Marinforce = some bargains

Paul Glatzel · 05 December 2002, 08:18

There was an earlier thread (by Charles I think) re a purchase at the now defunct Marineforce. As you may know one of Marineforce's outlets was/is Captain OM Watts in Dover Street, London W1. This would appear to still be open until 21/12/02 as the receivers are clearing the stock

I popped in there yesterday and there are some real bargains to be had. eg I bought a brand new Icom M1V Euro (retail c£280) for £120. The discounts on kit range from about 30 - 50% but you then just make an offer. They had a variety of Icom, Garmin, & Simrad electronics plus Musto & Gill clothing plus Dubarry boots.

They said they would do mailorder too - they seem to be open Mon-Sat. Happy bargain hunting

Paul

Flanker · 11 December 2002, 11:30

Thanks for the info Paul, I got some great stuff on two visits there, especially good for me as I was starting with nothing!

Pete

Julian · 11 December 2002, 13:09

Hi All

Is there a website for this company. I dont have time to go down there but if I can buy over the net i would be very interested.

Flanker · 11 December 2002, 13:34

Julian,

They are clearing everything out, it gets less and less by the day. Daniel is going there today, I have been there for the last two days, see immediate bargain thread. For your info their tel number is 0207 493 4633.

All Gill clothing is 50% off, Garmin 40%, All Nauticalia stuff for gifts 40% e.t.c.

If you want any further info e-mail me.

Pete

Richard B · 11 December 2002, 14:34

Julian,

Unfortunately their web site went off line as soon as they went under.

Richard B · 12 December 2002, 12:38

Popped in yesterday afternoon as I was in town... not much left now. However, if you're looking for a fleece, or a Musto "blouson" jacket (small sizes only) or Musto/Henri Lloyd gore-tex oilies, there's lots of those at -40% Also lots of deck hardware, anchors, cleats, paint, varnish, polish. And a couple of Garmin mono plotters (176 and 2006 I think). I'd give them a ring before making a special trip. Quite a few depth/speed instruments I think, too.

Daniel · 15 December 2002, 00:38

Unfortunately work commitments meant i never made it last week. On pepper's advise i don't think i'll be making special trip.

Richard B · 22 December 2002, 08:19

Interesting what's going on here - who's selling from OM Watts in London - is it the administrators, or is someone buying the stock and using OM Watts as the outlet???

Anyway, another bargain that Mrs Pepper found for me (totally unrelated to this) is Colin Jones' book "Rigid Inflatable Boats" for a pound. Have a look in "The Works" (the book remainder shop).

Flanker · 22 December 2002, 10:40

For info, O M Watts closed yesterday (Saturday)

Pete

Christopher · 22 December 2002, 18:45

What a shame it is to see the final closing down of O M Watts

Probably the best known yacht chandlers in the world, Oswald Watts(Ossie as he was known)started in Albemarle Street off Piccadilly back in the 1930,s. He was a delightful man who was a Master Mariner, and single handed wrote and edited Reeds Nautical Almanac for over 40 years. He also wrote a number of classic books such as The Sextant Simplified which I believe is still in print. He designed yachts, ran O M Watts Brokerage, and several thousand yachtsmen learnt their navigation skills through his correspondance courses.including naval recruits during the war years.

The showroom was a yachtsmens haven in the West End, with every imaginable bit of gear.

He sold the business in the 1980,s and it has been a downward spiral from then.

Paul Glatzel · 23 December 2002, 08:56

Pepper

The shop closed on saturday but was being run by Pannell Kerr Forster's Leceister Office (they are a large-ish firm of Chartered Accountants) in receivership. They had not found a buyer by Friday and given the reputation Marineforce now have for repeatedly going under you do wonder what value the brand would actually have.

Three stores (Poole, Lymington & i think Southend were bought a while ago by Windward Marine who changed them back to their original brand - Force 4)

Re the book where is the store/website you refer to as I've being trying to track that book down for a while?

Thanks

Paul

Richard B · 23 December 2002, 10:13

Hi Paul,

The Colin Jones book is in a shop called "The Works" - They're a nationwide chain of book remainder/clearance shops. I went into the Reading branch, but they do have a branch in Poole at 122 High Street. Telephone 01202 682250. No web site unfortunately.

If you don't have any luck, let me know and I'll see if I can get hold of another copy.

Regards,
Richard

Paul Glatzel · 24 December 2002, 07:49

Pepper

Thanks - I will track it down

Paul