On 11 Aug 2005 15:59:53 -0700, wrote:

General question:

Have this summer's higher prices for marine fuel changed the way in
which you use your boat or the frequency with which you use it?

If so, how?

If not, is there a price per gallon that you believe would influence
your boating activities or frequency? How high would that be?


Me: Slow boater with very fuel efficient boat, not making any changes
to usage. Price per gallon could double or triple without driving me
off the water, (but in a 150 engine hour year I will burn les than 400
gallons of fuel).

For many boaters, fuel is simply an incidental expense, but for others
(small fast boat with a big engine) it could represent a significant
percentage of total costs.

The extra 25 cents a gallon has had no effect on my boating. Having a
Belarussian kid for the past three weeks has seriously crimped the boating. He
wasn't much of a fisherman, although I did get him and a couple of the other
Belarussians out for one day. They all caught something, so it wasn't a waste!

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

I just got back from a week long vacation at Lake Almanor in Northern
California. I definitely paid attention to my boat travels and
cruising speed due to the price of gas.

I used almost 3 full tanks of gas (18 gal/tank) in 9 days of running my
17' runabout with a 130 HP 4 cylinder AQ130C Volvo engine. Not sure
how many engine hours we notched during this time, but at/near WOT, it
burns about 3.5 gallons per hour. I started off with a full tank from
a street gas pump and then paid USD$3.50/gal for 91 octane one day and
USD$3.00 for 87 octane the second time I had to fill up on the water.
All told, I figure I spent almost $150 in gas on my vacation. As I
recall, we figured out it cost us about USD$10/engine hour.

Bob

Gould,

The only way for all of humanity to reduce their dependence on oil, is for
the cost of oil to exceed the cost of finding acceptable alternative energy
or the cost of improving the efficiency of the oil consumed. Since some
estimate we only have about 40 yrs of oil left, we better get on the stick
quickly.


wrote in message
ups.com...
General question:

Have this summer's higher prices for marine fuel changed the way in
which you use your boat or the frequency with which you use it?

If so, how?

If not, is there a price per gallon that you believe would influence
your boating activities or frequency? How high would that be?


Me: Slow boater with very fuel efficient boat, not making any changes
to usage. Price per gallon could double or triple without driving me
off the water, (but in a 150 engine hour year I will burn les than 400
gallons of fuel).

For many boaters, fuel is simply an incidental expense, but for others
(small fast boat with a big engine) it could represent a significant
percentage of total costs.

wrote:
: General question:

: Have this summer's higher prices for marine fuel changed the way in
: which you use your boat or the frequency with which you use it?

: If so, how?

: If not, is there a price per gallon that you believe would influence
: your boating activities or frequency? How high would that be?


For me, it has no effect. When I boat, I want to boat and the fuel price
will not stop me. I don't really use that much fuel. I can go most of
the day on about 15 gallons (a 170 OMC V-6 I/O).

My GF's 2 cycle outboard is getting rather expensive to run though (less
fuel efficiency).

b.

On 11 Aug 2005 15:59:53 -0700, wrote:

Have this summer's higher prices for marine fuel changed the way in
which you use your boat or the frequency with which you use it?

Not really, but I've burned through 530 gallons ($1,600) worth of gas
this past week on the Contender running a couple of charters and for
my own amusement. Last year, that same amount roughly $1,150.

When I filled up the six gallon tank on the Princecraft yesterday it
cost me $15. Last year, it cost me $11.

I'm not destitute by any stretch, but I've cut down on speed to
conserve to keep the fuel flow low on the Contender so I guess it has
affected my operating somewhat.

As to frequency, not really, but I'm spending more time making shorter
runs rather than long ones. For instance, if I have somebody who's
looking for stripers, I'll run to areas more inshore than, say,
Martha's Vineyard cutting down on trip times and thus gasoline.

What I have noticed though, and I think this is pretty interesting, is
that my "Gas and Go" program is attracting some attention. I have
more people asking for that option than say a straight trip - even
some of the folks who are regulars with me or my fishing partner.

Talking to some of the local charter types, they aren't exactly
admitting a large decrease in business, but the cost of fuel is
impacting their business - how much so, I can't say because you can't
get a straight answer from these guys.

Around the marina, there seems to be a reasonable amount of activity,
but it's quick runs, not the lengthy runs you used to see.

And the last time I was out at Oak Harbor, the activity was unusually
"quieter" than normal.

Enough info? :)

Later,

Tom