BEST WISHES FOR THE HOLIDAYS.....

Best wishes for the holiday season.  I'm just back from a week ski trip in Colorado.  I took the videos around my little 2 acre place in Carbondale, Colorado.  It's a fabulous place only 30 minutes from the Aspen airport and is presently listed for sale.  See Ernie Minney videos on U-tube and check out "Honker Haven" if you have any interest.  Thanks to all you great customers, we had the best year in the history of our little store... Best wishes again-Ernie-Dave-Chuck-Randall and the rest of the crew at Minneys..........

Quality ship's clocks and barometers in time for Christmas...

We still have about 15 sets of these handsome solid brass ship's clocks and barometers available for Christmas.  If you only want the clock or the barometer we will break up the set but your discounted price will only be 15% off the regular RETAIL PRICE as posted. Solid brass cases with Quartz movement in the battery operated clock...

WE KEEP BOATING AFFORDABLE !!

I watched the interview of the owner and founder of Amazon.com last night on "60 MINUTES."  One thing that impressed me was when the founder of Amazon stated that his board of directors and others keep advising him to raise his prices.  He stated that his millions of customers TRUST him to have the lowest prices in the country even though his profit margin is in the basement on many of the items he sells. Modest prices have always been our mantra and I love it when customers tell me, "Ernie, if it wasn't for your store, I wouldn't be able to afford a boat!"

The Official Minney's Yacht Surplus Blog: Smoking Deal !! Clock and barometer for the price...

The Official Minney's Yacht Surplus Blog: Smoking Deal !! Clock and barometer for the price...: Battery operated ship's clock and matching barometer.  Coming in from China of course.  We've been dealing with the same compan...

LET THE SKI SEASON BEGIN !!!

Lots of boaters and sailers ski.  My video clips from March 2012.  Music with permission from Apple Computer Co...  HAPPY THANKSGIVING.....ERNIE and the crew at Minneys...

LET THE SKI SEASON BEGIN..

Ken Gardiner's final voyage..

Eight Bells for Ken Gardiner

We said goodbye on November 18th to Master ship model builder, Ken Gardiner.  He was a member of NHYC and considered one of the top model builders in the U.S.  One of his collectors was Dennis Connors.  For Dennis, Ken did an entire America's Cup collection.  Ken worked out of the back of Skip Elliott's sail loft in Costa Mesa for the past 25 years or more.  Ken's gone but his coveted sailing yacht models will live on......

CABO YACHT AQUA MET 19 & 22 S.S. SHAFTS & CHATFIELD ENGINEERING, SHAFT LOGS, Priced right !!!

We still have quite a few items from the big Cabo Yacht auction held almost 2 years ago.  Cabo yacht C.E.O.  Mike Howarth was recently cruising about the store.  He mentioned that most of the shaft logs we have are the current types made by Chatfield Engineering of New Zealand.  We also have probably a ton of more of Aquamet #19 and Aqua #22 stainless steel shafts for Cabo Yachts.  We've reduced the shaft price to $500.00 per shaft (we estimate the value at $2000.00 Plus per shaft) shaft logs are priced form $149.00 to about $295.00 depending on the shaft size.  We also have couplings, prop nuts, bronze key stock etc. that are all part of this same lot.  All items are new and have never been installed.

Puerto Salina Marina, Baja, Mexico

Stopped by Puerto Salina yesterday and checked it out.  It's about midway between San Diego and Ensenada.  It has the makings of a really great marina but at the moment it has a very big "PROBLEMA!"  The entrance has shoaled up and boats cannot enter or leave.  Possibly on a very high tide and calm sea conditions a boat of about a six foot draft could come and go.  Problem is is that if you left and the wind came up and breakers started breaking on the shoal water you would be stuck outside.  If ever a marina felt like a "ghost town", this was it.  However it was a dreary week day afternoon and not much was going on.  Man on deck of the pretty schooner is Jean Bonhoure a famous chef from Maxim's of Paris.  He's landlocked and says dredging of the channel is supposed to start in the next few months.  If ever a schooner wanted to serve as an icebreaker, his lovely yacht would fit the bill. You can see flags on poles where the real shallow water is but one must assume it is EVERYWHERE.  The White's Cove harbormaster (Catalina Island) stayed the whole winter at Pureto Salina 2 years ago and totally enjoyed it.  A totally laid back, off the beaten track kinda place with lots of nice people.  Hopefully they'll get it dredged and make it a safe harbor.  It would be great to have a place to run to on the boring run from Pt. Loma to Ensenada........ Buenas dias.... Ernesto  P.S.  Jean has that ketch with the for sale sign on it SERIOUSLY for sale.  Kinda looks like a CT-42 but a little bigger.  Asking price 40K but when a guy owns two boats and they are in a harbor you can't get out of, Jean might just be open to an offer???  Number on the card he gave me 613-105-2307 or 954-592-1261

PSA IS NOT AN AIRLINE ??

