Proof that stuff costs more when it says "marine"

[Scollins]

My other passion, besides my truck, is my boat. I was at West Marine today to get some boating supplies, and I noticed the following (outrageous) prices:

Delo 400 15w40 Oil, gallon = $8. 99!! I paid $5. 50/gallon at Costco... ...

"Marine" Simple Green (same stuff as regular, but the bottle has some nautical flags on it) = $6. 99 for a 24 oz spray bottle. About $4. 69 at a grocery store.

I wonder how many poor saps are paying these outrageous prices, thinking that it is different than the stuff from the non-marine stuff sold elsewhere. Caveat emptor!

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Scott Collins
'98 Ram 2500 4x4 12 Valve Cummins. Slightly BOMBed! #ad

Renton, WA

[This message has been edited by Scollins (edited 01-21-2001). ]

 

[Joe G.]

Scott,

When I was running a commercial fish boat and something was needed we always shoped at an RV store if possible because the prices were some much better. Sometimes the only place to get something is at a commercial marine hardware store but the prices will make you have a fainting spell!

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Chad Sheets]

Non sense! #ad
The Marine Corps runs on 1/10th of the funds the Navy gets from the Dept of Def. Heck, we take flashlights the Army throws out and fix them to reuse. Nothing exspensive about us.

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Always ready to help!
2000 2500 Red Sport quad cab, 4x4, K&N, DDI's, straight piped, boost, pyro and fuel pressure gages, Hot Power Edge, mean looking set of 33. 5" tires, Snap On diamond tool box, Marine Corps window sticker, Semper Fi!

1972 340 Cuda'. Original tripple Black, 340 car w/air. Good clean car, super stock springs, Weld Prostars, shaker hood, strong 340 with a 727/4000 stahl, 4. 56... . Bombs away!
NRA Life Member. http://www.geocities.com/chadsheets

 

[illflem]

No kidding,I rebuilt a small block Chevy V-6 boat engine last summer,my friend wanted to use marine(not USMC) parts,the gasket set alone was around $100 more than the same set for road use. They say the parts are different for marine,but gaskets?I think the only difference is the price.

 

[Chad Sheets]

I know that if its for "Marine Use" then the marine society has to approve it. They have some of the toughest standards in the world, and they are world wide, not just a U. S. thing. If an engine fails going down the road, no big deal usualy. If a marine engine fails, lives are at risk.

I would say in this case, price dictates quality.


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Always ready to help!
2000 2500 Red Sport quad cab, 4x4, K&N, DDI's, straight piped, boost, pyro and fuel pressure gages, Hot Power Edge, mean looking set of 33. 5" tires, Snap On diamond tool box, Marine Corps window sticker, Semper Fi!

1972 340 Cuda'. Original tripple Black, 340 car w/air. Good clean car, super stock springs, Weld Prostars, shaker hood, strong 340 with a 727/4000 stahl, 4. 56... . Bombs away!
NRA Life Member. http://www.geocities.com/chadsheets

 

[Scollins]

Originally posted by Chad Sheets:
I know that if its for "Marine Use" then the marine society has to approve it. They have some of the toughest standards in the world, and they are world wide, not just a U. S. thing. If an engine fails going down the road, no big deal usualy. If a marine engine fails, lives are at risk.

I would say in this case, price dictates quality.

In some cases, I would agree. However, the two products I mentioned are not "marine" specific, so a customer just pays more by buying it a marine store. Obviously the customer base of a marine store is smaller than some other shops, thus they need a higher gross margin to survive. But, to have a 64% premium on the oil is ridiculous. There are a lot of products sold in marine and RV stores that are no different than the products bought elsewhere, so shopping around is a wise thing.

But Chad is right, there are some products that are indeed specific to the marine industry. When it comes to engine parts, I only want to buy genuine Volvo Penta parts, even if I have to pay a little more.


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Scott Collins
'98 Ram 2500 4x4 12 Valve Cummins. Slightly BOMBed! #ad

Renton, WA

[This message has been edited by Scollins (edited 01-21-2001). ]

 

[Steve G]

A few years ago I had my boat in for a tune up and lower unit check. The guy told me (thank god) that the NGK spark plugs would be $10. 00 a piece. I told him to leave the plugs out and I would get them somewhere else. Went to local parts store and bought them for $1. 25. I later told him what the price for the plugs was when I picked up the boat and he said, that was cheaper than he could buy them for. I informed him that he ought to find another supplier.

Steve

 

[Bill Stockard]

Steve G,

You got a Yamaha outboard? I had one, a V6 175 HP, on our Ranger Bass Boat and it used NGK plugs. I bought the plugs at an automotive parts store too. That was the best running, easiest starting, and least problem outboard I ever owned.

Bill

 

[Rambunctious]

If you think marine is bad try and say the word "aviation" !!!

Chuck


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2001 QC 4x4 LB 5spd ISB stock for now!!

 

[Scollins]

Originally posted by Rambunctious:
If you think marine is bad try and say the word "aviation" !!!

Chuck

NO KIDDING! My dad used to own a Beechcraft Musketeer, which is a single engine, low wing propeller plane. This was a few years ago, and he has since sold it. The plane wasn't very much (~$15,000 for a 1967) but the avionics, annual maintainence & inspections, fuel, insurance, etc, etc were all ridiculous. Now, he is building his own kit airplane, and the tools cost a fortune! He's been working on it for 8 years, and I'm betting I'll be selling off the aluminum parts for scrap in about 25 years... ... .


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Scott Collins
'98 Ram 2500 4x4 12 Valve Cummins. Slightly BOMBed! #ad

Renton, WA

[This message has been edited by Scollins (edited 01-21-2001). ]

 

[Steve G]

Hi Bill,
At the time I had a 85 Suzuki. I've got a 200 Mercury now. I was going to get the Yamaha,but I would have had to pay around 1500. 00 more for it. My Dealer had some excellent connections on Mercury. So far I've not had a problem one with it. (knock on wood)

Steve

 

[Chad Sheets]

Haw about Marine Aviation #ad
#ad


We use to have to steal (aquire) rotor blades off the base display model in order to keep our birds flying. We would trade out our cracked blades for the good ones.

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Always ready to help!
2000 2500 Red Sport quad cab, 4x4, K&N, DDI's, straight piped, boost, pyro and fuel pressure gages, Hot Power Edge, mean looking set of 33. 5" tires, Snap On diamond tool box, Marine Corps window sticker, Semper Fi!

1972 340 Cuda'. Original tripple Black, 340 car w/air. Good clean car, super stock springs, Weld Prostars, shaker hood, strong 340 with a 727/4000 stahl, 4. 56... . Bombs away!
NRA Life Member. http://www.geocities.com/chadsheets