Fuel Prices Won't Put a Damper on Vacation Season
Nationwide Insurance survey shows nearly 70 percent of RV, travel
trailer, boat and motorcycle owners willing to "pay to play"



Columbus, Ohio - Don't expect less crowded roads and waterways this
vacation season. According to Nationwide Mutual Insurance's Second
Annual Fueling Powersports Index, powersporters - owners of RVs,
travel trailers, boats and motorcycles - indicate even if gas prices
go up, their love for their lifestyle has them willing to "pay to
play."



Nationwide polled 2,518 motorcycle, power boat, bass boat, RV and
travel trailer owners to gauge their sentiments on how fuel prices
would impact their powersport vehicle use. Nearly 70 percent of
powersport enthusiasts say they will not change their vacation plans
because of high prices.



"Our second annual survey demonstrates that powersport owners are
adapting to a range of fuel prices. In fact, enthusiasts say gas would
have to cost nearly twice as much before they would stop using their
vehicles," said Mitch Roggemann, national sales director for
Nationwide's Property & Casualty Specialty Products. "This is
reflective of the fact that close to 70 percent of all powersporters
use time spent on their vehicles as an escape from everyday life."



"At Nationwide, we know powersporting is truly a lifestyle," said
Roggemann. "Understanding the passions and motivations of these
enthusiasts allows us to remain connected with them, and ensures our
ability to offer the best protection available."



Key findings:

Enthusiasts say they would pay from $2.88 (travel trailer owners) up
to $3.38 (motorcyclists) per gallon before even considering using
their vehicles less frequently.
That's 28 cents more per gallon than motorcyclists said they were
willing to pay in the Nationwide survey last year.
Power boaters and bass boaters say gas prices would have to reach
$3.26 and $3.17 respectively before they would use their boats less
often. That's 50 cents more per gallon than they said last year.
The study found that fuel prices would have to go through the roof
before enthusiasts would stop using their vehicles, with prices
ranging from $4.14 per gallon (travel trailer owners) up to $6.27 per
gallon (motorcyclists).
Most powersporters plan on traveling long distances this summer. RV
owners say they expect to drive 819 miles round trip each time they
use their vehicle this year. Travel trailer owners expect to drive 459
miles round trip each time this year.
While powersporters don't expect to use their vehicles fewer times
this year, high fuel prices do have some effect on how long they run
their vehicles per trip.
Motorcyclists expect to ride about two hours and 54 minutes per trip
this summer. That's about 18 minutes shorter than last summer.
Power boaters will run their boats about 16 minutes less per outing
and bass boaters will run their engines about 32 minutes less per
outing.


For more information on powersports, visit www.nationwide.com