Sometimes frustrating, sometimes funny.

kloudie1 · Oct 13, 2011

The stores cater to the majority customers.. If ya go to a place like Annapolis or Kemah, Texas, or even New Orleans where there are substantial sailing populations, you'll find the stores to have folks and stuff catering to the sailing population.. We broke down in Carabelle, Fl.(busted back stay on a delivery boat). and found folks that were willing to help but weren't that familiar with sailboats .. we found the needed repair stuff at an ACE Hardware where the folks said that those were common parts to repair rigging on fishing boats.. There are some sailboats there and transients stop there sometimes, but the majority of their business is charter fishing and some commercial fishing boats.. All in all, we had a great time in Caribelle.. good helpful people.. I have found most folks are willing to help if you are patient and take some time to explain ..

Steve Dion · Oct 13, 2011

Hell, the majority of the population has never been on a sailboat let alone know anything about them other than they have a big stick in the deck!

Merlin Clark · Oct 13, 2011

Don't feel bad, I was in a local WM store here on the Atlantic coast with so many sailboats you can't swing a cat, etc, etc, and needed silicon to bed new Beckson ports (silicon recommended by Beckson). Saw WM had some under their own brand and asked the counter person what he thought of the WM brand ($2 cheaper than the name brand) and he asked what I was wanting it for. I explained and all I got was a blank look then he asked what I was talking about and after I replaced the word "port" with "little window" he understood but still couldn't help.
That particular store has lot's of pretty shirts and fishing tackle. 1 short row of miscellaneous sailboat stuff.
Don't waste a trip to the Merrit Island store if you're after sailboat related stuff and you can really tell the difference between the sailors working in WM from the off the common air breathers.

edit: and the WM brand worked fine.

soling42 · Oct 13, 2011

Ocala sailors unite....all three of you

. Now if you need a horse expert the beautiful rolling hills of Ocala are known as the horse mecca of Fl but 60miles either way to the coast limits you. Lake Harris and Lake George are both fairly close and beautiful in their own way(big a$$ gators and Bubbas) but WM in Jacksonville and Daytona are a good haul. I guess I understand your issue.

Of course then there is serious RC sailing at every retirement complex up there too. Old sailors have discovered high tech lake/pond sailing in a big way, as I did for a decade except I was the kid among old crows. Martinis and big attitudes just like the good old yacht club days when they're yelling for "room at the mark" and get pissed when you don't yield to their bluff.

Like you've seen and Klodie mentioned, unless you're in a sailing town we don't get no respect. Be glad you have an easy to maintain boat. Good luck in your search for suppliers. My advice is plan well ahead up there.
Cya, Mike

inarathree · Oct 13, 2011

I guess I am lucky that the WM here in Clearwater has at least two sailors working there. Not the most knowledgable, but enough to help.

MrUnix · Oct 13, 2011

It's just a case of supply and demand...

Being land locked is not an ideal environment for a sailboat :cry:

Like you said, the Hunter factory is about an hour north of you (and about 5 minutes north of me!), but there isn't a lot of good sailing areas nearby except for some smallish lakes good for sunfish and the like. The only marine related place up here is a small boat dealership that has a very small and limited boat store catering to their motorboat offerings. It's just a case of supply and demand.. there isn't a lot of demand for sailboat related stuff in an area that has very little to offer a sailboat. They may make them here, but they sure don't sell many here. Fortunately, you can get just about anything you want on-line and usually for cheaper than you can in a brick and mortar establishment. You can also sometimes find identical items at places like Home Depot, Lowes or your local RV dealer, and usually at a much cheaper price.. like that rubber molding you were looking for

Cheers,
Brad

Kermit · Oct 13, 2011

fokker416 said:
I just think it's odd that a boat store really doesn't know anything about my boat.

