They figure they have a small captive audience of affluent people.

Some things need to be "marine grade" or "aircraft grade" like fasteners and rigging, but a roll of masking tape is a roll of masking tape, whether you pay $3 at the hardware store or $8 at an art supply store. A basic boat fender is a basic boat fender whether you pay $35 at West Marine or $15 at Fleet Farm. And a regulation USCG life jacket is the same whether you pay $20 at Gander Mountain or just $7 at Fleet Farm.

One thing that I do HIGHLY recommend from West Marine is that green stuff to put in a holding tank or porta-potty. It is so much better than that stinky putrid blue stuff.

I buy a lot of boating supplies at Fleet Farm because they have VERY low prices. Stuff like anchor line, anchors, fenders, life vests, bilge pumps, brass hardware bits, batteries, etc.

I hear what you're saying, Guy... but I couldn't give a damn about what it costs the manufacturer! All I care about is what it costs ME, and, frankly, I don't mind being narcissistic enough to admit it.

It's assinine that I can spend $3.89 for a large stainless bolt at a 'marine shop'... when I can get exactly the same, but for only $0.92 from a Hardware Hank. I promise you, that if HH (or Fleet Farm) can sell it at that price... they *ARE* making a profit!

Ethically NOT COOL to 'rape' me on some items to make up for others.

Crap like a snatch block costing upwards of $200... indeed, some of them... MANY of them in excess of $200... Give me a break! I just looked at a small aluminum block, had MAYBE a 'whopping' $0.35 cents worth of aluminum... and they wanted over $60!! Yeah, right...

The point being, why sell an item for $85.00 to get back your 'tooling costs' the first year...

When you'll sell a LOT more of them at $38.00... and so what if it takes 2 years to recoop your investment?

Check the markings on the ends of those hardware store bolts. They probably won't have the shear strength you need if you put them under stress (like in rigging).

If they're going in a cabinet in your galley then I agree with you, a stainless steel bolt from the hardware store is just fine. Actually Menards has a hidden-away collection of really inexpensive stainless steel stuff.

Hardware, I agree with you. A stainless steel bolt is a stainless steel bolt. Who cares which stainless or which grade?

But seriously, I buy a lot of hardware, and I always mention to the manager at Fleet Farm or Ace, how do you make money? If I buy three 4" x 3/8-24 bolts they charge me 20 cents each. I understand they paid 10. If the check out can handle 50 of me an hour, then $.30 profit x 50 transactions = $15. if the cashier makes 7, that leaves 9 to pay for lights, heat, snowplowing, oh yea, and for profit.

Never pay $100 for a dry bag. Again, WEST probably doesn't want to sell, them, just say they carry them. At a canoe shop, where they sell in volume, they are 40% cheaper. I encourage you all to stop by Canoecopia in Madison for PFDs, dry bags, rain gear, etc. It's cheaper where it's sold in volume.

Anything from WEST that you can buy elsewhere will be cheaper. Rope is cheaper at Fleet Farm for comparable stuff. If you need the low stretch stuff, however, low volume, only place in town. GPS cheaper at Cabelas, Sportsman Warehouse, Gander Mountain where they're sold in volume.

Jacklines, on the other hand. . .are safety items. When I was making ladders half the cost of the ladder as sold to the store was for insurance, as one million dollar lawsuit could ruin your whole day. I don't know the details on jacklines, but suspect.

I swear I won't rise to the bait again.

If you're shopping chandleries, don't forget the factory store at Harken. Last time I was there they were selling little blocks for $1.5. And the fashion statements you could make cheap. . .

I don't think that we are all speaking 'apples and oranges' here. My guess is that we're all pretty much on the same wave length. That is, when you can find the SAME item elsewhere, much cheaper, you go for it (obviously) if you are not compromising the quality.

Some things you HAVE to get from a chandlery... and they know it, hence the 'violating' price attached.

But canoe stores, hardware, Farm 'n Fleet types... definately nice.

By the way, Home Depot has a VERY limited selection of SS products... but next time you're there, locate them. I've manged to get some nice items at very reasonable prices.

And the hardware store on 108th and... Oklahoma? Ace, maybe? Hank? Whatever. Man, they've the best selection of SS hardware that I have found to date in the area. Because they sell it mass volume, they sell cheaper. Hence, they make more money, too, on the stuff than does WEST <volume>.

Point is, is that I understand they really jack up the profit on hardware. I don't mind them charging me a dollar for a 0.50 cent item, resulting in them making a 100% mark up profit.

What I do object to, is paying WEST a 350% profit.

The internet is great for locating what you need at a cheaper, more competitive price than a chandlery, too.

Guy, how's your boat coming along? I can give you a hand launching her next weekend if you'd like?

I checked my mooring Saturday. Now that I've mastered walking on water, I'm not putting the 'shroom in the water until it softens up.

Guy, you walked on the harbor ice when it was 30° outside? Yikes.

If I couldn't see bubbles eight inches down in the ice, I wouln't have stepped off the ladder.

...and after all this discussion, where did I find myself on Saturday afternoon. Yep. West marine, looking at hand-held VHF radios.