Sea Magazine Purchased by McIntosh Firm

Duncan McIntosh Co. of Costa Mesa, which publishes Waterfront magazine for boating enthusiasts in Southern California, has purchased Sea magazine from Petersen Publishing Co. of Los Angeles for an undisclosed figure. A spokesman for the privately owned Petersen company said the deal was most likely a cash purchase.

Petersen spokesman Mark Gill said he believes McIntosh bought Sea--which circulates in 13 western states--to use as a “marketing tool” to increase the company’s total circulation.

In a written statement, Waterfront editor and publisher Duncan McIntosh Jr. said: “Sea will remain a regional magazine . . . and Waterfront will continue to serve the Southern California boating community.” McIntosh was out of town Friday and unavailable for further comment.

Change in Emphasis

In his statement, McIntosh said Sea, also a boating magazine, will continue to be published in its present form, although McIntosh said he intends to “tone down the technical side of the magazine and direct more energy toward capturing the flavor of boating along the Pacific Coast.” Both magazines are monthly publications. Gill also said that a merger of the two publications is a possibility.

Half of Sea’s eight-member editorial staff will stay with Petersen Publishing, Gill said, while the others will relocate to Costa Mesa and share offices with the Waterfront staff.