Graduation day!!!  I just completed 42 treatments at Hoag Hospital in their giant Micro Wave machine called TOMO.  I've had perfect health for 75 years and absolutely no SYMPTOMS of any type?  An elevated PSA test suggested I see a urologist.  A slight lump on my prostrate suggested a biopsy and the results were cancer of the prostrate.  We caught the problem early with the cancer still confined to the prostrate and the odds of the Radiation Therapy being successful are in the low 90%.  I am sharing this with you because over 60% of the male population over 70 years of age will get prostrate cancer.  It is IMPERATIVE that you keep watching that PSA number.  If a family member has it your odds are 50% greater that you will also get it.  If just one BLOG buddy out there (were approaching 130,000 hits so I know some of you can relate to what I am talking about) takes notice of this little message and catches his problem EARLY, I feel I've done done something good for our boating brotherhood.  P.S. The Bible of prostrate cancer seems to be-"Guide To Surviving Prostrate Cancer" by Dr. Patrick Walsh & Janet Farrar Worthington.  It's a real shock when you find out you have prostrate cancer, the GOOD NEWS IS THAT only about 3% of the male population find it fatal.  Have a great week.  I'm going to !!!  Ernie Minney...

Smoking Deal !! Clock and barometer for the price of the barometer...

Battery operated ship's clock and matching barometer.  Coming in from China of course.  We've been dealing with the same company for over 20 years.  We were given special pricing on a large lot and are passing just about all of the savings on to you.                                                                                       .   The clocks do not ring bells and the barometers need to be
adjusted to the pressure in your area.  Price is as posted plus shipping and handling.  Have a great weekend.  Ernie P.S.  Talked to the purchasing agent at Duffy Electric Boats today.  Told him about
my Duffy "spoof" video of my kid's boat.  He's going to check it out?

Josh's Duffy..

ALL IS NOT LOST WHEN YOU SHOP AT MINNEYS...

Saw "All Is Lost" yesterday.  If you are going cruising, don't let your wife see it.  Robert Redford gave the boating community a fantastic gift.  That movie will become mandatory viewing for all sailing schools, U.S. Power Squadron classes, etc. etc. for the next fifty years.  An EPIRB or a SAT phone sure could have helped him.  Keeping his boat under sail and heeled over while a fiberglass patch on his hull about 2 feet by 2 feet cured in the sun was a good trick.  Using his sextant will all the shades down and then marking an "X" on the chart was some pretty cool navigation!  BUT, all it all, the movie really gives you something to think about.  A few smoke flares when a ship passed him close by
during the day might have gotten a watch standers attention?  For realism it's great.  Filmed in a big Hollywood tank aboard a real boat that looked kinda like an older Catalina 36 or a Cal-40 with an altered stern.  Have a great week.  Ernie Minney--Circumnavigator - 68' schooner "Shearwater" 1977-1980...

Hard Landings

Thanks to Tyler, I can now share this video...

SHORELINE YACHT CLUB. A great destination...

Wanna have a great weekend?  Spend it at the Shore Line marina down town Long Beach.  A "HOT" tip is to contact the Shoreline Yacht Club and reserve their 60 foot guest dock.  Club manager Sharon Terrones took us under her wing and pretty much rolled out the "red carpet" for us.  Club commodore, Ray Wilson checked up on us occasionally to make sure we were well looked after. They have a great bar with several TV's.  Watched S.C. go down the tubes and the next night the Broncos did the same. If you are going to dine therea, I highly recommend the prime rib.  We'll be back for sure!!!  Sharon's phone number is 562-435-4093.

Div Bar welcomes Baja Ha-Ha cruisers !!!

Once again Newport's most popular restaurant with the biggest guest dock welcomes the Baja Haha voyagers and cruisers.  You are welcome between 0800 and 1200 weekdays and 0800 to 1000 on weekends to wash down your boats, top off your water tanks and walk up to Minney's store.  If you
want a great brunch on weekends or lunch during the week you are welcome to stay at the guest dock
if you are dining in the restaurant.  Just head up (NW) Newport Bay towards the big hospital on the hill and when you are about 500 yards from the end of the bay, watch to starboard and you'll see the Div Bar.
Absolute NO overnight docking.  Have a great day...

A two minute tour of the Wrigley Mansion on Catalina island...

Have  you ever wondered what the Wrigley Mansion, high on Mt. Ada above the lovely town of Avalon looked like inside?

Authentic nautical decor available for rent...

This little display is for Lara, the manager of the Vineyard Vines clothing store at Fashion Island in Newport beach.  I've been collecting nautical artifacts for forty five years and have offered her two months free use of my decor for her window displays in return for a small sign in the window of their fabulous store mentioning that these items are available from Minneys.  Also Lara, we have been U.S. Government chart agents for over 40 years.  As you enter your store you have a FANTASTIC reproduction of our Newport Harbor chart. It's our most popular chart and we purchase them100 at a time.  If you would like to stock this chart and have it available for your customers, we can make it easy for you.  Have a great day.  Ernie Minney