TERRANCE PHILLIPS -- The Harbor Column

I enjoy writing about our harbor, the boats that sit upon it and the

people that sit upon them. From time to time, I strike a chord that not

everyone might agree with, and those readers have been kind enough to

drop me a short note.

It’s rare however, to receive a letter that is complimentary in nature,

but I guess it’s easier to write complaints than kudos. Some are valid,

some are not.

Every once in a while, I’ll receive three or four comments on a column,

and I’m grateful for the interest and response no matter which side of

the fence the reader is on. What was extremely rare, however, is when I

received 63 responses to my April 3 column, “What is happening to

Mariner’s Mile?” For those of you who have since utilized this paper as

fish wrap, let me remind you.

The column addressed the issue of Newport Beach’s disappearing maritime

influence, specifically along the area known as Mariner’s Mile. The

second-ever Charthouse Restaurant has been replaced with a Jiffy Lube,

not to mention the car washes, fast foods and fast car dealerships. It

made me wonder why it was named the Mariner’s Mile.

I recently observed another car dealership going into a location that

once housed Thunder Marine. On a good note, we now have the Miller’s

Landing boat brokerage that moved onto the corner lot at Pacific Coast

Highway and Dover Drive -- at least when you come over the bridge and

spot the Mariner’s Mile sign and then look up, you see objects that

float. However, once you pass that corner, it’s Ferraris and fast food

again.

There is nothing wrong with a Jiffy Lube, a double cheeseburger or a

handcrafted rocket made in Italy. It just seems inconsistent with and

chipping away with what many people (63 anyway) believe is our historical

pride. Can you imagine the Union Oyster House in Boston being torn down

and replaced with a Jiffy Lube? Paul Revere would never approve of such a

travesty.

Why, then, are we not protecting our little corner of historical

significance? Wouldn’t it be nice to see quaint nautical shops, yacht

dealers, marine theme eateries, yachting apparel shops, nautical antiques

(we do have the Vallejo Gallery) and other merchants that can bring back

the nautical charm of which we once boasted.

This area was once the boat-building capital of the world! Costa Mesa was

the home of Dittmar-Donaldson, Crystaliner, Columbia, Elliot and many

others. Recently Duffy Electric Boats moved its manufacturing plant to

the Victorville area.

Are we trading the traditions associated with our nautical heritage, for

a bunch of cars painted bright red?

* TERRANCE PHILLIPS is the Daily Pilot’s boating writer. You can leave a

message for him at (949) 642-6086 or via e-mail at

[email protected].