LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby appoints each of Pamela

Fields, Eric Nelson and Linda Kennedy to be the undersigned's true and lawful

attorney-in-fact, for the undersigned, and in his or her name, place and stead to:



(1) execute for an on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity

as an officer and /or director of West Marine, Inc. (the "Company"), Form 144

and Forms 3, 4, and 5 and such other forms (including amendments thereto) as

such attorney shall in his or her discretion determine to be required or

advisable pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933,

as amended (the "1933 Act"), Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of

1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and regulations under the

1933 Act and the 1934 Act or any successor laws and regulations;



(2) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which

may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 144 or

Forms 3, 4, or 5, or such other forms described above, and timely file such form

with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar

authority; and



(3) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the

foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit

to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it

being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on

behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in

such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such

attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in fact's discretion.



The undersigned agrees that each attorney-in-fact may rely entirely on

information furnished orally or in writing by the undersigned to such

attorneys-in-fact. The undersigned also agrees to indemnify and hold harmless

the Company and the attorneys-in-fact against any losses, claims, damages or

liabilities (or actions in these respects) that arise out of or are based

upon any untrue statements or omission of necessary facts in the information

provided by the undersigned to the Company or the attorneys-in-fact for

purpose of executing, acknowledging, delivering or filing Form 144 or

Forms 3, 4, or 5 (including amendments thereto) and agrees to reimburse

the Company and the attorneys-in fact for any legal or other expenses

reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending against

any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.  The undersigned also

acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such

capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming any of the

undersigned's responsibilities to comply with the 1933 Act or Section 16

of the 1934 Act.



The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power of

substitution or revocation. The validity of the Power of Attorney shall not be

affected in any manner by reason of the execution, at any time, of other

powers of attorney by the undersigned in favor of persons other than those

named herein.  The undersigned agrees and represents to those dealing with

its attorneys-in-fact herein that this Power of Attorney shall remain in full

force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms

144, 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of any transactions

in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned

in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.



WITNESS THE EXECUTION HEREOF,  this 7 th day of May, 2003.



   Signature: /s/ Daniel J. Sweeney

   Printed Name: Daniel J. Sweeney