Hopefully, it'll keep some of the stink boat yahoos home. Probably the ones
who are stretched thin financially to begin with. They're easy to spot.
They're the ones in a $50,000.00 floating Camaro, which come to the dock
with a 5 foot piece of plastic rope at each end of the boat. "That real
rope's purty expensive".



"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
From Oakland County, Michigan


Will gas prices dock boats?
Enthusiasts may keep craft out of water, but businesses doubt it

As the weather warms and boat owners begin putting their craft in the
water, the businesses that cater to them are speculating how record gas
prices will affect the sport.

Many said owners of large boats - like motor yachts and cabin cruisers
found on bigger bodies of water such as Lake St. Clair - may change their
ways.

"The larger boats may cut back the length of trips or the number of ports
they'll call on," said Van Snider, president of Livonia-based Michigan
Boating Industries Association.

Snider added, "It won't have a significant impact on smaller boats or on
fishing, for example, because you're not burning a lot of fuel."

Gas consumption is a big factor in Michigan, where boating generates $2.4
billion annually. In Oakland County, about 95,000 boats are registered.

Curly Arbuckle, sales manager at Colony Marine in Pontiac, waved off the
effects of gas pricing and appeared optimistic about the coming season.

"People are tired of the way things are," said Arbuckle. "A lot have money
to spend, and I think things are beginning to loosen up. We have lots of
interest in our boats."

Eric Wright of Waterford Township's Island Cover Marina on Cass Lake
hasn't opened his gas dock yet, but, when he does, he plans to set the
price per gallon at $3.20.

"I like to set a price and keep it there all season," he said. "We don't
sell enough to make a profit. Basically, it's a convenience for people."

Wright doesn't allow boaters to bring their own gas to the marina to fill
their tanks because of environmental regulations.

"But some people will bring gas and fill up in the lake," he said.
"There's nothing that can be done about it. But if (police officers) see
you spilling, they can write a ticket."

One Michigan dealer, selling only electric-powered boats near Jackson,
said he believes gas prices will help sales this year.

"The time is now for electric boats," said Larry Younkman, who exclusively
sells Clarklake-based Duffy Electric Boats in Jackson County.

"People are flipping out over them," said Younkman. "Gas is an issue now,
and I feel there is a definite demand for our boats."

Many marina owners dismiss the influence of higher gas prices.

Craig Stigleman, owner of Aggressive Marine in Commerce Township, said
most of his customers are people in "half-million-dollar homes on the
lakes.

"They're still going to use their boats," he said.

However, Stigleman pointed to a more serious factor affecting boat sales.

"Layoffs, like the 700 in Detroit or hundreds at Delphi, hurt us more than
gas prices," said Stigleman.

"For people who were thinking about buying a boat who may be (possibly
laid off), a new boat is the last thing on their list."


Click here for story:

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stori...50414021.shtml
--
Bush and the NeoConvicts who control him
are destroying the once-great United States.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
news
Hopefully, it'll keep some of the stink boat yahoos home. Probably the
ones who are stretched thin financially to begin with. They're easy to
spot. They're the ones in a $50,000.00 floating Camaro, which come to the
dock with a 5 foot piece of plastic rope at each end of the boat. "That
real rope's purty expensive".

Ah, where do you think that plastic rope comes from? The same crude oil that
is used to make the gasoline. So, that plastic rope is more "purty
expensive" than that real rope.

Just like all tree hugging assholes, you haven't got the slightest clue
about how dependent our economy is on oil.

"Bert Robbins" wrote in message
...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
news
Hopefully, it'll keep some of the stink boat yahoos home. Probably the
ones who are stretched thin financially to begin with. They're easy to
spot. They're the ones in a $50,000.00 floating Camaro, which come to the
dock with a 5 foot piece of plastic rope at each end of the boat. "That
real rope's purty expensive".

Ah, where do you think that plastic rope comes from? The same crude oil
that is used to make the gasoline. So, that plastic rope is more "purty
expensive" than that real rope.

Just like all tree hugging assholes, you haven't got the slightest clue
about how dependent our economy is on oil.


What the ****'s with you today, child? Didn't your dog give you your daily
butt sex?

If fuel gets to $5-6 a gallon, it might have some effect.

People go boating knowing full well that the entire activity is
expensive and cannot be justified financially from *any* perspective.
If $100 a day for fuel becomes $150 a day, or even $200- very few
people will stop boating as a result. After all, with $1000/month boat
payments going out 12 months a year who is going to let a few hundred
extra per month for fuel keep them ashore during the prime boating
season?

I do believe that high fuel prices will have some effect on the *type*
of boats that people will buy. For the last decade or so, the only
thing peole have cared much about is "how fast will it go?" I think
more buyers are likely to begin considering fuel economy as well as
speed when choosing boats, engines, etc.

Good article on cost of gas. Look at the Weds, 4/13 column
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/columns/walters/



wrote in message
oups.com...
If fuel gets to $5-6 a gallon, it might have some effect.

People go boating knowing full well that the entire activity is
expensive and cannot be justified financially from *any* perspective.
If $100 a day for fuel becomes $150 a day, or even $200- very few
people will stop boating as a result. After all, with $1000/month boat
payments going out 12 months a year who is going to let a few hundred
extra per month for fuel keep them ashore during the prime boating
season?

I do believe that high fuel prices will have some effect on the *type*
of boats that people will buy. For the last decade or so, the only
thing peole have cared much about is "how fast will it go?" I think
more buyers are likely to begin considering fuel economy as well as
speed when choosing boats, engines, etc.

On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:53:44 GMT, "Bill McKee"
wrote:

Good article on cost of gas. Look at the Weds, 4/13 column
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/columns/walters/

==============================================

The wholesale cost of gasoline is widely quoted in financial papers
such as the Wall Street Journal, usually price per gallon based on
some large quantity like a tanker load. Last time I looked it was
around $1.60 net of any highway or local sales tax. Not surprising
that it's well over $2 at the pump given that wholesale level. Nor is
the wholesale price surprising when the unrefined feed stock (crude
oil) is over $1 per gallon. Everyone who touches the product along
the way has to make some money on the transaction in order to stay in
business.

Hopefully, it'll keep some of the stink boat yahoos home

**********

What? And abandon the pastime to folks with a 'tude?

On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 07:10:27 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

From Oakland County, Michigan


Will gas prices dock boats?
Enthusiasts may keep craft out of water, but businesses doubt it

While I find gasoline prices alittle anoying, it will not effect me
and my boating at all. I am very wealthy, thus, the prices dont bother
me as much.