For the last 20 years, every March, about four of us locals, use to make
an annual pilgrimage to Defender and if needed would do a 5 min. run to
Jamestown Dist. With cut backs at Defender and the closing of
Jamestown's walk in store, those days are gone.
Chuck, I have found Hamilton's prices for bottom paint are quite good.
Below I have attached my vendor list which is mostly slanted to the NE:
Don Kern
C&C35 Mk2, Fireball
Bristol, RI
General
Defender https://defender.com/en_us/ <https://defender.com/en_us/>
Fisheries Supplyhttps://www.fisheriessupply.com/
<https://www.fisheriessupply.com/>
Hamilton Marinehttps://hamiltonmarine.com/
Hodges Marinehttps://www.hodgesmarine.com <https://www.hodgesmarine.com>
Jamestown Distributorshttps://www.jamestowndistributors.com/home
<https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/home>
West Marinehttps://www.westmarine.com/ <https://www.westmarine.com/>
Wholesale Marine https://www.wholesalemarine.com/
Electronics /Electrical
Garminhttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/ <https://www.garmin.com/en-US/>
Greg’s Marine Wire Supplyhttps://gregsmarinewiresupply.com/
<https://gregsmarinewiresupply.com/>
Hodges Marinehttps://www.hodgesmarine.com <https://www.hodgesmarine.com>
Raymarinehttps://www.raymarine.com/en-us <https://www.raymarine.com/en-us>
The GPS Storethegpsstore.com <http://thegpsstore.com>
Navigation Software
Maptechhttps://www.richardsonscharts.com/
<https://www.richardsonscharts.com/>
The GPS Storethegpsstore.com <http://thegpsstore.com>
USCG/NOAA
Chartshttps://www.charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml
<https://www.charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml>
Paint
Bottom Paint Storebottompaintstore.com <http://bottompaintstore.com>
Interluxhttps://www.interlux.com/en/us/ <https://www.interlux.com/en/us/>
Rigging
Garhauer Marinehttps://www.garhauermarine.com/
<https://www.garhauermarine.com/>
Harkenhttps://www.harken.com/en/home/ <https://www.harken.com/en/home/>
Newport Rigging Group https://www.newportrigginggroup.com/
<https://www.newportrigginggroup.com/>
New England Ropeshttps://www.neropes.com/ClubLevelRacing.aspx
<https://www.neropes.com/ClubLevelRacing.aspx>
Rig-Rite Inc. https://www.rigrite.com/
Samson https://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?page=1&page=1
<https://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?page=1&page=1>
Schaeher Hardwarehttp://schaeferhardware.com/ <http://schaeferhardware.com/>
Other
Atkins & Hoyle Ltd (hatches)https://www.atkinshoyle.com/
Edson Marinehttps://edsonmarine.com/shop/sailboat-steering/pedestals/
<https://edsonmarine.com/shop/sailboat-steering/pedestals/%20>
Moyer Marine (Atomic 4)https://moyermarine.com/
South Shore Yachts (C&C parts)https://southshoreyachts.com/
<https://southshoreyachts.com/>
The Zinc Guyhttps://www.boatzincs.com/index.html
On 3/12/2023 1:51 PM, Novabraid via CnC-List wrote:
Having been a supplier to many marine chandleries over the past 20+
years while working for Edson and now Novabraid, there’s definitely
been some decline in quality retail access in the past 24 months.
Surprisingly many of these issues came in the wake of a huge surge in
retail boat and accessory sales during and just after the height of
the pandemic and may boat supply businesses had record sales during
this period, despite some of the supply chain challenges that
occurred. Perhaps those business owners are taking their profits to
the bank and streamlining their sales channels to avoid bankruptcy if
a recession occurs. Obviously, prices are rising as a function of
inflation and transportation costs and many retail business struggle
to find qualified employees. West Marine was renowned for hiring
retirees who would work part time to get the employee discount but I
think most of those folks have weighed anchor and retired for good.
My nephew has been an assistant manager at a West Marine for several
years and they’ve been forced to scale back to a 5 day work week as
they only had two employees for the entire store, a manager and an
assistant.
Defender, unfortunately is going through a rather difficult transition
under new ownership and most of my sailing friends are struggling with
their new website. They’re currently remodeling the retail outlet,
downsizing display areas and relying far more on their phone customer
service team to help with product applications rather than their in
store counter help. I’ve been told it will be up to speed in a few
weeks, but this is the start of boat prep season in New England and
the Northeast so they could not have picked a worse time to shut down
the retail store.
One outlet that folks haven’t mentioned is Hamilton Marine up in
Maine. They’ve got a pretty comprehensive product selection and
pricing is typically a bit less than you’ll find at West Marine. 5
store locations as well. Not a super discount place, but their staff
is pretty seasoned without much turnover. You probably won’t find the
latest and greatest new Harken carbon fiber maxi yacht winches there,
but for hardware, bottom paint, and mooring chain, they do just fine.
And there’s always the local “head of the harbor” marine store at the
hometown boatyard. Yes, you’ll pay more for that bottom paint, but
giving them some business on the retail side means they’re more likely
to have the water pump impeller you need when your boat starts
overheating the day before you leave on your summer cruise.
Have a great season, y’all,
Chuck Gilchrest
S/V Half Magic
1983 Landfall 35
Padanaram, MA
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