Antiques of the Sea

This is a hard review for me.
I’m not an antique aficionado, much less a nautical antique zealot, so there wasn’t much for me to purchase. Yes, there are tons of interesting things to look at – expensive things (at least to me, a person who doesn’t collect these types of items). I feel that if you’re looking for a nautical piece to finish a room or want a cool conversation starter, this is the place to go. Or, maybe you’re a water/​boat/​pirate nut and want to surround yourself with a bunch of unique memorabilia. This would be the place for you!
I came in here with a friend who wanted to buy a gift for another friend. He found what he wanted, and the guy loved the present (he lives on a boat, so…). We also spent a good deal of time just walking around and taking in all the sights. It definitely an interesting stop on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

The owner was seemingly nice at first, a little pushy, but to be expected. He has a busines to run. After showing me a few things and asking about 2 items, he hot INSANELY rude and borderline racist towards my girlfriend. I came here looking for a gift for my father and found two candidates… Upon hearing him talk with customers (and negotiate a lower price to them) and the signs that said sale out front saying «SALE» in big letters, we asked if he would give us a deal on a flag with some knotts and signals on it, he seemed willing to take 5 $ off that, but then when we decided that wouldnt be a good fit but would get something of possible equal value (a flask) which we then asked if we could have a similiar deal to the flag with knott ties on it. All of a sudden he got angry. Telling my girlfriend that «this is not a swap meet» (which we believe he said because she is hispanic and talks with an accent) then he went on to tell us he «doesnt need or business» and «we can just leave» he was beyond rude. I dont know what we did to piss him off, or if he just had a slow day, but thats no excuse for him to act the way he did. I always wanted to come here, but will never go back. I left here feeling taken back by how nice he had seemef at first then the person he turned into at the end there.
I cant believe we had suh an experience still and its almost 12 hours later. Not often am i shocked by such serivce that i write a review, hell this is my second review ever on Unilocal… That is saying alot to how this guy made us feel.

My wife and I visited Antiques of the Sea on a totally spur of the moment detour south on PCH from a visit to the USS Iowa battleship in San Pedro. After driving through the only scary/​sketchy part of PCH (in Long Beach) in its 710 mile length from Dana Point to Leggett, CA north of San Fran, we stopped at über quintessential California beach town Sunset Beach to check it out.
We were greeted by «Captain» Eric Bakker, proprietor of said establishment. He looks the part, with a middle Euro accent and a white beard, he could be a salty seaman from the days of the tall ships, or Ernest Hemingway’s brother.
The place is loaded with old brass instruments, portholes, ship’s wheels, compasses, telescopes, ship models, even the wooden figurehead of an old sailing ship, if it’s nautical this place seems to have it. Pretty much any kind of marine artifact a sea-​obsessed landlubber could want to decorate their den.
Capt. Bakker was charming and good humored, so I bought a brass sign for the door of the head on my boat. It says «Poop Deck.» If you don’t get the humor, you are not a sailor.
Prices are not cheap, but since this is OC and the location is on PCH just blocks from the beach, I don’t think anyone can reasonably criticize that.
Enjoy a visit next time you’re in north Orange County and make your condo look like the captain’s cabin of the Cutty Sark!