms, a rowing center and a new dock to accommodate the

historic Lynx privateer are expected to double the number of people

who can use the base and attract a larger number of scouts and

visitors from all along the West Coast.

“It has been a long time coming and we’re thrilled for what it

will do for the children, today and in the future,” said Kent Gibbs,

the Orange County council’s Scout executive. “The facility will draw

people from all over the Western U.S.”

Scout leaders, donors and other community members toasted the

start of construction at a 6:30 p.m. Friday cocktail party.

The new base will be double the size of the existing building,

increasing space from 9,942 square feet to 22,060 square feet, and

allow twice as many scouts to use its amenities. The base could serve

as many as 60,000 people a year by 2010, scout leaders say.

Built in 1937, the existing base was last remodeled in 1980.

Design-wise, the new base will have an L-shape footprint. It’s at

1931 W. Coast Highway in Mariner’s Mile.

Scout leaders hired Irvine builder Snyder-Langston, which has been

working next door on the Balboa Bay Club expansion. Company president

Steve Jones said they are donating much of their work to the scouts.

“It’s much more important to be emotionally involved in such a

fine project,” Jones said. “When we see opportunities to get involved

and make a difference, we do it.”

Scouts also plan to expand the base’s offerings. Sailing skills

classes will be available to anyone in the community, not just to

scouts and school children. During the summer and on weekends,

merit-badge classes and other scouting-related activities will

probably dominate the base, but children will be invited down on

weekdays to learn about the War of 1812.

The base will also serve as a home for the Lynx, a replica of a

sailing vessel used by the privateers during the War of 1812 to wage

a guerrilla sea war against the British.

The topsail schooner was commissioned by Newport Beach resident

Woodson K. Woods.

The base has had its share of controversy. Coastal commission

staff analyst Fernie Sy has said that the size of the base would cut

off views of Newport Harbor. However, the commission, on a 7-1 vote,

approved the base in June.

Scout leaders have raised about $4 million of the funding for the

base. Friday’s event was also an opportunity for more fund-raising.