The old saying about slowly losing money by ‘nickel and dime’
does not really hold anymore. Now there exists
the potential for a much more rapid pace of cash outflow in the form of ‘five
dollars and ten dollars.’ Or worse, as
the saying goes, another BOAT Unit (Break Out Another Thousand.) This time around on re-fitting a sailboat, we
tried to work a little smarter. All
those stainless steel screws, nuts, bolts, washers or other fasteners are
available in small or large quantities for a fraction of the price when shopped
against local or national chandleries, and the quality is better than most
local or national hardware stores. The secret
we are happy to share is McMaster Carr.
When in Jacksonville, Florida, we use the Atlanta warehouse. If our order is in by 6 pm Monday through Thursday
(excepting holidays of course) we receive the shipment the next day. Give it a test run and price compare, but you might want to sit down first and prepare to forgive yourself for what you previously paid at a chandlery. That is water under the bridge.
The savings are not just limited to the area
of fasteners. We have found their prices
and quality of merchandise quite reasonable in other areas, such as: hydraulic lines
and fittings, high pressure lines and fittings for our water makers, drill bits,
hose clamps, pressure gauge – gosh – you name it. We recently purchased a strainer for our
primary bilge pump. We saved over $30
this one item alone.
We do not make a nickel (or dime) by referring you to them. We just want them to stay in business.
Click here for a link to McMaster Carr.
