I am looking for a place to purchase sailboat hardware/accessories at
the best price. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Cate

On 16 Mar 2006 08:07:17 -0800, wrote:

I am looking for a place to purchase sailboat hardware/accessories at
the best price. Any suggestions?

Yes. Serve your long-term best interest by patronizing your local
marine supply store so the entire market won't consist of a West
Marine monopoly.

Mike Gardner wrote:


and if you live in the middle of nowhere - where what passes as a marine
store is wal-mart, then where do you order from?


We have three marine hardware stores in my home port..(none West
Marine...yet)
try:
http://www.binnacle.com/

Just type the name of the item you need and
maybe the manufacturers part number, or just
the name of some general boating item into
Google or Froogle.

This will bring up plenty of vendors.

Part numbers help to weed out useless links.

Dave wrote:
On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 20:31:51 GMT, Don White said:


http://www.binnacle.com/


Hmm. At least they give a phone number on their web site. But do you trust
an outfit that doesn't give you a physical address?


I shop at the Canadian store regularly, as do a large percentage of the
local sailors of the two yacht clubs within walking distance.

"Mike Gardner" wrote in message
...
In article ,
wrote:

On 16 Mar 2006 08:07:17 -0800, wrote:

I am looking for a place to purchase sailboat hardware/accessories at
the best price. Any suggestions?

Yes. Serve your long-term best interest by patronizing your local
marine supply store so the entire market won't consist of a West
Marine monopoly.

and if you live in the middle of nowhere - where what passes as a marine
store is wal-mart, then where do you order from?


Our Wal-Mart has a nice boating hardware selection with great prices.

If you can't find what you want there then head to the
internet.........plenty of great prices with an unlimited selection of
suppliers. ;-)

On 16 Mar 2006 08:07:17 -0800, wrote:

I am looking for a place to purchase sailboat hardware/accessories at
the best price. Any suggestions?

Defender usually has some of the best prices:

http://www.defender.com/

I've been using these guys for electronics recently:

http://www.pyacht.net

Boaters World is usually cheaper than WM on most things:

http://www.boatersworld.com

Cate, check out Go2Marine:
http://www.go2marine.com/main.jsp

These folks are just great to deal with, and their prices typically beat
Westie Marine by a mile.

Good luck with your restoration.

Dick B.
M/V "Annie"

wrote in message
oups.com...
I am looking for a place to purchase sailboat hardware/accessories at
the best price. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Cate

Mike Gardner wrote:


and if you live in the middle of nowhere - where what passes as a marine
store is wal-mart, then where do you order from?

Hi All:

I live in the middle of nowhere also and this is my process:

1) Look at my West Marine catalogue. Get manufacture's model/item
number. Yes WM does list that number along with the WM number. Check
out their price and divide by two for a "typical street price"

2) Enter the item number (not the WM number) and do a web search.
Survey price from several vendors.

3) Call two marine stores in the PNW that cater to commercial fishers
(fisherman).
Englund Marine Supply OR-WA or lately Redden Marine in Bellingham, WA.
They have very competitive rates. Not always cheapest, but 5%-10%
close.

For example, 12 AWG primary boat wire, 100' spool. Prices ranged from
$ 0.52 (WM) - 0.17 per foot (someplace in FL). I went with Englund
marine for $0.19 because I like the place and it is in my state.

Now, in fear of become the target of "marine only" and "the
best" advocates.

When I needed bilge hose I go to an industrial hose supply and ask for
hose that is designed for use in a specific environment with a specific
duty. Same for 316L fasteners or Trojan 6V batteries. I do not mention
marine or the word yacht. However, many times the sales person will
say, "Oh sounds as though you need Acme brand XYZ, Its used mostly
(or was that mostly used) in the marine industry." That is why I am
using some very robust 1 ½" clear pvc "suction hose" for my
bilge system. Why pay 3-8 bucks per foot for "good marine grade"
hose when I can pay $1.80 for something used in an even more demanding
application than the dreaded "below the waterline" bilge system.
Want High Test anchor chain? Go to the industrial truck/logging/farm
supply and ask for 3/8" chain with a braking strength about
19,000lbs. They will say, "Oh, the only thing in 3/8 we have that
tough is some Transport G70." Do not ask for "anchor chain." The
out of work logger/farmer making $8 bucks an hour behind the counter
wont have a clue.
Bob.

Some of the best prices I have seen for sailboat stuff are he

http://www.riggingonly.com/