I have put 200 hours on my 30' boat since last June...but very few of those
were in the past couple of months. I budget about $500/month on fuel. The
monthly fuel bill is often higher, but some of the expense is shared by
friends or family.


I've been planning a trip to the Keys at the end of the month, which will
be a budget buster...so I've been using the 17' boat more often to save
fuel.

I forgot how much I like the simplicity of a smaller boat. It's easier to
fish nearshore with, and when the kids get hot and tired, it's easier to
pull up to a marina for lunch, or on to a beach for a swim.

The 30-footer is becoming a "specialty trip" boat...for occasional long runs
offshore, or to a long-range destination for an overnight trip. I will use
it more often than the little boat in the winter too, since things can get
downright cold fishing from an open boat in January and february (even in
Florida).





"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On May 16, 8:53 am, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On 16 May 2007 07:28:39 -0700, Chuck Gould

wrote:
You're rooting and hoping for a collapse of the powerboat industry?
Especially large powerboats?

I don't know about large powerboats, but I stopped to visit a friend
of mine at the old Lake Webster Marina this morning and he was just
flat out depressed. Hasn't sold a new boat in 8 months and he's more
more used boats on consignment than I've ever seen there - easily 60
boats - all mid-range from 25K to 60k.

Gotta wonder about that.

It's not fair, (and life is seldom fair), but the guys shopping boats
in the 25-60K range will often be far more affected by high fuel
prices than people spending ten times as much.

I was aboard a very nice new boat on Monday that runs well, but burns
51 gph to make 31 knots. At fuel dock prices, that's in the vicinity
of $500 for a two-hour run at 31 knots. (ouch)
The buyer who can spend $300k to buy that boat will *still* feel the
pain at the pump, but fuel will be somewhat insignificant compared to
other expenses.

A boater who is maybe even making monthly payments on a $25,000 marine
mortgage
just to get out on the water is far more likely to be driven out of
the pastime entirely if his fuel bill for a day even begins to
approach $500. When boating 2-3 days per month starts to cost people
$1000 or more in fuel costs, the middle income earners and below will
begin fleeing the scene. That seems to be reflected in your friend's
experience at his marina.