www.iFourWinns.com

I like to support my local businesses when practical but there are no boat shops around that seem to want my business unless its to buy a new boat....(my bicycle shop on the other hand is going to give me an honorary bike rack )

Where are some folks favorites to purchase parts/supplies/etc I need to order all my parts to install in the spring. Pricing a plus but service/knowledge for rookies like me always a plus

Bearing rebuild kits for new trailer, spare hub
bellows/gaskets
prop recondition
seat repair needles and thread
trim relay
thermostat



and probably a lot more.

_________________
Jon Miller
1998 four Winns Horizon H200
Volvo Penta 4.3 GL
Newtown, CT

untitled-545 by millerjont, on Flickr

Good question but it depending on time of day/week and what I need and how fast.
Right away I will go to the marina supply store and if they are not open I will go to West Marine. Both are quite pricey.
If I can wait, I am about an hour from defender.com or I order stuff through my marina who gives me a discount but he has nothing on hand. Defender has very nice people and helpful to deal with and my marina owner is the the best.
Then there is Amazon for odds and ends with free shipping on most stuff.
I hear your "support you local business" but with their crazy marina prices for service and supplies they don't make me feel welcome.
One example that I couldn't get myself to buy was the electric adapter to plug in shore power at home. It was $78 at a marina but I got it for $27 on amazon.

_________________
--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

On Long Island its easy because we are surrounded by water and there are many marine supply shops. For engine/drive parts I use a local ex-OMC dealer that can still order original parts from BRP. They are also good with advice now and then. For nuts, bolts, etc I go to West Marine or other local shops, depending on what I need. For trailer parts I've used Eastern Marine, Champion Trailers and Trailer Parts Depot.com, all were good. We have good 'glass shops and canvas shops, primarily on the South Shore.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

west marine's prices are atrocious. Overtons.com has good prices and so does Amazon

Amazon, Michigan Motorz, Overtons, West Marine, Local Marinas- pretty much in that order.

_________________
-Andrew

1984 Four Winns 225 Sundowner
5.0L Mercruiser, Alpha 1

Here's an example of the benefit of having a local shop to buy spark plugs, dist caps, etc from...I have a shop that did work for me last time must have been 9 years ago, all the repairs I have done myself since then....But since I had a relationship with them, nurtured by 9 years since of buying tune up parts, anodes, etc every year, one year when my Quadrajet started leaking (lucky before the season started) I was able to take it off, bring it to them, and the mechanic rebuilt it for me for $150 or so, not a bad price seeing as how a Q-Jet is one of the more complex carbs out there. Some stuff I get internet, but I keep up the relationship with them, and also my local boat yard. They do my bottom paint for me every year which I will not do myself, and when they come across good deals (like some Cobra parts from a guy who repowered to a Merc) they let me know about it. I was able to get a set of very good condition trim rams that are not made any longer and if you could find a new set they are close to 500 bucks each (crazy). Its hard to rebuild them here because of the salt water use.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I use http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/ for all my Volvo Penta parts. Great service, great prices and good delivery - even to me on the other side of the planet!

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

+1 great company,

_________________

1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Look amazon and ebay. Shopping via google has done well for me too - Just picked up a RAM mount for my plotter/fishfinder for $23.

_________________
2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI