West Marine's Mission Statement says, in part:

"Our mission is to be the best supplier of boating-related products and services that provide outstanding value to every customer.

We are committed to treating all of our customers even better than they expect to be treated so that they regard us as the best company in our industry."

From it's humble beginnings as a specialty rope dealer in Palo Alto in the mid-70's, West Marine has grown to become the largest marine supply retailer in the world. But even with 340+ stores (located in 38 States, Puerto Rico and Canada), over 50,000 items in their catalog, and a strong Internet presence, West Marine remains true to the tenets of their mission statement.

"We were, and continue to be, a company of boaters helping fellow boaters. From salespeople to top-level management, our associates are intimately familiar with the boating needs of our customers," says founder Randy Repass. "We believe that it's just as important to offer knowledgeable service and support as it is to offer top-flight products."

Why is West Marine of interest to our readers? If it isn't obvious, in order to fish "beyond the breakwater", you have to get out "beyond the breakwater"! That means a vessel of some sort, whether it be a kayak, a skiff, or a full-on offshore battlewagon. That, in turn, means you will need boating supplies.

West Marine sells a staggering number of quality products. I've seen a few stores that say "if you need it, we've got it, if we don't have it, you don't need it" but in the boating world, West Marine really means it. And to help you choose and use products, their website contains a wealth of information in the form of their West Advisor, product tests, video shorts, tips and tricks column, and various feature articles. Their print catalog, which spans 720 pages, has much of the same information.

As you might have guessed, they pride themselves on excellent customer service. That's an attribute that most fly-fishermen value highly, but which seems to be in short supply at many retailers nowadays.

In addition to their large "superstores", West Marine also operates a number of "express" stores. These are smaller facilities located very close to launch ramps and marinas. Their inventory emphasizes those items you might need at the last minute, a great thing as I can personally attest. West Marine Express has bailed me out more than once, such as the time that the family and I drove 45 minutes to the launch ramp, only to discover that someone had left the kid's life jackets sitting in the garage....disaster averted, thanks to West Marine Express!

West Marine also fills an interesting niche for fishermen. Most tackle shops sell fishing tackle, and only a few items for rigging fishing boats. On the other hand, West Marine stores carry a complete line of specialty items for rigging fishing boats, as well as a comprehensive array of conventional tackle items. While you won't find a Mako reel or a Sage Z-Axis, you can certainly find conventional and spinning rods and reels, terminal tackle, fishing line, etc. etc.

For our 3Bs and TYD Tournaments, West Marine's Point Loma Superstore and their Mission Bay Express store have donated the following: