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30-12-2017, 12:18
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Currently refitting in Wilmington, NC
Boat: Knysna 440
Posts: 66
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Where Do You Shop
I have to admit I have a minor addiction to Defender. We are undergoing a somewhat extensive refit and purchasing quite a few items.
Other than Defender, what is your preferred vendor? Here is a short list of items I am currently shopping for.
Thru hulls
New Chain
Replacement gypsy
2 Refrigerators--Vitrifrigo or Dometic
2 Raritan heads
Dive compressor
Garmin electronics
We are in coastal North Carolina.
Looking for a company with excellent prices and great customer service. We have ordered almost exclusively from Defender so far and are pleased with both, but is there anybody else out there?
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30-12-2017, 12:48
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Oregon to Alaska
Boat: Wheeler Shipyard 83' ex USCG
Posts: 3,623
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Ebay if you can install yourself. Usually several sellers for the same item. Several marine stores sell there, too.
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30-12-2017, 14:01
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Noank, Ct. USA
Boat: Cape Dory 31
Posts: 3,254
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Re: Where Do You Shop
https://www.fisheriessupply.com
Fisheries Supply is great to do business with. I live a half hour from Defender so most of my purchases are there. Wait for their big spring sale and save a bundle.
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30-12-2017, 15:06
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#4
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,770
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Amazon
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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30-12-2017, 16:51
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: edmonton alberta
Boat: 1992 lagoon 42 tpi
Posts: 1,736
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Re: Where Do You Shop
For the compressor, check scuba.com
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30-12-2017, 19:25
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,348
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Defender is good, but I found myself buying almost everything from Hopkins Carter, better service from someone who knew his business, and his advice was priceless, and he often sold at or better than Defender prices.
Then he went and sold his business.
I have yet to find a replacement for him.
Thing is, I could call him and ask his advice. I would know what I wanted to do, but didn’t know the best product, he did though.
For example, I wanted to add fresh water hose bibs for the deck, but didn’t know what to buy. He found some investment cast 316 SS 1/4 turn hose bibs that were almost jewelry. Exactly what I wanted, but had no idea what to buy, the same for a cockpit shower and other things.
Defender is great if you know what you want, but not so good to ask advice, and that is priceless.
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30-12-2017, 20:29
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Shady Side, MD
Boat: Hallberg-Rassy 41
Posts: 184
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Start with a credit card that will do price matching. Most citi and chase cards will.
Now use that credit card to buy from whomever gives you the best service / delivery (local or shipped) - for me this usually west marine because they have a location 500 yards from my marina, and the next closest chandlery is about 15 miles away. If they don't have it, I go with Amazon (if they have what I need) and free 2 day shipping.
Then find cheapest price online from any internet retailer, and put in a claim for the price match with your credit card.
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30-12-2017, 20:47
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#8
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2016
Boat: Bathtub
Posts: 889
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Re: Where Do You Shop
WestMarine.
I have access to a top-tier pro account so the prices are as good as Defender, and sometimes much better on WM-branded stuff and hardware. The people at the Chicago store are Amazing and will bend over backwards trying to help you if you only ask. Their knowledge level is outstanding. These guys are all sailors and know boats and their products. They are not just some kid who when you ask him/her a question they start reading from the box.
They stand behind their stuff 100% and if I buy the wrong thing or too much they take it back at any time, no questions asked, even cut-to-order hose. I can drop by on the way home from the yard and pick it up or have it delivered right to the boatyard from their excellent delivery trucks. When I walk into the store they recognize me know me by name. They treat me like family all the way from the newest new guy all the way up to the general manager.
I know a lot of folks rag on them because they can be somewhat expensive without a discount but even at full retail the service you get for your money is phenomenal compared to a faceless wholesale internet shop. I don't even think about buying anywhere else other than the occasional purchase on Amazon Prime. Sometimes, but very rarely, if it is not in stock and I'm in a real hurry that is my second option to get it fast.
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31-12-2017, 00:18
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Underway in the Med -
Boat: Jeanneau 40 DS SoulMates
Posts: 2,274
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Depends a bit on where you are. In Bahamas we needed a part and found it in used auto part place, in Colombia we had to import what we needed, In most of the Eastern Carib there are good chandlers, in the Med it really depends on where you are as we have gotten parts from everywhere from boat stores to hardware stores to street vendors, in the Black Sea we fortunately did not need parts in Georgia but a failed bilge pump switch was an issue and Russia and our agent found one someplace and in Ukraine we got spare engine fuses in a back street shop - shoes in a chandlery - some fuel filters from a filter shop but the best when the most beautiful dock manager in the world found fuel filters from I have no idea where but she got them - in Istanbul well if you spend enough time looking you can find it and if you can't it can't be had
so it really depends on where you are - we are in Turkey for the last 3 winters and in Kusadasi there is almost nothing but in Marmaris we have more shops than we can count -
__________________
just our thoughts and opinions
chuck and svsoulmates
Somewhere in the Eastern Caribbean
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31-12-2017, 00:27
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Australia
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 4,578
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Re: Where Do You Shop
I go through defender. They solve my problems. I even order parts they don't stock through them.
I have no zip code here the Seychelles thus online ordering is difficult as the systems need zip codes to proceed. Defender deals with me via email gets stuff to me quickly. They do a great job.
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31-12-2017, 10:01
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Mexico City
Boat: Catalina 25, 1978, FK, SR.
Posts: 5
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Where Do You Shop
For the GROCO seacocks I went with Walmart online, competitive pricing and very good delivery time, regards.
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31-12-2017, 10:07
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Boat: S2 10.3 & TMC Custom 41 Trawler
Posts: 135
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Try suremarineservice.com for the vertifrigo.
Best prices I have seen.
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31-12-2017, 10:24
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Canada
Boat: T37
Posts: 2,338
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Aside from the above mentioned if you need hardware, fasteners gaskets etc try https://www.mcmaster.com
For Canadian shopping (might also be a great deal for Americans with the exchange rate:
https://www.marineoutfitters.ca
https://ca.binnacle.com
Both of which have American and Canadian versions of their sites. When purchasing thru hulls no one came close to marine outfitters even before the exchange. Binnacle has limited inventory I find but amazing sales and deals when they come up.
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31-12-2017, 11:03
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Good question
Boat: Rafiki 37
Posts: 14,564
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbk
Aside from the above mentioned if you need hardware, fasteners gaskets etc try https://www.mcmaster.com
For Canadian shopping (might also be a great deal for Americans with the exchange rate:
https://www.marineoutfitters.ca
https://ca.binnacle.com
Both of which have American and Canadian versions of their sites. When purchasing thru hulls no one came close to marine outfitters even before the exchange. Binnacle has limited inventory I find but amazing sales and deals when they come up.
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Thanks for the McMaster site. Haven’t seen this one. Looks great.
A couple of other good Canadian sites that I use are:
BL Yacht in Quebec (awesome prices at times)
Stright-MacKay
And not sure if Garhauer has been mentioned, but I love their stuff, and their prices are usually quite good.
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31-12-2017, 11:06
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Boat: S2 10.3 & TMC Custom 41 Trawler
Posts: 135
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Re: Where Do You Shop
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbk
Aside from the above mentioned if you need hardware, fasteners gaskets etc try https://www.mcmaster.com
For Canadian shopping (might also be a great deal for Americans with the exchange rate:
https://www.marineoutfitters.ca
https://ca.binnacle.com
Both of which have American and Canadian versions of their sites. When purchasing thru hulls no one came close to marine outfitters even before the exchange. Binnacle has limited inventory I find but amazing sales and deals when they come up.
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McMaster for specialty fasteners is amazing .
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