Why don't you invite him sailing with you sometime? He might just learn something about your boat.
Kermit

soling42 · Oct 13, 2011

We have a WM super store in Sarasota but even then the sailing supplies are hard for them to order for all the different apps aside from line, PFDs, a pretty good assortment of blocks and a few general sailing items. With the internet competition most retailers won't venture in too far when it comes to stocking gear. I usually hit the marine consignment store in Venice and JSI in St Pete if I need it right away but still call first. At least in there they speak sailing lingo. Another option is ordering from here at the chandlery to support the website.

I have a couple weeks of vacation coming and we're once again sailing down to Cayo Costa next weekend +/- from Sarasota. Roll that sea sled down the interstate a few hrs and join us for an easy coastal run (inside the ICW or outside) to expand your horizons a bit. We can set you up and you'd be welcome(along with any other posters here) to join us to run down/back together. It's a few days on the hook, easy access to supplies in nearby Boca Grande and head back. Or trim 2-4 days of sailing off the trip and just launch in Placida which is the NW end of Charlotte harbor and about an hour from the most idyllic tropical sailing anchorage in SW Fl(sshhhh). The west coast trailer sailors(from tarpon springs) are also planning to meet there on Nov18-21. Just a heads up if lake Weir is getting tight.
Mike

Nodak7 · Oct 13, 2011

fokker416 said:
I live in North Central Florida. There are a few sailboats around here but not a lot. The "local" West Marine is on the coast around an hour away. When I need something right now I'll run into the local boat store. I should say the local fishing boat store. Have you guys noticed how little the local stores know about sailboats?

Here's my favorite. I bought my boat and was shopping for an outboard. I went into the local place and told him what HP range I was looking for and that it had to be a long shaft. "A long shaft? What do you need that for? That's for sailboats". I responded "Well by some amazing coincidence I happen to own one."

Went in the other day looking for some rubber stripping to replace the stuff around my hatch. They didn't have the right size, no big deal. The guy asked me if my boat was a Triton. "Nope, it's a Hunter". He stared at me for a second, then got someone else. Don't think he knew what a Hunter was (they build them about an hour away from here). Does this happen to you guys a lot, or is it because I live in a "quaint rural community"? I'm not really upset about it, I just think it's odd that a boat store really doesn't know anything about my boat.

LOL... at least you have a boat store that has something.... the nearest WM for us is a 6 hour drive (one way to Mnpls) and that is a small one. Thank goodness WM has fast delivery so I can order on Monday and have it by friday. The Boat stores here have little for parts or much else unless it is for a fishing boat.... I feel your pain!

soling42 · Oct 13, 2011

..So you're going down to Cayo Costa for the WCTSS meet on 11/18-21? I really enjoy getting together with those guys and any excuse to go back to CC is a good one. Here's a couple pics from last spring at their raftup. Good luck in your hardware hunt.
Cya, Mike

Bill1565 · Oct 13, 2011

Shhhhh!

soling42 said:
the most idyllic tropical sailing anchorage in SW Fl(sshhhh). The west coast trailer sailors(from tarpon springs) are also planning to meet there on Nov18-21. Just a heads up if lake Weir is getting tight.
Mike

Today, there are dead fish all over the beaches. Red Tide. Probably also this weekend. Maybe worse as the wind is going to switch to northwest when the cold front goes thru. Mote Marine usually has good current info. Google them.

Won't last, the patch of red tide is moving south fairly quickly.

soling42 · Oct 14, 2011

Egads! I had heard about a patch offshore of Sanabel a couple weeks ago and forgot all about it. My weekend (possibly entire seasonal) plans just changed for the worse. Strong front due mid week so maybe it'll blow it South. Once it gets back in the channels it's a mess. The last time we had a bad one was '06 and I ended up trailering to the St Johns river and sailing Lake George & lake Dora. Thanks for the heads up Bill.

I wonder how deep the ramp in lake Weir is........

inarathree · Oct 14, 2011

Mote Marine and a couple other sources didn't show any significant red tide in the TB area. I was out on Tuesday by Anclote, and didn't notice any problems.

Sometimes frustrating, sometimes funny.

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