Our Story
Minney’s Yacht Surplus is a Southern California institution 
where boaters can buy, sell and trade boating equipment.  
It is owned and operated by Ernie Minney of Newport Beach. 
Ernie was raised aboard his father’s 65’ schooner Kelpie and 
after graduating from Cal Maritime Academy in 1959, Ernie sailed 
aboard Kelpie with his dad and brothers on a years cruise to 
Tahiti and back.

Shortly after returning from Tahiti, Ernie and his dad George started 
Minney’s Yacht Surplus which quickly became the #1 source of good 
used boat gear and sails in Southern California. In 1977 Ernie 
skippered his lovely 68’ schooner Shearwater on a family cruise
 that ended up being a 40,000 mile circumnavigation.  

Ernie is an experienced ocean racer and has served as watch 
captain on many of largest ocean racers on the West Coast.
Ernie’s surplus warehouse usually has over 1000 good used 
sails in stock.  Ernie personally measures and appraises every 
sail that leaves his store.  He’s a tough buyer and an easy seller.  
To this date he has held the line and his highest priced sail has
 never been more that $1500.00.  Can you imagine the surprise 
when the owners of a large ocean racer in Australia unpacked a 
brand new North $35,000.00 Kevlar-Carbon fiber mainsail from 
Roy Disney’s monster race boat Pyewacket that they paid $1495.00 for!!!!

All sails that are purchased from Minney’s may be returned for any 
reason for a full refund (less shipping) if for any reason you are unhappy
with them.  The only exception is our "fair and poor condition" sails.  
These are sails that have merit but might have bad stains, worn leeches, 
sun cooked leeches and roller furling covers etc. etc.  These sails are 
usually in the $50.00 to $200.00 price range and it is possible to spend 
more on shipping than the cost of the sail.

A sailing club in South America purchased 40 of these sails, a hotel 
with tree house bungalows in Costa Rica purchased 25 of these sails, 
recently clothing manufactures have been buying these sails.  If you 
purchase one of these sails and sincerely feel the value wasn’t there, 
please let Ernie know and he’ll probably send you a full refund and tell 
you to keep the sail!  Please know that all sails are measured a 2nd
time before they are shipped to you and photos can be supplied if you 
ask for them.  

The crew at Minney’s motto is "WE KEEP BOATING AFFORDABLE" and from 
the positive input we receive from our customers in all parts of the world, 
we think we are doing a pretty good job. 

If you have sails to sell, send us a list and we’ll send you an offer.    
Have a great day!!!  Ernie Minney