<PAGE>
 
================================================================================
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 25, 1999
                                                       Registration No. 333-____
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            ------------------------

                               WEST MARINE, INC.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

                    Delaware                                 77-035-5502
          (State or other jurisdiction                    (I.R.S. employer
        of incorporation or organization)              identification number)
                                                   
  500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, California               95076-4100
    (Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

                 WEST MARINE, INC. ASSOCIATES STOCK BUYING PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 John Edmondson
                               West Marine, Inc.
            500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, California  95076-4100
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

  Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service: (831) 728-2700

                                    Copy to:
                              John F. Seegal, Esq.
                       Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
                               400 Sansome Street
                        San Francisco, California  94111

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==================================================================================================
Title of Securities       Amount        Proposed Maximum     Proposed Maximum    
       to be              to be        Offering Price Per   Aggregate Offering      Amount of
    Registered          Registered           Share*               Price*         Registration Fee*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>              <C>                  <C>                  <C>  
   Common Stock       200,000 shares       $11.69               $2,338,000          $650.00
==================================================================================================
</TABLE>
*  Estimated on the basis of $11.69, the average of the high and low prices of
shares on the NASDAQ National Market System on January 22, 1999.

================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement: (i) the latest annual report of West Marine, Inc. (the "Company")
filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"); (ii) all reports filed by the Company pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year
covered by the Company's latest annual report; and (iii) the description of the
Company's common stock set forth in the Company's Registration Statement on Form
8-A relating thereto, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description. All documents filed by the Company after the date of
this registration statement pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment (that
indicates all securities offered have been sold or deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold), shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Inapplicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

Inapplicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that its directors will not
be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches
of fiduciary duty, to the fullest extent permitted by law.  This provision is
intended to allow the Company's directors the benefit of the Delaware General
Corporation law which provides that directors of Delaware corporations may be
relieved of monetary liability for breaches of their fiduciary duty of care
except under certain circumstances, including breach of the duty of loyalty,
acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or known
violation of law or any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit.

The Company has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of
the directors and executive officers, whereby the Company agrees, among other
things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason
of their status or service as directors or officers, to advance their expenses
incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be
indemnified, and to obtain directors' and officers' insurance if available at
reasonable terms.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

Inapplicable.
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

4.1   West Marine, Inc. Associates Stock Buying Plan, as amended (incorporated
      by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant's Registration Statement on
      Form S-8, filed on February 9, 1995 (Commission File No. 33-89322)).

5.1   Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

23.1  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2  Consent of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is included in Exhibit 5.1.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

     (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-
effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement;

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement;

          Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

     (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of the 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                   Signatures

THE REGISTRANT

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Watsonville, State of California on the 11th day of
December, 1998.

West Marine, Inc.
 (Registrant)


     /s/ John Edmondson
----------------------------------
         John Edmondson
       President and Chief
        Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration
statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Signature                           Title                       Date
<S>                                <C>                                <C>
Principal Executive Officer:                                          
                                                                      
   /s/ John Edmondson                                                 
------------------------------     President and Chief Executive      December 10, 1998
       John Edmondson              Officer                                              
                                                                      
Principal Financial Officer                                           
and Accounting Officer:                                               
                                                                      
   /s/ John C. Zott                                                   
------------------------------     Senior Vice President and          December 8, 1998
       John C. Zott                Chief Financial Officer                             
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
Directors:

   /s/ Randolph K. Repass               Director               December 11, 1998
------------------------------                         
       Randolph K. Repass                              
                                                       
   /s/ Geoffrey A. Eisenberg            Director               December 10, 1998
------------------------------                         
       Geoffrey A. Eisenberg                           
                                                       
   /s/ Richard E. Everett               Director               December 11, 1998
------------------------------                         
       Richard E. Everett                              
                                                       
   /s/ James P. Curley                  Director               December 15, 1998
------------------------------                         
       James P. Curley                                 
                                                       
   /s/ Jeanne Jackson                   Director               January 20, 1999
------------------------------                         
       Jeanne Jackson                                  
                                                       
   /s/ David McComas                    Director               December 9, 1998
------------------------------                         
       David McComas                                   
                                                       
   /s/ Walter Scott                     Director               December 9, 1998
------------------------------                         
       Walter Scott                                    
                                                       
   /s/ Henry Wendt                      Director               December 9, 1998
------------------------------
       Henry Wendt

A majority of the members of the Board of Directors.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

4.1   West Marine, Inc. Associates Stock Buying Plan, as amended (incorporated 
      by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant's Registration Statement 
      on Form S-8, filed on February 9, 1995 (Commission File No. 33-89322)).

