Let the pictures do the TALKING!!!

Walked around the store this morning with my little camera.  Those Lewmar hatches are brand new and may be a bit shelf worn.  They are tapered with the back of the hatch being wider than the front.  Water maker is a no return item, probably best for parts if you have the same model.  Our. S.S. stanchions are a great value.  U.S. made by Railmakers about a mile from our store.  They come in 24" and 30" in height with 6 degree or flat (90 degree) bases.  While in Avalon last week, Cindy the author of "DOCK DORKS" dropped by our little Down East 38 for a nice chat.  She's been a live aboard in south San Francisco bay for the past several years.  Last winter she and her dog left the Golden Gate astern in her trusty little sloop and has now settled in Avalon.  She's got a great personality and is a real "self starter". She already has her own talk radio show broadcasting out of Avalon, gives ballroom dancing lessons one night a week at a little pub near the golf course, is a graphic artist that will make you some great boat cards to give to friends and other cruisers and sews and maintains her little sailing yacht "Bonita" of Brattleborro, VT.  When in Avalon, give her a shout and an order for some of her cool boat cards.  Have a nice weekend.  Ernie and the crew at Minneys......P.S.  Cindy is single.

3DL-CARBON FIBER-MYLAR-KEVLAR SAILS SALE!!!!!

PLASTIC SAIL SALE!!!  We're getting buried in high tech racing sails.  Take another 33% off any Mylar-Kevlar-3DL-Carbon Fiber etc. sail in our huge inventory until July 15, 2013.  That will make that $10,000.00 Santa Cruz 70 mainsail listed above a little less than $700.00!!!  Check out our inventory and then place your order.  Dave O'Hara, our day manager is doing a great job keeping our sail website up to date.  Another member of the Minney's crew that is doing an outstanding job of sail measurement and filling your orders is Chuck Ullman.  Dave's son!  P.S.  We get a lot of high tech sails that are pretty much used up.  Is there anyone out there that has a need or an idea as to how to recycle the Kevlar and Carbon fiber in these sails??? NOTE: The 33% discount applies ONLY to the high tech plastic sails.....Also....We still have a couple dozen of Lewmar ST winches available at prices listed on earlier posts.  Free shipping and one Minney's Tee shirt or hat until July 15th 2013......

MINNEY WORKS FOR HOLLYWOOD!!!

This is a little video I made while working with Hollywood on a T.V. commercial for British Airways.  The pay was great, the work challenging and the commercial came out so good that it ran all over the world for almost 3 years.  If you have a nice boat and want to make her pay her own bills, list it as available for work in the film industry.  Bored at night, can't go back to sleep?  Search U-Tube for Ernie Minney videos for some fun stuff.  My "blooper" video seems to get the most hits.  Have a great week.  Our parking lot sale was a HUGE SUCCESS !!!!!  Actors in video are unknown, my crew aboard the 55' schooner "Samarang" was Jim Harris and Marty Capune.....

BLOGGER'S SPECIAL 15% DISCOUNT ON SAILS !!!

For all you that are going to miss my once a year parking lot sale and once a year sale in the store I'm going to offer a special deal to all my faithful BLOGGERS! Beginning at midnight tonight and for the next forty eight hours (California time) I will give you an additional 15% off any sail in my inventory. The season is upon us and our inventory is pretty much up to date.  This is like getting free shipping and then some?  You may return the sail for any reason if you are not satisfied.  You pay the shipping.  If for some reason we made a mistake on the measurements ( we re-measure each sail BEFORE we ship it) or you feel we in some way misrepresented the sail, let us know (be nice) and we'll pay the return shipping. Only about 5% of our sails get returned so you can see that we are doing a pretty good job.  Have a great summer.  Ernie and the crew at Minneys......

OUR MARINE PARKING LOT SALE IS SUNDAY, JUNE 2ND.....

REMEMBER:  OUR BIG MARINE GEAR PARKING LOT SALE IS THIS COMING SUNDAY, JUNE 2ND FROM DAYLIGHT TILL NOON.  MUSIC IS MINNEY THE MERMAID CIRCA 1929 THAT I AM PLAYING ON MY LITTLE MARTIN UKE AND SINGING.

Buy direct from 100 boat owners !!!

Videos of last years marine parking lot sale.  Remember, this year it's Sunday June 2nd and not Sunday June 3rd as posted on the front of our building LAST YEAR.  Daybreak till noon.  This is the best boat gear swap meet in California.  Buy direct from 100 boaters.  If you can't make a deal by buying direct from the boat owners (and some of them are totally IN LOVE with their gear and want high prices) come on into to the store where almost everything is discounted another 15%.  The Lewmar sheet winches and the Lofrans windlasses ARE NOT discounted any more.  Coffee's on at 0400, see you there.  Ernie and the crew at Minneys..........

Minney's Once A Year Boat Gear Sale !!!

