thelog.com Dock Lines With Capt. Nicole


Sea Chest gives new life to surplus marine gear Story and photos by


Capt. Nicole Sours Larson Recently Arv, my husband, decid-


ed to part with an old anchor plus a pair of pristine screws leftover from a long-sold boat. He recalled consign- ing several marine HF radios years ago at Sea Chest and discovered it’s still in business on Scott Street in Point Loma, still owned by founder Steve von Der Ahe, who reconditions and warranties everything he sells. Sea Chest is among the last of once-com- mon surplus marine gear shops in Southern California, offering up a trove of mostly used but still useful equipment housed in a funky but fascinating Tiki-style nautical emporium near Shelter Island. Its sign proclaiming


“new - used marine gear” only hints at its treasures. Whether you’re looking for an anchor, life rings, fish- ing gear, block and tackle, electrical cords, electronics, generators, antique clocks and barometers or other equipment, you’re like- ly to find it here, possi- bly even new. If von Der Ahe doesn’t have it, he probably knows who does. He also specializes in rebuilding


The Log • Mar. 25 - Apr. 7, 2016 • 17


ISLAND YACHT ANCHORAGE 25'-55' SLIPS AVAILABLE NOW!


pied his life. While he has a robust walk-in


clientele, much of his business now is online and often international. Just last month, he said, he shipped two transmissions to Kenya and regularly sends rebuilt pumps and other equipment to vessels based in Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and around the world.


He started his web- site about 20 years ago, following his father’s death, as an inventory tool. Overseas customers found it easier to order via email than telephone. Now much of his merchandise is listed online, though he encourages cus- tomers to email or call him if they don’t see what they seek listed. He’s also happy to share his years of experience in boats and boating equip- ment to guide cus- tomers toward appro- priate replacement parts if what they need is no longer available. “It amazes me how much knowledge I’ve acquired incidental-


Steve von Der Ahe founded Sea Chest with his late father 40 years ago to give them something to do while they waited for their sailboat to sell. Sea Chest, founded originally on Harbor Island in 1976, offers a wide array of used and new marine gear.


ly,” he said, reflecting on his 35 years as a captain, including expertise captaining others’ boats and delivering yachts. For


raw water pumps, transmissions, windlasses and other marine-related equipment with rapid turnaround service, whether you’re local or any- where in the world shipping compa- nies reach. Von Der Ahe and his father, both


architects who had worked the build- ing boom in Las Vegas and around California, came to San Diego to sell their sailboat while planning to move on to Costa Rica. Von Der Ahe had just bailed from the restaurant and nightclub business and was ready to change course. “Dad and I opened this place because we liked to gunkhole and we needed something to do,” while wait- ing for the boat to sell, he explained. Forty years later von Der Ahe, now 75, seems surprised that he’s still in the accidental business that’s occu-


many years he was a liveaboard, rais- ing his family on board with his wife of 54 years before moving ashore. Previously he consigned equip- ment, but von Der Ahe prefers now to purchase saleable gear outright, since he generally knows what will sell. Most of his merchandise turns over within 120 days, he explained, though he sometimes gets stuck with “white elephants.” “But it’s only a white elephant until someone needs it,” he added. One of his joys is the interesting people he meets. On one occasion, he recalled, he was able to reunite a local captain with a well-crafted statometer his father had built that somehow had wound up in a yard sale. Von Der Ahe was delighted to restore it to the son. Check out Sea Chest 1320 Scott


Street, online at seachestmarine.com or call 619-225-1339.


slips@islandyachtmarina.com www.islandyachtanchorage.com


WE PAY CASH FOR BOAT GEAR!!! LOFRANS TIGRESS


12V 1500 pull windlass for either 3/8 or 5/16 HT chain. New price $3,500++ Minney’s price $2,295 with two foot switches and Controller. I have this one on my D.E. 38 and love it!


DSC09868 1500 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-548-4192 • Fax 949-548-1075 • minneys@aol.com


Comments From page 6


seen firsthand a great deal of our local boaters attempting to fill the tanks on their boats, both small and large with smaller fuel cans that are not legally allowed to be used on our water ways. The reasons our obvious, hazardous mate- rial spills. The problem on their side, many of them had smaller vessels and didn’t feel safe moving to another harbor in order to fill the tank. Another issue is economic in nature,


how many people are willing to pay the high dollar that our homes on the water can bring, when they are unsure of where to fill up their fuel tanks. I have to imagine that this has significantly hurt our proper- ty owner’s value during this unknown time. We also had a lack of income into the harbor due to lower boat launches within the area as many residences went else- where where there were full accommoda- tions. This created a ripple effect on local business up and down Sunset Beach, not to mention the lost tax revenue our city will never regain. One needs only imagine living in a


small town quite a distance from the next, and how you would feel if the only gas station were to suddenly close. The fact is both in the boating community as well as on land, we get use to what we have, our mobility, the convenience and comfort level, and to suddenly lose that can be quite unsettling. The fact that there didn’t seem to be much we could do about it


was overwhelming to say the least. On a more positive note, is that for all


intent purposes it appears as if the city has negotiated a lease with Maxum Petroleum Co. to reopen our fuel dock. The response has been tremendous with several groups getting together to cele- brate the constant calls, meetings and events that were involved in the attempts to reopen our facility. I can’t begin to tell you all those involved working side by side with our city to find a way to get this important project done, but I can honestly say Huntington Harbour as well as the city of Huntington Beach is in their debt. Huntington Habour Yacht Club will be sponsoring a special Fuel Dock Celebration Party on May 15th. This will give you a chance to meet our local city council, the Sheriff’s Department, and local Fire Representatives and the $10 per person fee is tax deductible and goes to support the Huntington Beach Sailing Foundation. Local clubs are invited for price of $35 per table. This event is open to the public, but you must RSVP to com- modore@HHYC.org as space is limited.


John M Schmidt Submitted to TheLog.com


Comments have been edited for clarity and brevity.


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