On May 1, 12:24?pm, wrote:
Just wondering if any of you larger boat guys are contemplating
downgrading your boat, or giving up time on the water this year due to
the high costs? I would think it would pretty much suck to have to
give up amenetities you have been accustomed to for so long. If so,
what do you have, what will you consider as an alternative?

I don't really consider my boat a "large" boat, but at 36-feet it's
legitimately middle-sized. No, we won't be cutting back on our use due
to higher fuel costs.
We realize about 4 nmpg, and it would be unusual to burn more than 20
gallons in a long day of boating. ('course the critics would note it
takes all day to get out of sight at 8-9 knots) :-)

So when diesel was $2 a gallon we'd spend $40 or less a day. At $3
we'd spend $60. If it gets to $5, we'll spend $100 for a very long day
of operation.
Heck, it would cost more than that to *not* boat and drive around in a
car for the weekend.

There's a lot of talk at the club and elsewhere, however, among people
who will be sticking closer to home this year than in the past. They
will likely spend just as many days on the boat during the summer- but
will hang out longer in places they find enjoyable and feel less
compelled to move on to a new anchorage or marina each day.