Lines of Credit and Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Lines of Credit and Long-Term Debt	LINES OF CREDIT AND LONG–TERM DEBT On November 30, 2012, West Marine and certain of its subsidiaries, along with the lenders that are signatories thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor by merger to Wells Fargo Retail Finance, LLC), as agent for the lenders, entered into a first amendment to the Company's amended and restated loan and security agreement, to, among other things, amend the procedures by which we may request the issuance of letters of credit; reduce the interest rates applicable to borrowings under the amended and restated loan and security agreement; reduce the fee that the Company must pay on undrawn availability; extend the maturity of the agreement to November 30, 2017; and at the Company's request, reduce the maximum available borrowing capacity from $140.0 million to $120.0 million. In addition, at the Company's option and subject to certain conditions, the Company may increase its borrowing capacity up to an additional $25.0 million. All other material terms of the amended and restated loan and security agreement remained unchanged. The amount available to be borrowed is based on a percentage of certain of the Company's inventory (excluding capitalized indirect costs) and accounts receivable. The revolving credit facility is guaranteed by West Marine, Inc. and West Marine Canada Corp. (an indirect subsidiary of West Marine, Inc.) and secured by a security interest in all of our accounts receivable and inventory, certain other related assets, and all proceeds thereof. The revolving credit facility is available for general working capital and general corporate purposes. At the Company’s election, borrowings under the revolving credit facility will bear interest at one of the following options: 1.The prime rate, which is defined in the loan agreement as the highest of: a.Federal funds rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent; b.LIBOR rate for a one-month interest period plus one percent; or c.The rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Wells Fargo as its “prime rate;” or 2.The LIBOR rate quoted by the British Bankers Association for the applicable interest period. In each case, the applicable interest rate is increased by a margin imposed by the loan agreement. The applicable margin for any date will depend upon the amount of available credit under the revolving credit facility. The margin range for option (1) above is between 0.5% to 1.0% and for option (2) above is between 1.5% and 2.0%. The loan agreement also imposes a fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility available. For 2012, 2011 and 2010, the weighted-average interest rate on all of our outstanding borrowings was 4.7%, 3.1% and 1.5%, respectively. Although the loan agreement contains customary covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur liens, make acquisitions and investments, pay dividends and sell or transfer assets, it does not contain debt or other similar financial covenants, such as maintaining certain specific leverage, debt service or interest coverage ratios. Instead, the loan is asset-based (which means the Company’s lenders maintain a security interest in the Company’s inventory and accounts receivable which serve as collateral for the loan), and the amount the Company may borrow under its revolving credit facility at any given time is determined by the estimated value of these assets as determined by the lenders’ appraisers. Additionally, the Company must maintain minimum revolving credit availability equal to the greater of $7 million or 10% of the borrowing base. In addition, there are customary events of default under our loan agreement, including failure to comply with our covenants. If we fail to comply with any of the covenants contained in the loan agreement, an event of default occurs which, if not waived by our lenders or cured within the applicable time periods, results in the lenders having the right to accelerate repayment of all outstanding indebtedness under the loan agreement before the stated maturity date and the revolving credit facility could be terminated. These events of default include, after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, payment defaults to the lenders, material inaccuracies of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, material payment defaults (other than under the loan agreement), voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy proceedings, material money judgments, material ERISA events, change of control and other customary defaults. A default under this loan agreement also could significantly and adversely affect the Company’s ability to obtain additional or alternative financing. As of December 29, 2012, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under this loan agreement. At the end of fiscal year 2012, there were no amounts outstanding under this revolving credit facility, $91.7 million was available for future borrowings, and there was $1.0 million in unamortized loan costs. At the end of fiscal year 2011, there were no amounts outstanding under this revolving credit facility, $86.9 million was available for future borrowings, and there was $0.6 million in unamortized loan costs. At the end of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, the Company had $5.1 million and $8.3 million of outstanding commercial and stand-by letters of credit, respectively.

