boating with liquid gold

[marco422]

So here's a question. If fuel was to triple in price, how would that affect your boating lifestyle? It's not out of the realms of possibility in the next ten years.

Would you give up boating? cut back other things in your life? buy a sailboat? trade in your tow vehicle or your outboard? Would you take more short trips or save it all for that special adventure?

 

[JamesTXSD]

So here's a question. If fuel was to triple in price, how would that affect your boating lifestyle? It's not out of the realms of possibility in the next ten years.

Would you give up boating? cut back other things in your life? buy a sailboat? trade in your tow vehicle or your outboard? Would you take more short trips or save it all for that special adventure?

I would miss the house. :wink: We've had sailboats; for the type of cruising we currently do, there wouldn't be that much of an advantage since it would likely be more motoring than sailing. We have already slowed down our typical travel speed and found that our mpg more than doubled. After doing that while fuel prices were high, it just feels comfortable continuing to cruise more slowly. I would go back to work before I'd give up boating.

What's that old song? Oh yeah, "Sha la la la la la la, live for today..." :note

 

[thataway]

I thought fuel prices trippled last year! $8 a gallon didn't stop us in the Broughtons (fortunately we found fuel for less a few days later--$6.00 a gallon). The run to Apalachicola and back cost $800 in fuel last year...

So no it would make no difference. But I see other factors as much as fuel which may restrict us. There may be inflation (I just received one of the bills for chemicals for my farm for this year and it was 20% more than last year). I don't see boats costing any less--and most likely costing more. That gives us less choice in available boats.

As Jim, we have done sailboats most of our lives--and then trawlers, so most likely we will not go back to that. But still fuel is not the most expensive part of boating for most owners.

 

[DaveS]

So here's a question. If fuel was to triple in price, how would that affect your boating lifestyle?

As I experienced last summer in Canada when I paid $6 per gallon, it caused me to slow down a bit. It actually caught me by surprise, as I was use (?) to $4 per gallon in the US and didn't expect such a price difference so suddenly.

If I'm on a cruise and expecting a certain amount of costs, then I'm ready for it and have planned accordingly, so we will still plan to be out there.

However, the real affect on folks boating lifestyle should be more along the realms of....
1. Will the marinas still be solvent (ie: above water and not gone under...pun intended) and in business? Or will they have had to close due to operating costs and lack of business as other boaters trim back their boating activities.
2. Will there be an adequate fuel supply readily available if these marinas close and no longer pump fuel.

Therefore, it is probably good if we can keep on boating and help patronize these establishments so they can stay open and in business. (For example, spend an extra day enjoying a marina's ambiance and not burn fuel). I certainly enjoy kicking back at a marina, enjoying their swimming pool, reading a book and enjoying a cool one...very relaxing to me!

Since, we are fortunate to have chosen a brand of vessel that is fuel efficient relative to the other vessels out there, our out-of-pocket expenses will be less (than them) and we will be able to continue enjoying our time on the water. (After all, we can eat, sleep, cruise on our vessels and in the evenings enjoy a sundowner with a water view....certainly can't do that with a lot of other vacation choices!)

 

[marvin4239]

I'm not real thrilled about paying $5 a gallon or more for fuel but in comparison crusing in the C-Dory is actually a lot cheaper than other types of travel I've done and you experience so much more. Last fall I made a trip up the NC coast when gas was pretty much at it's peak. Had I been traveling any other way I'd been looking at high airfares, motels, campground fees, meals etc. On my recent short 10 day trip I burned around 100 gallons of fuel but my Marina accomidations were actually quit reasonable. Many places were $1 per foot and two city Marinas along the way were free including water and electric. I did spent $65 for one night at Sanibel Island Marina (don't recommend it). I ate on board every meal but one just because I wanted to and anchored out two nights. In this I trailered the boat 500 miles. All in all I don't really see gas prices affecting the way I cruise very much. I guess and I don't have all the figures but my recent trip cost maybe $1000 or $100 a day so thats pretty cheap entertainment for the joy I got.

 

[Doryman]

My cousin runs his sailboat with a 30 hp diesel all summer on one tank of fuel. I would probably move to a small inboard displacement-speed diesel boat that would get similar performance and then if the marinas do go out of business I could still go where I want to, albeit more slowly.

Basically it would be like reverting to the days of The Curve of Time when boaters were more self-sufficient.

Warren

 

[Spike]

Fuel prices will not slow me down, but if this economy keeps going the way it is that will have an effect on my boating/fishing trips. Probably will not go to Sekiu for my annual 5 day trip nor a week in the San Juans

Chuck
Bootleg Hooch