Chuck Gould wrote:

Everybody has a different level of dedication to the pastime, and
that's fine. There are a few people who feel that the last thing in
life they would ever give up would be boating, no matter what the
costs or other sacrifices required. On the other end of the scale
there are folks who might go out in a boat if somebody offered them a
ride, but certainly wouldn't pay for the experience.....

Most eveybody else is somewhere in between. A high percentage will
probably spend $100 per weekend to boat. Move that to $200, and there
will be some dropouts. Move it to $300, and the crowd would begin to
thin considerably. Every hundred bucks higher will accelerate the
attrition rate. There's no cost level at which eveybody will instantly
give up boating, but we only need to look around to see that at each
increment of increased cost we lose a few more folks who cannot (or
choose not to) afford it.



Perhaps there's a category of boaters who can afford the petrol prices
but who simply don't want to bend over so the oil companies can shove it
up there.

On May 29, 11:48?am, HK wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
Everybody has a different level of dedication to the pastime, and
that's fine. There are a few people who feel that the last thing in
life they would ever give up would be boating, no matter what the
costs or other sacrifices required. On the other end of the scale
there are folks who might go out in a boat if somebody offered them a
ride, but certainly wouldn't pay for the experience.....

Most eveybody else is somewhere in between. A high percentage will
probably spend $100 per weekend to boat. Move that to $200, and there
will be some dropouts. Move it to $300, and the crowd would begin to
thin considerably. Every hundred bucks higher will accelerate the
attrition rate. There's no cost level at which eveybody will instantly
give up boating, but we only need to look around to see that at each
increment of increased cost we lose a few more folks who cannot (or
choose not to) afford it.

Perhaps there's a category of boaters who can afford the petrol prices
but who simply don't want to bend over so the oil companies can shove it
up there.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But those folks will continue to drive, fly, heat/cool their homes and
swimming pools. We're fairly well screwed down by the oil companies,
and giving up a part of ones personal enjoyment just to "show 'em"
makes about as much sense as not buying gas on May 15 each year.

On May 29, 11:02�am, Vic Smith
wrote:

As far as infrastructure, the law of supply and demand might work in
the fuel-misers' favor there. *Fewer boats probably means less
expensive dock and mooring fees.

More likely it will mean that the fixed costs reflected in the
overhead, (property taxes, wages, etc) will need to be recovered from
a smaller group of customers with higher costs for services.


�
It may even lead to reducing canalside home prices, which are always
at a premium. *Not sure about that, though.
My Dad lives on a canal in Punta Gorda, FL, and it always surprises
him - and me - to see all the empty docks along the canals by his
home. It's like that through much of the town.
There's one boat within eyeshot and the owner takes it out once or
twice a year.
Of course Dad doesn't have a boat now either, because he's too infirm
to boat. *Maybe higher fuel prices will squelch the "dream" of the old
folks to buy canalside to go boating, and they'll just get a nice
place on a golf course, which might suit them better.
High fuel prices will most hurt those who make a living in the boating
industry.

--Vic

Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 11:48?am, HK wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
Everybody has a different level of dedication to the pastime, and
that's fine. There are a few people who feel that the last thing in
life they would ever give up would be boating, no matter what the
costs or other sacrifices required. On the other end of the scale
there are folks who might go out in a boat if somebody offered them a
ride, but certainly wouldn't pay for the experience.....
Most eveybody else is somewhere in between. A high percentage will
probably spend $100 per weekend to boat. Move that to $200, and there
will be some dropouts. Move it to $300, and the crowd would begin to
thin considerably. Every hundred bucks higher will accelerate the
attrition rate. There's no cost level at which eveybody will instantly
give up boating, but we only need to look around to see that at each
increment of increased cost we lose a few more folks who cannot (or
choose not to) afford it.
Perhaps there's a category of boaters who can afford the petrol prices
but who simply don't want to bend over so the oil companies can shove it
up there.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But those folks will continue to drive, fly, heat/cool their homes and
swimming pools. We're fairly well screwed down by the oil companies,
and giving up a part of ones personal enjoyment just to "show 'em"
makes about as much sense as not buying gas on May 15 each year.


It is very easy to give up boating, when you only boat 1 day a year.

Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 11:48?am, HK wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
Everybody has a different level of dedication to the pastime, and
that's fine. There are a few people who feel that the last thing in
life they would ever give up would be boating, no matter what the
costs or other sacrifices required. On the other end of the scale
there are folks who might go out in a boat if somebody offered them a
ride, but certainly wouldn't pay for the experience.....
Most eveybody else is somewhere in between. A high percentage will
probably spend $100 per weekend to boat. Move that to $200, and there
will be some dropouts. Move it to $300, and the crowd would begin to
thin considerably. Every hundred bucks higher will accelerate the
attrition rate. There's no cost level at which eveybody will instantly
give up boating, but we only need to look around to see that at each
increment of increased cost we lose a few more folks who cannot (or
choose not to) afford it.
Perhaps there's a category of boaters who can afford the petrol prices
but who simply don't want to bend over so the oil companies can shove it
up there.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But those folks will continue to drive, fly, heat/cool their homes and
swimming pools. We're fairly well screwed down by the oil companies,
and giving up a part of ones personal enjoyment just to "show 'em"
makes about as much sense as not buying gas on May 15 each year.



Just keep on waving that white flag, Chuckster. Some who can afford
what they want are driving and flying less, using less air conditioning,
and letting the sun heat our pools.

