Recommend an online store?

[anthon]

I havent bought sailing items online yet.
I just wondered where you have bought from online and who you recommend.
I dont wanna get ripped off

I'm talking fixtures an fittings, lifejackets, electrics, in fact, all things boating!

[SkiprJohn]

I shop from any catalog that will send items via USPS or at cut rate and I always ask first. The list below is not in any particular order. Most have catalogs on line. I've never been ripped off.

West Marine Catalog
Defender Catalog
Hamilton Marine
Jamestown Distributors
Fisheries Supply out of Seattle

Annapolis Performance Sailing would not ship to me via USPS and shipping was about 3X the cost of the items I wished to buy. I will never buy from them.

[Weyalan]

I have had good service from Mauri Pro (even buying from overseas).

Mauri Pro Sailing - Sailboat Hardware, Sailing Gear and Sailboat Equipment

[Hudson Force]

I seem to find the best price and selection from Defender

[Aussiesuede]

For things like cauking, fiberglass supplies, and most 'industrial' type supplies, Jamestowns distributors can't be beat.

For basic things like life jackets, basic fixtures, basic electronics, and common boating items, then I find the big retailers like Cabela's, Bass Pro's, and IBoats.com to be good buys (especially with the plethora of items which they offer free shipping).

Basic rule of internet shopping is to purchase from retailers who do NOT have a land based retail outlet in your state (this avoids the need to pay sales tax) and then carefully scrutinize shipping costs. This is where Iboats.com pays dividends, since you can always eliminate any sales tax costs, and they offer a lot of free shipping combinations. Also, make habit of doing a google search for coupon codes for the retailer you've selected. VERY often there are unadvertised discounts that will swing one retailer in your favor vs another....

[READY2GO]

I have ordered from several. Defender seems to always have the best price and fastest out the door delivery. Hamilton marine is good to, but they seem to be slow to ship. I used them three times when I was mad at Defender because of a rude e-mail from thier customer service department. But I went back to Defender because they ship quicker.

[camaraderie]

Defender is my favorite and usually the cheapest. Jamestown is the place to go for hard to find fittings and hardware. Hamilton has some good specials and neat stuff because they are commercially oriented. Sailnets store is very difficult to navigate but they have some extremely good specials on refurbs in electronics.

[bstreep]

Defender is my regular source.