RCE wrote:
"RG" wrote in message
m...


That's a bit dramatic. It might create a buyer's market for boats, but
not much more. For the average boater, fuel costs are a relativley small
part of the overall cost of boating.

In today's world, I absolutely agree. The more recent discussions in this
thread have been focused on much more extreme scenarios that could
possibly play out in the future.


Do you really belive that boat owners will default on their loans just
because fuel costs have increased?

Yes, if we are talking per gallon fuel costs deep into double digits,
possibly triple digits, and even possibly unavailable at any price. That
is the framework in which my comment was made, and which the discussion
over the last 24 hours has been focused in this thread. You may think
such a scenario unthinkable, but many believe it is not.



Everyone's situation is different, of course, depending on what kind of boat
they have and how and what they use it for.

But here's an eye opener for me. In the fall of 2002, I took my boat from
MA to Florida, something that many people here on the east coast do yearly.
That trip's fuel cost was about 4,300 bucks, if I recall correctly (log book
not handy). In many places south of Virginia diesel was selling for about a
dollar/gal at that time.
Right now the same trip would be closer to 14K in fuel costs. I like
boating, but I don't like it that much. So, for now anyway, the boat stays
put. Fortunately I am loan free on it, so it doesn't hurt so much, but I
also think that it's already too late to sell if so inclined and expect to
get fair market value.

Makes a great summer cottage on the Cape, though.

RCE


I'd fly south and charter a boat or borrow a friend's.