-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A9543uTbIfNL/64dXgAIxCydsIYXUg8W3Iv97DvXS+XCjqP2443dZOOsAntLKxuA
 oYEvyxgyMIwO51FHfV/Esg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001239214-03-000001.txt : 20031105
<SEC-HEADER>0001239214-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031105212539
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001239214-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EDMONDSON JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239214

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22512
		FILM NUMBER:		03980879

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WESTMARINE
		STREET 2:		500 WESTRIDGE DRIVE
		CITY:			WATSONVILL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			950076

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEST MARINE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912833
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				770355502
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 WESTRIDGE DR
		CITY:			WATSONVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95076-4100
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087282700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 WESTRIDGE DRIVE
		CITY:			WATSONVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-04</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912833</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEST MARINE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WMAR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239214</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDMONDSON JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 WESTRIDGE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WATSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95076</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>14500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>7.8125</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39134</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrInd
irectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.8125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>14500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-11-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-11-04</value></expiration
Date><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>14500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Pam Fields, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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