West Marine, Inc. saw both overall and comparable store sales slip in the fourth quarter, but not so much as to drag the annual results negative. Net sales for Q4 were $122.3 million decreasing 2.0% from $124.8 million for the same period last year. Comparable store sales for the quarter slipped 0.2%. Net sales for the full year, which ended December 30, 2006, were $715.1 million, an increase of 3.3% from $692.3 million last year. Comparable store sales for 2006 increased 2.3%.

Net sales attributable to the company’s Stores segment for the year were $628.4 million, an increase of 4.5% over last year. Wholesale sales through the company’s Port Supply distribution centers decreased 9.6% to $43.5 million, with management attributing the slump to increased sales to Port Supply customers through store locations, which are included in Stores sales. Net sales in the Direct Sales (catalog and Internet) segment were up 0.7% to $43.2 million in 2006.