LINES OF CREDIT AND LONG–TERM DEBT

On November 30, 2012, West Marine and certain of its subsidiaries, along with the lenders that are signatories thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor by merger to Wells Fargo Retail Finance, LLC), as agent for the lenders, entered into a first amendment to the Company's amended and restated loan and security agreement, to, among other things, amend the procedures by which we may request the issuance of letters of credit; reduce the interest rates applicable to borrowings under the amended and restated loan and security agreement; reduce the fee that the Company must pay on undrawn availability; extend the maturity of the agreement to November 30, 2017; and at the Company's request, reduce the maximum available borrowing capacity from $140.0 million to $120.0 million. In addition, at the Company's option and subject to certain conditions, the Company may increase its borrowing capacity up to an additional $25.0 million. All other material terms of the amended and restated loan and security agreement remained unchanged. The amount available to be borrowed is based on a percentage of certain of the Company's inventory (excluding capitalized indirect costs) and accounts receivable.

The revolving credit facility is guaranteed by West Marine, Inc. and West Marine Canada Corp. (an indirect subsidiary of West Marine, Inc.) and secured by a security interest in all of our accounts receivable and inventory, certain other related assets, and all proceeds thereof. The revolving credit facility is available for general working capital and general corporate purposes.

At the Company’s election, borrowings under the revolving credit facility will bear interest at one of the following options:

1.The prime rate, which is defined in the loan agreement as the highest of:

a.Federal funds rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent;

b.LIBOR rate for a one-month interest period plus one percent; or

c.The rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Wells Fargo as its “prime rate;” or

2.The LIBOR rate quoted by the British Bankers Association for the applicable interest period.

In each case, the applicable interest rate is increased by a margin imposed by the loan agreement. The applicable margin for any date will depend upon the amount of available credit under the revolving credit facility. The margin range for option (1) above is between 0.5% to 1.0% and for option (2) above is between 1.5% and 2.0%.

The loan agreement also imposes a fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility available. For 2012, 2011 and 2010, the weighted-average interest rate on all of our outstanding borrowings was 4.7%, 3.1% and 1.5%, respectively.

Although the loan agreement contains customary covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur liens, make acquisitions and investments, pay dividends and sell or transfer assets, it does not contain debt or other similar financial covenants, such as maintaining certain specific leverage, debt service or interest coverage ratios. Instead, the loan is asset-based (which means the Company’s lenders maintain a security interest in the Company’s inventory and accounts receivable which serve as collateral for the loan), and the amount the Company may borrow under its revolving credit facility at any given time is determined by the estimated value of these assets as determined by the lenders’ appraisers. Additionally, the Company must maintain minimum revolving credit availability equal to the greater of $7 million or 10% of the borrowing base. In addition, there are customary events of default under our loan agreement, including failure to comply with our covenants. If we fail to comply with any of the covenants contained in the loan agreement, an event of default occurs which, if not waived by our lenders or cured within the applicable time periods, results in the lenders having the right to accelerate repayment of all outstanding indebtedness under the loan agreement before the stated maturity date and the revolving credit facility could be terminated. These events of default include, after the expiration of any applicable grace periods, payment defaults to the lenders, material inaccuracies of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, material payment defaults (other than under the loan agreement), voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy proceedings, material money judgments, material ERISA events, change of control and other customary defaults. A default under this loan agreement also could significantly and adversely affect the Company’s ability to obtain additional or alternative financing. As of December 29, 2012, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under this loan agreement.

At the end of fiscal year 2012, there were no amounts outstanding under this revolving credit facility, $91.7 million was available for future borrowings, and there was $1.0 million in unamortized loan costs. At the end of fiscal year 2011, there were no amounts outstanding under this revolving credit facility, $86.9 million was available for future borrowings, and there was $0.6 million in unamortized loan costs. At the end of fiscal years 2012 and 2011, the Company had $5.1 million and $8.3 million of outstanding commercial and stand-by letters of credit, respectively.