-----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,
 I62OUEFRpzB21zvQen2BuE604H2RSoReMmchqvm+isiShkvGXD7CxUP7pXLUjLpn
 jt+4M16X9jJFPeEa+fRafA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001239220-04-000001.txt : 20040310
<SEC-HEADER>0001239220-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040310183300
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001239220-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040309
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROY PETER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239220

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22512
		FILM NUMBER:		04661282

	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>2004-03-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912833</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEST MARINE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WMAR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239220</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROY PETER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 WESTRIDGE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WATSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95076</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-03-09</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8842</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter Roy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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