The country's first marinas were built in California, and in Newport Beach, south of Los Angeles, there are now 17 marinas, the greatest concentration in any U.S. harbor. The most elaborate is Villa Marina run by an oldtime radio announcer named Ken Niles. His marina has 50 separate cottages with landscaped patios, porches and, in some, kitchenettes, a fine restaurant with adjoining cocktail lounges and three private dining rooms. Anchorage costs $l per boat foot per month, which entitles boat to use game tables, volleyball court and swimming pool. Meals are extra and cottages cost from $6.50 to $22 a day. On Saturday nights the restaurant puts out a lavish buffet dinner followed by dancing.
Most slips are rented permanently and some boats have stayed for as long as 10 years. There is always room, however, for at least 15 transient boats. Ninety percent of the boat owners have families and the marina is always full of children. Women work side by side with their hus. bands on their boats, and boat varnishing is now done almost exclusively by women. Niles says they do a more painstaking and better job than men.
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