West Marine sales up in Q4

Watsonville, Calif. West Marine said Thursday that its fourth-quarter revenue fell 6.2% compared with last year, but if the extra week from the 2008 quarter is removed, revenues actually rose 1.7%.

"The second half of the year was better for us than the first half, and that gives us more confidence in the boating products market as we move into 2010," said CEO Geoff Eisenberg.

Even with what could be considered an uptick in customer traffic to end 2009, full-year revenue fell 6.7% to $588.7 million.

Same-store sales slipped 4.8% in the last quarter, which didn't have the benefit of that extra week. Adjusted same-store sales, however, were up 2.3%.