* WHAT’S AFLOAT is published periodically....

* WHAT’S AFLOAT is published periodically. If you are planning a

nautical event, submit the information to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay

St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by e-mail to

dailypilot@latimes.com.

BOAT RENTALS

A motorized lounge chair may be rented at Resort Water Sports at

Newport Dunes for $25 per hour. Pedal boats, electric boats, boogie

boards, kayaks, inflatable rafts, beach furniture and wetsuits also

are available. (949) 729-1150.

Party pontoons, chaparral runabouts and family pontoons may be

rented at Marina WaterSports Bay Rentals in the Balboa Fun Zone.

(949) 673-3372.

Gondola tours are offered by the Gondola Co. of Newport, 3400 Via

Oporto, Suite 102-B. The $75 cost includes a basket of bread, cheese,

salami, ice, glasses, a blanket, music and a Polaroid picture. Wine

also is available. (949) 675-1212.

Gondola Adventures/Newport, 3101 W. Coast Highway, offers one- and

two-hour gondola cruises. A one-hour tour with champagne is $70. A

two-hour tour with dinner and champagne is $180. Pickup is available

at waterfront restaurants. (949) 675-4984.

Gondola Romance offers daily tours of Newport Harbor during lunch

and dinner. Call (949) 675-4730. The tours go out of Lido Marina

Village, 3400 Via Oporto, Newport Beach.

CRUISES

The Newport Landing Belle is available for weddings and

receptions, cocktail and sightseeing cruises, and meetings at $250

per hour (minimum two hours) and $150 for each additional hour. (949)

361-3640.

Fun Zone Boat Co. runs a 45-minute cruise (adults, $6; children,

$1) and 90-minute cruise (adults, $8; children, $1), departing from

Balboa Fun Zone every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. A

60-minute showboat sunset cruise (adults, $6; children, $1) leaves

the Fun Zone at 7 p.m. daily. Private charters are available. (949)

673-0240.

Catalina Passenger Service runs 45-minute harbor cruises (adults,

$6; children, $1) and 90-minute cruises (adults, $8; children, $1),

departing from Balboa Fun Zone every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 4:30

p.m. daily and on the hour until 7 p.m. (949) 673-5245.

Cruise the harbor aboard the Electra, a 100-foot Classic Fantail

vessel. Charters with catering are available for up to 145

passengers. (949) 723-1069.

The Catalina Flyer departs from Balboa Pavilion at 9 a.m. daily

and returns from Catalina Island at 4:30 p.m. $36 round-trip for

adults; $20 round-trip for children. Reservations are recommended.

(949) 673-5245.