5.1   Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

23.1  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2  Consent of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is included in Exhibit 5.1.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14221}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WEST MARINE INC", "cik": "0000912833", "assigned-sic": "5500", "irs-number": "770355502", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1229"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-71147", "film-number": "99512406"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 WESTRIDGE DR", "city": "WATSONVILLE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95076-4100", "phone": "4087282700"}}
================================================================================
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 25, 1999
                                                       Registration No. 333-____
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            ------------------------

                               WEST MARINE, INC.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

                    Delaware                                 77-035-5502
          (State or other jurisdiction                    (I.R.S. employer
        of incorporation or organization)              identification number)
                                                   
  500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, California               95076-4100
    (Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

                 WEST MARINE, INC. ASSOCIATES STOCK BUYING PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 John Edmondson
                               West Marine, Inc.
            500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, California  95076-4100
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

  Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service: (831) 728-2700

                                    Copy to:
                              John F. Seegal, Esq.
                       Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
                               400 Sansome Street
                        San Francisco, California  94111

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==================================================================================================
Title of Securities       Amount        Proposed Maximum     Proposed Maximum    
       to be              to be        Offering Price Per   Aggregate Offering      Amount of
    Registered          Registered           Share*               Price*         Registration Fee*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock       200,000 shares       $11.69               $2,338,000          $650.00
==================================================================================================
*  Estimated on the basis of $11.69, the average of the high and low prices of
shares on the NASDAQ National Market System on January 22, 1999.

================================================================================
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement: (i) the latest annual report of West Marine, Inc. (the "Company")
filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"); (ii) all reports filed by the Company pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year
covered by the Company's latest annual report; and (iii) the description of the
Company's common stock set forth in the Company's Registration Statement on Form
8-A relating thereto, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description. All documents filed by the Company after the date of
this registration statement pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment (that
indicates all securities offered have been sold or deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold), shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Inapplicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

Inapplicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that its directors will not
be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches
of fiduciary duty, to the fullest extent permitted by law.  This provision is
intended to allow the Company's directors the benefit of the Delaware General
Corporation law which provides that directors of Delaware corporations may be
relieved of monetary liability for breaches of their fiduciary duty of care
except under certain circumstances, including breach of the duty of loyalty,
acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or known
violation of law or any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit.

The Company has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of
the directors and executive officers, whereby the Company agrees, among other
things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason
of their status or service as directors or officers, to advance their expenses
incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be
indemnified, and to obtain directors' and officers' insurance if available at
reasonable terms.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

Inapplicable.
ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

4.1   West Marine, Inc. Associates Stock Buying Plan, as amended (incorporated
      by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant's Registration Statement on
      Form S-8, filed on February 9, 1995 (Commission File No. 33-89322)).

5.1   Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

23.1  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2  Consent of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is included in Exhibit 5.1.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

     (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-
effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement;

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement;

          Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

     (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of the 

                                       2
Plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       3
Signatures

THE REGISTRANT

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Watsonville, State of California on the 11th day of
December, 1998.

West Marine, Inc.
 (Registrant)

     /s/ John Edmondson
----------------------------------
         John Edmondson
       President and Chief
        Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration
statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
Signature                           Title                       Date
Principal Executive Officer:                                          
                                                                      
   /s/ John Edmondson                                                 
------------------------------     President and Chief Executive      December 10, 1998
       John Edmondson              Officer                                              
                                                                      
Principal Financial Officer                                           
and Accounting Officer:                                               
                                                                      
   /s/ John C. Zott                                                   
------------------------------     Senior Vice President and          December 8, 1998
       John C. Zott                Chief Financial Officer
4
Directors:

   /s/ Randolph K. Repass               Director               December 11, 1998
------------------------------                         
       Randolph K. Repass                              
                                                       
   /s/ Geoffrey A. Eisenberg            Director               December 10, 1998
------------------------------                         
       Geoffrey A. Eisenberg                           
                                                       
   /s/ Richard E. Everett               Director               December 11, 1998
------------------------------                         
       Richard E. Everett                              
                                                       
   /s/ James P. Curley                  Director               December 15, 1998
------------------------------                         
       James P. Curley                                 
                                                       
   /s/ Jeanne Jackson                   Director               January 20, 1999
------------------------------                         
       Jeanne Jackson                                  
                                                       
   /s/ David McComas                    Director               December 9, 1998
------------------------------                         
       David McComas                                   
                                                       
   /s/ Walter Scott                     Director               December 9, 1998
------------------------------                         
       Walter Scott                                    
                                                       
   /s/ Henry Wendt                      Director               December 9, 1998
------------------------------
       Henry Wendt

A majority of the members of the Board of Directors.

                                       5
EXHIBIT INDEX

4.1   West Marine, Inc. Associates Stock Buying Plan, as amended (incorporated 
      by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant's Registration Statement 
      on Form S-8, filed on February 9, 1995 (Commission File No. 33-89322)).

5.1   Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

23.1  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2  Consent of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is included in Exhibit 5.1.