I wont shop at West Marine anymore, way too expensive. I usually by thing like anchors, fenders, dock lines etc from them, but I'm tired of getting raped..............

There's a chain down here called "Boater's World" that has a much larger selection and better prices than either Boat US or West Marine. However they are still higher on the same items that can be found elsewhere, but still beats the other two and MUCH more helpful.

Both are in my area. From their mouths, "West Marine is tailored to the sailboter, Boatus is more for the powerboater.
When a dealer to buys from either of them, they pay about half of their retail. Both companies are distributors for the same "Warehouse". Same stuff, same availability- BoatUS just stocks more powerboat parts.

Yea when i was in the parasail business i used to spend a lot of time going to mostly BOATERSWORLD because it was the closest ,and WEST MARINE next, than if I still couldn.t find something i ended up at BOAT U.S..It gave me alot of time to comparison shop the prices.It,s tough to beat BOATERS WORLD prices and selection and also their operating hours.Later on i got a commercial account with PORT SUPPLY which is the wholesale end of WEST MARINE, and BOATERS WORLD was still close if not better on prices on a lot of stuff .

The key here is "price matching". Do your homework like Craig did (and I did on a $3000 GPS package), give them the web site info on the better deal that you found, and you will always pay the lowest price. Plus - You get them backing up your purchase wherever you go. I've even returned good to stores other than where I bought in the first place.

Use the system - it works. The only reason to pay higher prices is lack of foresight.

On the other hand, Craig should always be carrying a set of impellers onboard. Then he would have time to do the shopping at leisure instead of in a panic.

I carry a set of spares, but also install new ones every season. It isn't "panic" time, just a matter of principle!!!

Are you doing the cbpba leukemia run in two weeks???

Boaters World

Kind of, but not really. We'll be at Great Oaks (Fairlee) on Saturday with the Formula Rendezvous, and might join in the run to Red Eyes on Sunday. You runnin' the Gun or the Bullet?

I never heard anybody say that before. But as I picture each store that I have here.... it's true. Huh.

I didn't know about that price matching. Bet a lot of folks haven't. Good thread. Save some folks some cash.

We have them here too, i like them much better than west and boat us.