Don't forget our once a year parking lot sale.  Buy direct from 100 boat owners all the items you see in last years video.  It's this coming Sunday, June 2nd.  The coffee's on at 0400 and that's when the fun begins.  There's still a few selling spaces available at $30.00 per space for boaters and $60.00 per space for commercial.  Bring CA$H and a flash light.  And sellers please remember to unload your gear and then park your car in the residential area a half block behind the store on Orange Ave. or 15th St.  Save the prime spots for the buyers.  My musica is Brisilla by Vagabundos del Mar of Santos, Brazil...

SCHOONER OR LATER YOU'LL PURCHASE SELF-TAILERS?

I checked the warehouse today and find that we can still supply you with either the Lewmar 30's or 40's   through the end of May.  Do your homework and you'll find our prices beat everyone.  $495.00 each for the 30's and $695.00 each for the 40's.  We'll continue with the FREE SHIPPING and will even include a free Minney's "SCHOONER OR LATER WE'LL GET OUR SHIP TOGETHER" Tee shirt with each pair of winches you purchase.  Check the Lewmar web site for more information and specs on these chrome plated, bronze alloy 2 speed sheet winches.  Matching lock-in handles available at about $69.00 each.....Please specify Tee shirt size and color which is Red or Navy Blue...

All work and no play. NOT!!!

Long point to the Newport breakwater in less than 4 hours.  That included sailing 90 degrees off course  for 20 minutes so a ship could pass ahead of us. Anita is a Down East 38 sloop that was pretty much a "rescue boat" when I purchased her.  After many years of sailing large heavy wooden boats, her lively motion takes some getting used to.  She's a great 2 person boat, has tons of storage space, sails well has a pleasing appearance (except for her big butt) and is a very modest investment.  About 70 of the 38 footers were built, most of them were sloops.  Fair winds and following seas. Helms lady is Marty Earlabraugh. Music is an Italian sailor's ballad played on my accordion...

LET'S GO FISHING, TYLER.....

My son Tyler checks out the store BLOG every now and then?  This short video is the BAIT I am using to try and lure him back from Boston to go yellowtail fishing in the waters off Bahia de Los Angels in the Sea of Cortez. The yellowtail start showing up about the end of May and are plentiful through the summer months.  You can tow your own boat down to L.A. Bay or rent one of the big Pangas with a skipper.  Google Sammy Diaz Sport Fishing for more information.  Most of us keep the beauty and charm of Bahia a secret because it still pretty un-spoiled.  The roads are narrow but good, great hotels and restaurants in route, lots of Pmex stations for fuel.  If you want a great adventure, consider Baja and especially Bahia de Los Angeles.

Orange Coast College Sailing Center Small Boat Auction. Held this year on April 27th

Back from Catalina Island and finally was able to put the Orange Coast College Sailing Center small boat boat auction on the BLOG.  This is a fun event.  It helps support the #1 Sailing Center in the U.S. and it makes small boats and marine gear available to skippers at very affordable prices.  If you have a boat or boat gear you would like donate.  Please give Brad Avery a call.  Names of folks you might know that have donated large yachts to the sailing center are, Dr. Laura, Jim Kilroy and Roy Disney.  It's a great organization that has turned out thousands of new sailors over the past 30 years.  I shipped my own son out on the Sailing Center's "Alaska Eagle" for a voyage around Cape Horn to South Georgia island and then on to Argentina several years ago. I don't let my kids go sailing with just anyone? Have a great week.

I've been noticing that a lot of boat projects are larger than the skipper's life-span. Perhaps you should re-think your next big boat project???

Winches are brand new (been sitting awhile?) Barlow 24 two speed polished brass at a price of $695.00 a pair with handles.  Generator is a Yanmar diesel driving a Balmar alternator.  Strictly 12 volt, high charge capacity.  Diesel heater is a Dickinson Newport, just googled it and see I'm probably selling it too cheap.  Same goes for the Dickinson heater with  SS pipe and cap. Have a nice weekend.

ERNIE SCREWS UP. CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO REMOVE A UN-WANTED BLOG???

I SCREWED UP AND PUT THE ENSENADA START VIDEO IN PLACE OF THE SAILING CENTER AUCTION.  I'M OFF TO CATALINA.  I'LL FIX THINGS IN A FEW DAYS.  ERNIET

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE SAILING CENTER BOAT AUCTION...

LOTS OF GREAT BUYS AND TONS OF FUN.  THE SAILING CENTER IS A REAL JEWEL IN OUR HARBOR.  PLEASE CONSIDER THEM IF YOU ARE THINKING OF DONATING YOUR BOAT OR MARINE GEAR AND EQUIPMENT.  THAT IS, AFTER YOU LET ME MAKE YOU A CA$H OFFER ON YOUR BOAT GEAR, SAILS AND BOATING ITEMS FIRST!!!