Putting the screws to Big Oil can be an act of patriotism.

"We can't do nuttin', so let's keep on keeping on..."

I've been out boating seven times since the beginning of the season here
this year. I'm keeping a very close eye on fuel consumption and
operating so as to use as little as possible.

Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 11:02�am, Vic Smith
wrote:

As far as infrastructure, the law of supply and demand might work in
the fuel-misers' favor there. �Fewer boats probably means less
expensive dock and mooring fees.

More likely it will mean that the fixed costs reflected in the
overhead, (property taxes, wages, etc) will need to be recovered from
a smaller group of customers with higher costs for services.



Are you in the running for Boat Manufacturer's Assn "pimp of the year"?

"HK" wrote in message
...
Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 11:48?am, HK wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
Everybody has a different level of dedication to the pastime, and
that's fine. There are a few people who feel that the last thing in
life they would ever give up would be boating, no matter what the
costs or other sacrifices required. On the other end of the scale
there are folks who might go out in a boat if somebody offered them a
ride, but certainly wouldn't pay for the experience.....
Most eveybody else is somewhere in between. A high percentage will
probably spend $100 per weekend to boat. Move that to $200, and there
will be some dropouts. Move it to $300, and the crowd would begin to
thin considerably. Every hundred bucks higher will accelerate the
attrition rate. There's no cost level at which eveybody will instantly
give up boating, but we only need to look around to see that at each
increment of increased cost we lose a few more folks who cannot (or
choose not to) afford it.
Perhaps there's a category of boaters who can afford the petrol prices
but who simply don't want to bend over so the oil companies can shove it
up there.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But those folks will continue to drive, fly, heat/cool their homes and
swimming pools. We're fairly well screwed down by the oil companies,
and giving up a part of ones personal enjoyment just to "show 'em"
makes about as much sense as not buying gas on May 15 each year.



Just keep on waving that white flag, Chuckster. Some who can afford what
they want are driving and flying less, using less air conditioning, and
letting the sun heat our pools.

Putting the screws to Big Oil can be an act of patriotism.

"We can't do nuttin', so let's keep on keeping on..."

I've been out boating seven times since the beginning of the season here
this year. I'm keeping a very close eye on fuel consumption and operating
so as to use as little as possible.

The big boats were comfortably tied to their respective docks when we
traveled down the Vermilion River yesterday. I also counted about a dozen
of those boats with "For Sale" signs on them.

There were, however, many boats running up and down the river in the 17'~27'
range, with the fishing spots on the Lake filled with boats of that size.

Gas on the river was going for $3.79 on average.

Don White wrote:
"NOYB" wrote in message
link.net...
"HK" wrote in message
. ..
NOYB wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..
NOYB wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
...

In February, I flew down to Ft. Lauderdale. Cost me $250 round trip.
I went charter fishing one day with three other guys, cost me $275.
Cost *you* personally $275...or $275 each? There were 4 of us.
Just me.

Then the rate that I cited was spot on. $275*3 plus tip is over $900.


One night of the hotel was around $300.
Which is more than the $250/night that I cited.
Yeah, and I got a "rate." It was a $500 a night room. Don't ask.

Feb. in South Florida. That's the going rate for the 4 and 5 star
places. The $250/night in the Keys on Memorial Day weekend is for a
pretty spartan place.


Ate maybe $50 of food that day, probably half that.
Once again, you're talking about just *you*. Multiply by the four of
us.

I think your numbers are a bit off.
Yes, if you're only thinking about yourself.

By my calculations, your trip cost you $875 for two days and one
night...with a day of fishing.

My trip cost around $1400 but was divided by four people (actually 3
adults and my son).
Actually, I have just as much fun on the the "head boat" charters out
of Haulover Inlet, since they only have to head a mile or so offshore
for some terrific fishing. Those run about $30 for a half day.

Headboats don't troll for dolphin, wahoo, and tuna. I know that
"anything can happen" on a bottom trip, but you have a lot better chance
trolling for those fish until you find them, and then chunking 'em up
once you do find them.

I love trailering over to the east coast to fish, because quality fish
are caught just a few miles from shore. But I'm not targeting bottom
species if I make that trek. I'm after pelagics.


I'm not. I like the reef fishing. You never know what you are going to
find, though typically I catch kingfish and sometimes yellowtail. I don't
believe in C&R for pelagics, and I have no need of that amount of fish
for the table or freezer. When I catch a kingfish, I bring it back to the
hotel, have the chef cook up something nice for my party, and let him
decide what to do with the rest of the steaks.

I'm not a big fan of kingfish. The flesh is too grey for me. It's good
on the smoker though.

Yellowtail are excellent.

If I make the trip to the east coast or the Keys, I'm hoping to get a
large dolphin, wahoo, or tuna to bring enough back for the freezer.


Leave the dolphins alone!



We eat them all the time here. Occasionally we'll score a bald eagle
for some Yankee surf & turf.

On Tue, 29 May 2007 18:19:15 -0400, HK wrote:

Are you in the running for Boat Manufacturer's Assn "pimp of the year"?

Unnecessary roughness, 15 yard penalty.

Do not pass go.

On May 29, 7:11�pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 29 May 2007 18:19:15 -0400, HK wrote:
Are you in the running for Boat Manufacturer's Assn "pimp of the year"?

Unnecessary roughness, 15 yard penalty. *

Do not pass go.

Give him a break, Wayne. It's the only trick the old has-been can
manage to remember. His Momma should have taught him some manners.