West Marine: Is It All Its Cracked Up to Be?

Do you own a boat? Do you know about boats? Have you talked to someone who owns or knows about boats? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you’ve probably heard of West Marine. It’s basically the best Marine supply store in the United States. I don’t know if that is actually true, but it definitely feels like it. Over our several years of owning a boat, West Marine has become a second home. Not because I feel so comfortable there, but because I’ve spent so much time perusing the shelves. So, I decided it was time to give my opinion of this store. Also, I will mention several places we look online for alternatives when need be. (This is not sponsored, they don’t sponsor us, just wanted to do a write up.)

1: Is it affordable?

The basic answer to this question is yes and no. I know that sounds nonsensical, but it’s true. When it comes to the more expensive items like electronics and motor components, it is affordable. Its prices are competitive compared to other stores that sell the same items. So if you’re looking for a new chart plotter, it’s going to be roughly the same price as anywhere else. As for the small rigging items like shackles, bolts, wires, and various hardware, definitely not. We found that generally all of those things are more expensive. Even Lowes and Home Depot had cheaper options for some items. Wiring itself we found for half the price or less elsewhere. So for those small items, I would recommend somewhere else, unless you’re desperately in need of stainless steel and don’t have the time to look around. In that case, they have a large selection for all of the above mentioned items.

2: Does it have everything you need?

This I think is probably the answer that will fare the best, because yes. Apart from smack dab in the middle of COVID I have almost always had success at finding things as West Marines. It’s essentially the Wal-Mart or Target of marine supply stores. They have everything from basic rigging, to galley supplies, to even some camera gear. (Mostly action camera stuff like GoPro). Obviously some stores are larger than others and thus carry more items, but in general, I’ve never had a problem. Even if you’re just a casual boater looking for shoes, basic fishing gear, or a cooler, they have that too! What they don’t have in store, they have online. So in this case, I definitely recommend them. They are always a good first stop on your marine shopping trip.

3: Does it have a good rewards program?

Okay, I’m not sure about all of you, but I love a good rewards program. When I shop at places a lot, I want to get some of that money back. It’s no different than a rewards card at a grocery store, you alway want it! West Marine has two tiers, silver and gold. For silver you get 1 point for every dollar spent. After 500 points, you get a 5 dollar off certificate. The gold tier, which cost 25 a year, gives you 10 dollars off after 250 points. Which definitely racks up fast when you are refitting a boat. I’m not even going to mention how many points we have accrued because it’s a lot. But, last year when we bought our new B&G wireless wind package, we received several hundred dollars off because of the rewards program. This year, I’m sure the same will happen. We save them for expensive electronics because it’s the best bang for your buck. I definitely recommend the gold, it has saved us a ton of money. Like a ton! So, yes it’s a good program.

4: Do I like it?

Okay, this one is tough because I have a complicated relationship with this store. The complication, I have spent so much money here! I’m tired of giving them money, they should give me some. Overall, I do though. The workers are mostly nice and helpful, and have never been a problem. The selection, when not in a pandemic, is really good. They can sometimes be pricey, but the more expensive items are competitive. So, it’s complicated. I would definitely recommend them if you are doing boat work, or just trying to buy some day boating gear. In general I do like West Marine, and will continue to support them. Side note: they should have some boat gay pride gear! Just saying. 

Alternatives we use:

We also shop at other places. Sometimes for affordability, sometimes for speciality items. Here’s a list of places we also like to go.

Amazon.com
Jamestown Distributor 
Defender.com
Wholesalemarine.com

These are just a few of the places we shop. Also check out the specific brands websites, sometimes it’s cheaper to buy a product directly than through a third party.

I know a lot of you shop at West Marine already, but if you didn’t, hopefully this gives you some insight into them and helps you make a decision whether to do so or not!

If you have any other recommendations of marine stores in the Cape Cod area, let us know in the comments below and we will check them out!